8 Best Bread for French Toast & Tips for Making It

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French toast with blueberry and strawberry topping

Have you ever had a French toast fail? You know, when your breakfast dreams turn into a soggy, flavorless mess? We’ve all been there. But here’s the secret to improving your French toast game: It’s all about the bread you use, baby! Choosing the right loaf can make or break your breakfast masterpiece. So, choosing the right bread for your classic French toast recipe is the first thing to do when you decide to make your sandwich. That’s why I’ve put together the best bread for French toast with a tips for success that will transform your French toast from mediocre to wonderful.

Related: 13 Best Bread for Grilled Cheese.

5 Tips for Successful French Toast

Choose Your Bread Wisely

Good French toast starts by choosing good bread. But here’s the kicker: not all loaves are created equal. Choose one with a rather tight crumb and without too many holes, that can soak up that egg mixture falling apart. Don’t cut your stale bread into thin slices to ensure crisp edges and soft crumbs. Thick-cut brioche, challah, or even a day-old baguette can work wonders. And remember, flimsy sandwich bread can’t be used as it will turn into a soggy mess faster than you can say maple syrup.

Pro tip: Cut your bread into 2/4-inch slices. If your bread is tender, you can go up to 1 inch.

Preparation of egg mixture

Your egg mixture is the secret sauce to successful French toast. 

French toast specialists don’t mix sugar and eggs with sour cream. The original recipe calls for milk, not cream, and it’s best to use semi-skimmed milk, which is lower in fat than whole milk, and just the egg yolks only. Using milk makes French toast recipes lighter and not too nauseating.

If you are a veggie person, you can use coconut milk, almond milk, rice milk, etc. These milks can soak your bread and add an extra flavor.

Don’t worry, you can still make successful French toast even if you don’t have any eggs in your refrigerator.

Pro Tip: Add a touch of sugar to your mixture to help it caramelize, and don’t be shy with spices: cinnamon, vanilla, honey or orange blossom for an extra sweet taste, and for professionals rum or Grand Marnier with moderation.

Perfect Your Dipping Technique

Here’s where patience pays off, Don’t just dunk your bread slices and run. Give each slice enough time per side to soak the egg mixture until saturated, this allows the bread to soak up the flavors of your mixture, but do not let your bread become waterlogged.

Pro tip: 10 minutes per side is enough. If you have thick slices, you can leave it a little longer. 

Master the Cooking Process

Now, let’s talk about getting that golden-brown perfection. Heat the skillet or grill pan over medium heat. If it’s too hot, you will burn the outside while the inside remains raw. When you add butter be careful, it can harm you. I recommend adding a small knob of butter throughout the frying process, rather than a large one at the start.

Pro Tip: Use a little bit of vegetable oil and wipe out the pan after each use to facilitate cleaning and avoid burning the butter.

Heating the skillet is one of the very important step in making French toast, so don’t put the bread in the skillet until it’s hot. If you skip this step and put the bread in a cold pan, the egg mixture that should remain in the bread and make it soft, will run into the skillet. You’ll be faced with two problems: the first is that your bread probably won’t be soaked enough and will lack tenderness, and the second is that your mixture will burn quickly in the pan and give the French toast a bad taste.

Pro tip: Once both sides of bread are nicely browned, you can lower the heat a bit and cook for a few more minutes. The low, medium heat will allow the slice of bread to caramelize without burning!

Want a professional skillet try this Iron Skillet.

The Finishing Touches

Here’s where you can let your creativity shine. Sure, maple syrup is a classic, but why not try a dusting of powdered sugar, a dollop of whipped cream, or a handful of fresh berries? For a savory twist, top with a fried egg and some crispy bacon. The sky’s the limit!

Remember that practice makes perfect. Don’t be discouraged if your first attempt isn’t Instagrammable. Even the pros had to start somewhere. With these tips in your back pocket, you’ll be serving a French toast that will have your brunch guests begging for seconds in no time! And now, without further ado. Now, let’s dive into the best bread for making French toast.

The 8 Best Bread for French Toast

Ready to take your French toast to the next level? Let’s explore the world of bread and discover the 8 best bread to use for French toast that’ll make your breakfast dreams come true.

The classic

Brioche

Brioche, the superstar of French toast. Its soft, fluffy texture soaks up the egg mixture like a champ, sweet flavor pairs perfectly with the custard mixture, and the ability to hold up well to frying makes it the first choice for French toast lovers. Brioche French toast can be enjoyed with a variety of toppings, from maple syrup and powdered sugar to fruit and chocolate sauce making it a versatile and satisfying breakfast or brunch option. If you have no idea what a brioche is, have a look at this article.

Challah Bread

Similar to brioche but with a slightly denser texture, this traditional Jewish bread is another fantastic bread for making French toast. Its braided structure not only looks gorgeous on the plate, with its golden, glossy crust and elegant twists, but also create perfect little nook and crannies that capture all that delicious eggy goodness. Its soft texture absorbs the custard mixture and is sturdy enough to hold its shape, which results in a soft, smooth, slightly chewy texture. With its delicate sweetness and rich flavor, it elevates French toast to the level of true indulgence, challah bread earned a place on our list of the best bread for making French toast.

Shokupan

Also known as milk bread, shokupan makes a delightful choice for French toast. Its pillowy texture acts like a sponge, soaking up the egg and custard mixture beautifully without becoming soggy. Furthermore, its subtly sweet taste pairs well with everything, whether it’s classic maple syrup, fresh fruit or whipped cream, making shokupan not only a good bread for French toast but also an inviting addition to any breakfast or brunch spread. Want to make one but do not have bread, have a look at this easy milk bread recipe.

The Unexpected Contenders

Sourdough

Want to add a tangy twist to your French toast? Look no further than the sturdy texture of sourdough bread, especially for savory French toast. Its slightly acidic flavor, crispy crust and soft texture, which absorbs the custard mixture beautifully, pair well with savory toppings, creating a unique and flavorful twist on French toast that is well worth trying. Its natural fermentation process breaks down the majority of the gluten found in wheat flour, making it an excellent source of antioxidants. All of these features make sourdough an ideal bread for making decadent, restaurant-quality French toast.

Rye Bread 

For a heartier, more robust French toast, rye bread worthy to try thank to its richness of fiber and lower glycemic index. Its dense, firmer texture than other types of bread, holds up well to soaking and frying, while its strong, earthy taste gives French toast a deeper, more complex flavor which balance the sweetness of toppings like maple syrup and powdered sugar. These unique characteristics make it ideally suited for toppings such as smoked salmon, chives or sour cream, as well as classic sweet toppings, making it a suitable choice for both sweet and savory French toast recipes.

Pumpernickel

Not to mention its health benefits. Pumpernickel bread may seem like an odd choice, but trust me, it works! Its slightly, sweet earthy flavor adds a delicious depth that complements the sweet flavor of the egg mixture. Its dense, sturdy texture allows it to absorb the custard without crumbling, resulting in a soft yet sturdy French toast. When it comes to toppings, fresh berries, spices, and creamy cheeses go exceptionally well with this bread.

The Crowd-Pleasers

French Bread

It’s in the name! A crispy baguette provides a delightfully crispy exterior and soft interior when made into French toast. Aside from its neutral taste that allows other flavors to take center stage and its airy crumb soaks up as much custard as possible, the texture of its crispy crust gives French toast an interesting texture that contrasts with the smoothness of the egg mixture. Its firm texture holds up well even when soaked in the egg mixture, making it a ideal bread for French toast with a soft and chewy texture.

White Bread

Sometimes, we can’t beat the classics. Good old white bread makes for a nostalgic, comforting French toast that’ll transport you right back to your childhood kitchen.  Although it may not be as luxurious and flavorful as the classic types of bread for making French toast, but it’s a reliable for French toast. White bread doesn’t have a strong flavor that allows other flavors to shine through, while its soft texture makes it easy to absorb the egg.