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    Recipes » Breakfast Recipes » French Breakfast

    Brioche French Toast

    Published: May 8, 2023 by Marissa Stevens · 6 Comments

    Vegetarian

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    Jump to Recipe

    Brioche French Toast takes the simple breakfast favorite to decadent new heights. Fluffy, sweet brioche slices soak in a vanilla-and-cinnamon custard before they're pan-fried in sizzling butter until golden brown on the outside with soft, custardy centers. Topped with maple syrup or fresh berries and whipped cream, it's the perfect breakfast for special occasions or any time you want to treat yourself or those you love.

    pouring syrup on stack of Brioche French Toast.

    This version of French toast is exceptionally good, but is also quick and easy. It requires just a handful of ingredients, 10 minutes of prep and about 30 minutes at the stovetop.

    Jump to:
    • Ingredients You Need to Make Brioche French Toast
    • FAQ
    • Key Step
    • More Amazing French Breakfast Recipes
    • More Brioche Recipes
    • How to Make Brioche French Toast
    • Brioche French Toast
    • 💬 Comments

    Ingredients You Need to Make Brioche French Toast

    Brioche French Toast Ingredients on a white marble board.
    • Milk: ideally whole milk
    • Half and Half: or heavy cream for extra rich French toast
    • Eggs: large or extra large eggs
    • Vanilla: real vanilla extract
    • Ground Cinnamon
    • Fine sea salt: or kosher salt
    • Brioche Bread: ideally day old (try this Easy Brioche Bread recipe to make your own)
    • Butter: salted butter or unsalted butter

    Optional Toppings

    • Maple Syrup
    • Fruit Preserves: or jam
    • Lightly Sweetened Whipped Cream
    • Fresh Berries
    • Powdered Sugar: or cinnamon sugar (whisk cinnamon to taste into granulated sugar)
    Brioche French Toast served on a white plate photographed from overhead.

    FAQ

    What kind of bread should be used for French toast?

    Rich, buttery brioche bread is ideal for making French toast. To make sure the center stays soft and custardy, use thick slices. Day-old brioche is best for absorbing the custard mixture, but if your loaf is fresh, you can lightly toast the bread slices before soaking. 

    How do you make brioche French toast not soggy?

    There's a fine line between soft and custardy versus soggy French toast. The best way and to ensure your French toast isn't soggy, is to make sure your pan isn't so hot that it overly browns the exterior of the custard soaked brioche slices before the centers have a chance to set. If you prefer a drier center, then limit how long you allow the slices in the custard before cooking them in the skillet.

    What is the most common mistake in making French toast?

    A common mistake when making French toast is allowing the cooked slices cool too much before serving, which can result in cold, chewy slices instead of the warm, fluffy stacks you're after. To avoid this, keep cooked slices warm in the oven to serve all at once or serve slices right off the skillet as you go.

    Stack of brioche french toast on a light gray plate.

    Key Step

    There’s an easy trick to getting all of the brioche bread slices evenly saturated with custard: soak all 8 slices in a rimmed baking sheet at once (instead of the standard method of dunking bread in a bowl one slice at a time). This way you'll end up with close to the same ratio of bread-to-custard for a consistent Brioche French toast.

    More Amazing French Breakfast Recipes

    • Easy Savory Crepes
    • Easy Baked Eggs (Shirred Eggs)
    • Breakfast Quiche
    • Savory French Toast

    More Brioche Recipes

    • Brioche Bun Recipe
    • Brioche Cinnamon Rolls
    • Homemade Brioche Hot Dog Buns and Brioche Slider Buns
    • Brioche Rolls (ideal for holiday meals)

    How to Make Brioche French Toast

    Whisk milk, half and half, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and salt together in a medium bowl; pour into a rimmed baking sheet and arrange brioche slices in a single layer. Flip each slice and let stand in custard for 5 minutes. Flip once more.

    custard mixture whisked together in a bowl.
    custard mixture in rimmed baking sheet.
    soaking one side of brioche bread in custard.
    soaking other side of brioche bread in custard.

    Begin cooking slices in a large skillet of sizzling butter until golden brown on the outside and warmed through. Keep each batch warm on a parchment lined baking sheet in an oven preheated to 275˚F. Serve warm along with desired toppings.

    cooking first side of custard soaked brioche bread.
    brioche french toast in a skillet ready to serve.
    Brioche French Toast served on a white plate photographed from overhead.
    pouring syrup on stack of Brioche French Toast.

    Brioche French Toast

    Marissa Stevens
    Fluffy, sweet Brioche French Toast is the ideal breakfast for holiday mornings, a festive weekend, or a romantic occasion.
    5 from 1 vote
    Save Recipe Saved! Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 30 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine French
    Servings 8 slices
    Calories 271 kcal
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    Ingredients
      

    • ½ cup whole milk
    • ½ cup half and half
    • 4 large eggs
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon or more to taste
    • pinch fine sea salt
    • 8 slices brioche bread ½ to ¾-inch thick slices, ideally day old
    • 4 tablespoons butter or more as needed

    Optional Toppings

    • maple syrup
    • fruit preserves or jam
    • lightly sweetened whipped cream
    • fresh berries
    • powdered sugar

    Instructions
     

    • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment and place in a cold oven. Set oven to 275˚F. (To keep first batches warm.)
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together milk, half and half, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and salt.
    • Pour custard into a second rimmed baking sheet. Add brioche slices, arranging in a single layer; immediately flip each slice so that both sides are coated. Let stand 5 minutes at room temperature; carefully flip slices once more and let stand while you heat the skillet.
    • Heat a large nonstick skillet (or cast iron skillet) over medium-low heat; add 1 tablespoon of the butter and swirl to coat. Add 2 or 3 custard soaked brioche slices in a single layer (each one should have a little room). Cook until golden brown on the bottom, 4 to 5 minutes (adjust heat as needed to brown each side without burning). Flip and cook until golden brown on the other side, 4 to 5 minutes more. Transfer to plate for serving or to prepared baking sheet in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with remaining batches. Serve with desired toppings.

    Notes

    1. Nutritional information does not include optional toppings.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 271kcalCarbohydrates: 27gProtein: 9gFat: 13gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 142mgSodium: 297mgPotassium: 143mgFiber: 1gSugar: 3gVitamin A: 501IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 103mgIron: 2mg
    Keyword Christmas morning, comfort food
    Tried this recipe?I'd love to see it! Tag me on Instagram at @pinchandswirl or leave me a comment and rating below.

    More French Breakfast

    • Asparagus Quiche photographed from the top.
      Asparagus Quiche
    • Savory Crepes sq
      Savory Crepes
    • Breakfast Quiche
    • Brioche Cinnamon Roll served on a white square plate.
      Brioche Cinnamon Rolls

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Valentina says

      May 16, 2023 at 1:22 pm

      As far as I'm concerned, there is no better bread than Brioche for French Toast. And this recipe sounds sooooo delicious! 🙂 ~Valentina

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        May 17, 2023 at 8:05 am

        Thanks so much, Valentina!

        Reply
    2. David @ Spiced says

      May 09, 2023 at 4:53 am

      5 stars
      Oh that picture is making me crave French toast like you wouldn't believe right now! Brioche is absolutely the best choice for French toast. I'm thinking this might need to happen for breakfast this weekend!

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        May 10, 2023 at 6:21 am

        I love to hear that, David. Thank you!

        Reply
    3. angiesrecipes says

      May 08, 2023 at 5:33 am

      They look sinfully decadent and irresistible, Marissa.

      Reply
      • Marissa Stevens says

        May 09, 2023 at 3:35 am

        Thank you, Angie!

        Reply

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