Classic French Toast with Cinnamon

Golden, custardy, and warmly spiced, classic French toast is the weekend breakfast that never goes out of style. Thick slices of bread soak up a cinnamon-vanilla egg mixture, then fry until crisp at the edges and soft in the middle.

Prep time: 10 minutes | Cook time: 10 minutes | Servings: 4 (8 slices)

Ingredients

• 8 thick slices of bread (day-old brioche or challah is best)
• 3 large eggs
• 2/3 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• A pinch of salt
• Butter, for frying
• Maple syrup and berries, to serve

Method

1. Whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, sugar, and salt together in a wide, shallow dish.
2. Dip one slice of bread into the mixture, letting it soak for about 20 seconds on each side. Do not leave it so long that it falls apart.
3. Melt a knob of butter in a large pan over medium heat. Fry the slices in batches for 2 to 3 minutes per side, until golden brown.
4. Keep the cooked slices warm while you fry the rest, adding a little more butter as needed. Serve with maple syrup and berries.

Tips

Slightly stale bread absorbs the custard without going soggy, so use yesterday’s loaf if you can. If your bread is very fresh, lightly toast it first. For a richer finish, dust with icing sugar and add a spoonful of whipped cream.