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Brioche French Toast Reimagined



Brioche French Toast: A Delicious Breakfast Recipe

Why you’ll love it: Indulge in the best French toast with this
brioche recipe! Butter-rich brioche bread combines with a cinnamon-spiced
custard for an unforgettable breakfast.

Quick & Easy: Ready in just 15 minutes!

Essential Equipment: Shallow dish, griddle.

Yields: 10-12 slices.

A plate of brioche French toast with a pat of butter and syrup, alongside a fork and knife on a white table. A small jug of syrup is nearby.

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Brioche French toast is a beloved breakfast dish in many restaurants. It’s
easy to see why: fluffy, rich, and buttery brioche bread makes for a truly
indulgent experience. (While delicious, this recipe differs from my
classic
French Toast, which uses Texas toast!)

Fortunately, you don’t need to dine out to enjoy excellent brioche French
toast. This recipe allows you to create it at home quickly. It seems like it
should be a time-consuming treat, but this recipe comes together in a snap.
You can have a lovely breakfast ready in about 15 minutes!

Why Brioche French Toast?

Brioche, like challah and babka, is an enriched bread. Unlike basic bread
made with just flour, water, salt, and yeast, brioche is a yeast bread that
is enriched with eggs, butter, and milk. This results in a bread that is
incredibly tender, fluffy, and has a richer flavor than your average toast
bread.

Plus, it is easier to make than pancakes. French toast is straightforward to
prepare. You skip the fuss of mixing dry ingredients, and flipping is simpler,
as you’re working with individual slices of bread instead of batter.

A stack of French toast topped with a butter pat sits on a white plate. A fork holds a cut piece of toast in front.

Ingredient Highlights

  • Brioche bread: Slightly stale bread is best, as it will absorb the
    custard more easily.
  • Eggs: Four large eggs are essential for the rich, creamy custard
    base.
  • Cream: While heavy cream is recommended, you can substitute with half
    & half or whole milk for a lighter version.
  • Light brown sugar: Dark brown sugar works well too, adding a more
    pronounced molasses flavor than light brown sugar.
  • Ground cinnamon: Fresh cinnamon is key! It should be fragrant when you
    open the jar.
  • Ground nutmeg: Freshly grated nutmeg is a treat, but pre-ground works
    just fine.
  • Kosher salt: A touch of salt balances the sweetness.
  • Pure vanilla extract: Adds subtle flavor. Try almond extract for a
    different twist.
  • Butter: Adds flavor when frying the French toast and helps create a
    crisp, golden surface.
Ingredients for French toast: eggs in a carton, slices of bread, a cup of milk, butter, vanilla extract, brown sugar, and salt in bowls on a marble surface.

How to Make Brioche French Toast

Prepare the spice blend: Combine brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt
in a small bowl. This prevents clumps in the egg mixture.

A bowl with brown sugar and cinnamon on a table with eggs, sliced bread, and a whisk nearby.
A white bowl with a mound of brown sugar on a countertop, surrounded by eggs, sliced bread.

Make the custard: Whisk eggs and cream in a pie plate or shallow dish
until fully combined. There should be no clear egg whites or yellow yolk
clumps. Add vanilla, then the brown sugar mixture, and combine.

A baking dish with cream and three cracked eggs, slices of bread on a plate, and a small jar of syrup. A bowl of brown sugar and butter are nearby on a marble countertop.
Ingredients for making French toast, including bread slices, a whisk in a bowl of batter, a bowl of spices, a dish of butter, and a jar of syrup on a marble surface.
A baking dish with layered cream and brown sugar, alongside two slices of bread, a small pitcher of syrup, and a dish with a butter stick on a marble surface.
A glass baking dish with a light brown mixture, a plate with sliced bread, a small pitcher of liquid, a stick of butter, a whisk, and an orange cloth on a marble surface.

Heat the skillet: Warm a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and
melt a tablespoon or two of unsalted butter. The amount of butter depends on
your griddle size, whether it’s nonstick, and your preference.

Soak the bread: Place brioche slices into the custard mixture for 15-20
seconds per side. Don’t soak for too long to avoid soggy French toast. Let
excess custard drip off.

Recipe Tip

If your French toast is consistently soggy, you might be soaking the bread
too long. 15-20 seconds per side is the ideal amount of time.

Two slices of bread in a glass baking dish, with additional slices on a plate, a small jug of syrup, a pat of butter, and a red cloth on a marble surface.
A glass baking dish with slices of bread soaked in a liquid mixture. Nearby are slices of bread, a small pitcher of syrup, a red napkin, and a butter dish on a marble surface.

Cook: Fry the bread slices for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden
brown. Add more butter as needed.

Two slices of bread frying in a black skillet, with melted butter around them.
Two slices of French toast cooking in a black skillet.

Recipe Variations

  • Spice it up: Experiment with apple pie spice, pumpkin pie spice, chai spices, or a pinch of cardamom for a cozy flavor. Consider
    incorporating my Chai French Toast Skewers!
  • Add toppings: Elevate your French toast with toppings like homemade
    whipped cream
    and sliced strawberries, this
    apple compote,
    hot fudge sauce, sliced bananas, and chopped peanuts.
  • Tropical Twist: Use well-shaken canned coconut milk instead of heavy
    cream. Garnish with
    whipped coconut cream, toasted shredded coconut, and diced pineapple or mango.
Two slices of French toast on a white plate, with a fork and knife beside a red napkin, a butter dish, and a small pitcher of syrup nearby.

Make-Ahead Tips

To make brioche French toast ahead of time, keep it warm and crisp in a low
oven (200°F). Arrange cooked slices in a single layer on a wire rack set on a
baking sheet for good air circulation until ready to serve.




Storage & Reheating

Refrigerate/freeze: Store brioche French toast in an airtight container
in the fridge for up to 3 days, or frozen for up to 3 months.

To reheat: Reheat in a skillet or on the griddle for the best results,
or warm it in the microwave for 30 seconds or until heated through. Thaw
frozen French toast in the refrigerator overnight before reheating.

More French Toast Recipes

Overnight French Toast Casserole

Air Fryer French Toast Sticks

French Toast Muffins