Bell-less, Whistle-less, Damn Good French Toast
The essence of French toast: eggs, challah and cream.
Cream, eggs. That's all.
Cream plume in a sea of eggs.
We love whisking.
Slice the challah about 3/4-inch thick.
You can use a griddle -- we used an iron skillet.
Reminds us of the Burj al Arab hotel.
Don't drain them too much -- you want the challah to remain moist.
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Author Notes: There are things in life that just ought to be simple, and to my taste buds, French toast is one of them. Mine has only three ingredients, depending on the quality of the bread to carry the dish, and the quality of the accompanying butter and syrup to finish the dish to perfection. It is critically important to use good quality challah for French toast. I had no idea how important until I tried it the first time. I'll never go back. Fresh fruit is an acceptable add-on, but preserve me from cinnamon, confectioners sugar, and the like. - Kayb - Kayb
Food52 Review: There's nothing to making this French toast. But there is one thing that makes it exceptional: cream. KayB cuts to the chase, forgoing spices and extracts, and focussing instead on eggs, cream and challah. You whip together the eggs and cream, which form a custardy mixture, then dip the eggy bread into this custard -- make sure to gently squeeze the bread with your fingertips to draw the eggs and cream to the center -- and fry them in butter. Outside is a crisp crepe-like shell. Inside, pudding. What are you waiting for? - A&M - A&M
Serves 4
- 1 loaf challah bread
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- butter, for grilling and serving
- Good maple syrup, for serving
- Slice challah into 3/4 to 1-inch thick slices.
- Whisk together eggs and cream.
- Heat a griddle or flat grill pan over medium high heat, and add 1 tbsp butter for every two pieces of French toast it will accommodate; swirl butter around to cover surface.
- Dip slice of bread in egg and cream; flip and repeat. Add to griddle, and grill until golden (approximately 90 seconds) on one side; flip and repeat.
- Serve with additional butter, if desired, and good quality maple syrup. The experience is enhanced with the addition of good quality smoked bacon.
- Your Best French Toast Contest Winner!
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about 1 month ago millicent
Made this for breakfast with my left over oatmeal-molasses bread and it was delicious. I made it for two so used 1 egg and 1/8 cup cream and it worked a treat. Delicious. Saved and will definitely serve with bacon next time.
4 months ago AY2013
THIS Recipe is THE BEST FRENCH TOAST Recipe I've tried! Challah bread works wonders! I became a top chef in my house!! I did add some cinnamon for that breakfast flavor and it was awesome! I will always use this recipe from now on! Thank you!
about 1 year ago Genglish
We use day old brioche and add a bit of warm honey to the custard mix. Finishing it off in the oven for a few minutes gives it a nice airy finish.
about 1 year ago lschrive
I love french toast, but have never used challah bread until today - I may never go back!!! Thanks for the simple and AMAZING recipe!
about 1 year ago ruzyreez
I found this recipe and made it for breakfast this morning - I used Texas Toast bread instead of challah bread. The bread was thick and was able to absorb the cream & milk without turning soggy or falling apart. It turned out awesome! :)
about 1 year ago steph.luv
Made this for Saturday breakfast and it was delicious! I normally do french toast with eggs and a splash of milk but never again. I didn't use challah bread as I had no idea where to get it but I got a lovely tin loaf that I cut into thick slices and it worked a trick.
Thanks for the recipe :)
over 1 year ago AmyRuth
I'm going to need a recipe for real challah bread. There isn't a bakery in town who makes it. Anyone have one they like? I love french toast, carbs and all.
over 1 year ago ubs2007
Excellent recipe: simple and outstanding! Made this today on a very cold NYC morning! My 4.5 yr old and I LOVED it!
over 1 year ago Kayb
So glad you enjoyed! I also just recently learned you can cook a whole loaf, then heat it up in the toaster oven for a quick breakfast for snack!
over 1 year ago kaysee
really great challah is indeed crucial for an awesome french toast. this is a great easy recipe. definitely bacon on the side!!
over 1 year ago durun99
I just started making this recently and it has already become the go-to French toast recipe in our house.
almost 2 years ago foodmomma
My favorite French Toast combo, however: i like a well-soaked, slow-cooked result so i use many more eggs, more cream and lots of butter (and require a patient family!!)
over 2 years ago AntoniaJames
AntoniaJames is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
We're crazy about this, too! I actually bought some bread (challah) to make this for my sons' Christmas morning breakfast. We served the French toast with lingon that a dear friend (a fellow food52 cook who I met here!!) brought back from Sweden for me. Really outstanding! We love this recipe and are looking forward to enjoying it again . . . . and again. ;o)
over 2 years ago CuisineBateau
May I just say YUM! I made this for breakfast with the bread I had on hand, brioche, and the result was outstanding. Thank you for this delicious recipe!
over 2 years ago ExoticEm
This recipe yields the perfect french toast. I tried the same recipe with brioche and challah. I liked the brioche version better, the bread had a natural sweetness to it.
I used to include all the bells and whistles like vanilla essence, cinnamon etc in my french toasts. But now I am a convert - there is no better way to make french toasts ! Thanks.
over 2 years ago ch1974
Very good recipe. I tried it today. I substituted heavy cream for mascarpone. Might try it with Creme de la Gruyere in the future...
almost 3 years ago BonEllen
This is pretty close to my favorite french toast recipe... one difference is to add about 2T honey, and make the custard the night before and let it sit in the fridge. Mmmm. Make it this weekend for guests and got rave reviews. Congrats on the win for this classic!
almost 3 years ago lacerise
We made it for dinner Saturday night and my daughter declared it the best french toast she'd ever tasted. I, too, loved it... and it coated my stomach well for the Corpse Reviver 2 that followed a few hours later. Don't think I'll be making french toast any other way from here on. Oh yum.
almost 3 years ago RaquelG
This is exactly the same as my grandmother's recipe, except she would sprinkle with sugar after dipping in the egg/cream for a little brulee action. Heaven!
almost 3 years ago ChefJune
Growing up, Mom made French toast many Sunday mornings, because Dad loved it so much. This version was always the best! and he never put anything on it except granulated sugar.
almost 3 years ago ChefCitron
Recipe looks great! Sorry I can't turn off the editor I me :),...the ingedient list calls for heavy cream, but step 4 of the instructions says to dip bread in "egg and milk" mixture. Should this be 'egg and heavy cream' mixture? Just want to be sure I am not missing an ingedient... Thanks!
almost 3 years ago Kayb
It should indeed be egg and cream mixture (or half and half) when I don't have heavy cream on hand. It is but a pale imitation of the real thing.... :)
almost 3 years ago Kayb
Oops. meant to write "I use milk when I don't have heavy cream on hand." Nothing like an afternoon poolside, drinking sangria!
almost 3 years ago amanda
Amanda is a co-founder of Food52.
All fixed -- thanks for pointing it out!
almost 3 years ago saenyc
Family french toast-making this morning... and all three girls declared that it was the best french toast they ever had... and so easy to make!
almost 3 years ago Steffanie
Question from an american who's lived in Paris too long to know her ingredients : crème fraîche would be too heavy ?
almost 3 years ago Kayb
H'mm. I think it would. All you can do is try and see!
over 1 year ago irinaleibo
Steffanie,
Use what they call "cooking creme".
Cheers
irina
over 1 year ago irinaleibo
Steffanie,
Use what they call "cooking creme".
Cheers
irina
almost 3 years ago asabnis
This was brunch today. No need to make it any other way.
almost 3 years ago cookbookchick
I made this today for Sunday breakfast served with a choice of fresh (real) maple syrup or a strawberry-blackberry-rhubarb compote. Rave reviews from my family who called it the best french toast ever!
almost 3 years ago Kayb
Thanks, everyone! Excited to be a finalist, and anxious to have this French toast for breakfast tomorrow, since I've been thinking about it for the last 24 hours!
almost 3 years ago Oui, Chef
There is nothing better for french toast than Challah...period! Congrats on making the finals, love the purity of this dish.
almost 3 years ago Waverly
This is a great recipe. You keep it simple, but you tell us how to make it shine - the challah bread and cream and a drizzle of maple syrup. This sounds just wonderful.
almost 3 years ago coffeefoodwritergirl
This looks just delicious. Looking forward to trying it this weekend.
almost 3 years ago JMB
Fabulous french toast. This is it!
almost 3 years ago KelseyTheNaptimeChef
I love the simplicity of this. Prepared perfectly this will make a wonderful, elegant breakfast any day of the week. And my daughter will love it, too!
almost 3 years ago monkeymom
Ring the bells and blow the whistles! Congrats!
almost 3 years ago gabrielaskitchen
This is exactly how I make my French toast! I used to put a little cinnamon in the batter until I started cooking for my beau who likes his french toast savory, served with eggs bacon and hot sauce....I still eat mine with powdered sugar and cinnamon, yum. Congrats Kayb!
about 3 years ago Kayb
Thanks, all. I love the "fancy" French toasts as well (see the other recipe I just posted), but this is the one I keep coming back to.
about 3 years ago testkitchenette
Pure French Toast...I love the austerity of your ingredients!
about 3 years ago cheese1227
Love the name.
about 3 years ago healthierkitchen
elegantly simple!
about 3 years ago dymnyno
Indeed!! a very honest french toast!!
about 3 years ago susan259
We had the same idea as far as recipes go, but I use a different technique for "grilling."
about 3 years ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Perfectly simple!