Alton Brown’s French Toast

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Alton Brown’s French Toast Recipe

Alton Brown’s French Toast is a delicious and easy recipe that delivers perfectly crispy, custardy, and flavorful slices every time. His approach includes using a custard mix with just the right balance of ingredients to make your French toast extra special.

Ingredients

  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 8 slices of sturdy bread (like challah, brioche, or sourdough)
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter (for cooking)
  • Powdered sugar, maple syrup, and fresh fruit for serving

Instructions

  1. Make the Custard Mixture:
    In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until smooth and well combined.
  2. Prepare the Bread:
    Lightly toast the bread slices to firm them up slightly, but not to crisp them completely. This step prevents the bread from becoming too soggy when dipped into the custard.
  3. Dip the Bread:
    Working one slice at a time, dip each piece of bread into the custard mixture, ensuring it’s fully coated on both sides. Let any excess custard drip off.
  4. Cook the French Toast:
    Heat a skillet or griddle over medium heat and add the butter. Once the butter is melted and foamy, place the soaked bread slices into the pan. Cook each slice for about 2-3 minutes on each side or until golden brown and crispy.
  5. Serve:
    Transfer the cooked French toast to a warm plate. Dust with powdered sugar and top with maple syrup and fresh fruit, if desired.

Tips for Perfect French Toast

  • Bread Selection: Use a thick, sturdy bread like brioche or challah for the best texture and flavor. If using regular sandwich bread, make sure it’s slightly stale for better absorption of the custard.
  • Custard Consistency: For an extra-rich custard, you can add a splash of heavy cream or half-and-half to the milk.
  • Heat Control: Cook on medium heat to ensure the French toast cooks evenly and doesn’t burn before it’s fully cooked inside.

Would you like to try variations of this recipe, such as adding a fruit topping or a twist on the custard mixture?

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