Brioche French Toast – Breakfast just got easier with this upgrade on a classic! Buttery Brioche bread, aromatic cinnamon, and warm vanilla combine to create the perfect breakfast comfort food. Elegant and luxurious, it’s the ideal way to bring the taste of a 5-star hotel into your home in half an hour or less!
Growing up in Cameroon, French toast was our regular weekend breakfast fare. I remember waking up to the tantalizing smell of cinnamon and maple syrup, which set the mood for the whole day. It was perfect for those lazy Saturday mornings at home with the family.
I’ve kept that tradition alive but now elevated with buttery brioche. French toast is still one of my favorite weekend breakfast and brunch foods, whether I’m entertaining guests or just chilling with my family. And although I’ve gotten more gourmet with my toppings and side dishes, weekend brunch isn’t complete without this classic comfort food.
What Makes Brioche French Toast So Special?
Brioche French Toast has all the ingredients of classic French toast, but the brioche is the secret weapon! Brioche bread or brioche buns use more eggs and butter than regular bread, which makes this French toast richer and more buttery than traditional French toast. Oh yeah!!! Additionally, the slightly higher sugar content means it gets a crispier exterior and rich golden color every time!
Recipe Ingredients
- Eggs – Whisked with milk and other ingredients, they make the French toast light and airy and help it to toast.
- Milk – Whole milk gives the best flavor, but you can also use your favorite dairy-free option.
- Butter – This ingredient makes the bread crispy on the outside with a decadent buttery flavor. You can replace it with oil or cooking spray, although it won’t be buttery.
- Brioche – Light, buttery, and luxurious, it gives your French toast an instant upgrade! Cut in 1-inch thick slices so it will hold up when dipped and cooked.
How to Make Brioche French Toast
- Heat Skillet – Preheat a large, nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low to medium heat.
- Mix Ingredients – Whisk eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a large, shallow bowl. (Photo 1-2)
- Prepare – Melt a tablespoon of butter (or oil or cooking spray) in the preheated skillet. Dip each bread slice into the egg mixture and turn to coat both sides. (Photo 3)
- Toast – Add the coated brioche when the butter has melted and begun to foam. Dip and place as many slices of brioche that comfortably fit in the pan without touching. Toast each side until golden brown, 2-3 minutes per side. (Photo 4)
- Keep Warm – Transfer the French toast from the skillet to a baking sheet and keep warm in a 200℉/93℃ oven.
- Continue toasting the remaining bread and egg mixture, adding more butter as needed.
- Serve – Serve warm with powdered sugar, whipped cream, maple syrup, fresh fruit, or any other desired toppings.
Recipe Variations
- Although brioche is my bread of choice for this recipe, you can substitute baguette, white bread, or challah, depending on what you find in your local bakery.
- Add a dash of orange juice and a little orange zest to the egg mixture for a citrus burst!
- Instead of fresh fruit, try your hand at homemade apple or blueberry compote to spread on the toast.
- If you prefer savory over sweet, poached eggs and sliced avocado are delicious topping ideas!
- Try a French toast variation with this easy make-ahead French Toast Bake if you’re feeding a crowd.
Tips and Tricks
- Personalize this recipe even more by making your own decadent homemade brioche.
- This recipe works better with day-old bread since it soaks up the egg mixture better. If the brioche bread is fresh, leave it out overnight to dry it out a bit.
- Cook the bread directly after dipping it to prevent it from getting soggy or falling apart.
Make-Ahead Instructions
You can make the egg mixture a day ahead of time and store it in the fridge. Just stir the eggs before dipping the bread in the mix.
You can buy or make brioche bread a day or two ahead. Slightly stale bread means better French toast!
Serving and Storage Instructions
It goes without saying that Brioche French Toast is best served hot, directly from the skillet with a pot of coffee and your family with you.
Leftovers will likely be few (I think your family will be fighting over that last piece!), but they can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for a day or two. French toast can also be frozen, but I recommend wrapping the slices individually in plastic wrap before freezing.
The best way to reheat this deliciousness is in the skillet to recapture that golden crispness. Reheating in a toaster oven is just as quick and will also recreate that crispy exterior.
FAQs
You’ll want to use milk with higher fat content for a creamier batter. Whole milk works well, or you can even use half and half (the calories don’t count on the weekend, as they say!). You can use fat-free or plant-based milk, but the egg flavor will be more pronounced.
The key is not to let the bread slices soak in the egg mixture for too long. Too much custard and the bread will have a hard time staying together even when cooked.
November 28 is National French Toast Day in the United States! People celebrate this delectable dish by inventing and sharing their personalized French toast recipes and favorite topping combinations. Now that’s my idea of a holiday.
What to Serve With Brioche French Toast
The perfect breakfast dish calls for perfect breakfast sides. My favorite sides to pair with French toast include Southern-style fried potatoes, breakfast turkey sausage or oven-baked bacon, and a tropical fruit salad. Then top it off with a decadent brunch beverage like Southern sweet tea or peach tea.
Other Breakfast Favorites to Try
- Banana Pancakes
- Southern Buttermilk Biscuits
- Cinnamon Pull-Apart Bread
- Baked Plantain Frittata
- Quiche Lorraine
- Southern Hoe Cakes
Conclusion
This Brioche French Toast will make any morning special instantly and holiday breakfasts extra impressive. What toppings and sides do you plan to use on this elegant breakfast? Leave me a comment below! ❤️
Brioche French Toast
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup (240ml) whole milk
- 1 tablespoon (12g) sugar
- 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon (1.5g) ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon (1.5g) salt
- 4 tablespoons (57g) butter, divided
- 1 loaf brioche bread, sliced 1-inch thick
- Maple syrup
- Fresh berries
Instructions
- Preheat a large, nonstick skillet or griddle over medium-low to medium heat.
- Whisk eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a large shallow bowl.
- Melt a tablespoon of butter in the preheated skillet (you can also use cooking spray). Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture and turn to coat both sides.
- Add the coated brioche when the butter has melted and begun to foam. Dip and transfer as many pieces of brioche that will comfortably fit in the pan without touching. Cook each side until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Remove French toast from the skillet to a baking sheet and keep it warm in a 200℉/93℃ oven.
- Continue toasting the remaining bread and egg mixture, add more butter as needed.
- Serve French toast warm with powdered sugar, whipped cream, maple syrup, fresh fruit, or any desired toppings.
Tips & Notes:
- Personalize this recipe even more by making your own decadent Homemade Brioche Bread.
- This recipe works better with day-old bread since it soaks up the batter better. If the brioche bread is fresh, leave it out overnight to dry it out a bit.
- Cook the bread directly after dipping it to prevent it from getting soggy or falling apart.
- Please keep in mind that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.
Crystal says
We love Pain Perdu in my house. I always add a splash of heavy cream to the mix. You are correct, there is never any leftovers. My kids love it for supper and request homemade whipped cream to add on top of the syrup. Brioche bread is the best for Pain Perdu
Imma says
Amazing to hear, Thank you! Stay tuned to have more amazing recipes:)
Glen says
I fell in love with brioche the first time I tried it. As French toast, it only got better.
Imma says
Great to hear that. Thank you so much, on a lighter note as you like the recipe can you please rate this recipe:) Just for new readers to see it more reliable!
Chris says
Prepared two different batters; one with rum (per the recipe) & one with Bailey’s Irish Cream instead of rum and did a blind taste comparison with my family. Three of four preferred the Bailey’s and the other couldn’t taste the difference between the two. Although both were excellent.
esther says
i just made this and omg. Best French toast recipe. added berries and some syrub n nuts ontop and it was so so good. Thank you
ImmaculateBites says
Awesome! Thanks so much.
Kdee says
Hello,
I made this French Toast on Christmas morning for my family and added a Walnut Crunch topping (walnuts, butter, brown sugar & oats) and they loved it! In fact we love it so much I’m making French Toast again this morning… on a Monday LOL. No special occasion… just because you shared such a beautiful recipe! Thank you!!!
Gina says
About how long do you recommend soaking the bread, roughly? 30 seconds? 2 minutes? 5 minutes? Thanks!
imma africanbites says
Hi. I’d say roughly around 10-15 seconds for both sides depending on the thickness of your bread.