Perfect Crispy Challah French Toast with Cinnamon

Okay, friends, listen up—if you haven’t tried my crispy challah French toast with cinnamon, you’re missing out on a whole other level of breakfast magic. Picture this: a golden, crispy exterior, thanks to that gorgeous challah, and an ultra-soft, pillowy interior, all infused with the warmest cinnamon vibes. Top it off with a little powdered sugar and maple syrup, and you’ve got yourself a breakfast that will impress your pickiest eater.

Trust me, once you try this, you’ll be making it every weekend. It's formal enough for a fancy brunch, easy enough for every day. Let’s go!

French toast is my go-to breakfast for so many reasons--it's incredibly easy, delicious, and I always have the ingredients on hand. It's a no-brainer for breakfast or brunch, and it also makes a super tasty, simple dinner.

Jump to:

• Ingredients
• The Secret Ingredient in French Toast
• What Kind of Bread is Best for French Toast?
• Can I Use Regular Sandwich Bread for French Toast?
• Can I Use Non-Dairy Milk in French Toast?
• Chai Spice French Toast
• Storage
• Best Toppings for French Toast
• FAQ
• Related
• Pairing

Ingredients

• challah bread
• egg
• butter
• milk
• vanilla
• brown sugar
• AP flour
• cinnamon
• salt

See recipe card for quantities.

The Secret Ingredient in French Toast

The secret ingredient in this French toast recipe is flour. Yep, boring old AP flour. Here's why:

Adding flour to the French toast batter helps to create a thicker, more structured custard. This can have several effects on the final result:

1. Improves Texture: Flour helps thicken the egg/milk mixture, giving it a richer and creamier texture. It allows the egg mixture to cling to the bread better, creating a more substantial coating around each slice (almost like a batter).
2. Crispier Exterior: Flour contributes to a crispier outer layer when the French toast is fried. The flour helps form a light crust, which gives a satisfying crunch while maintaining a soft, fluffy interior.
3. Adds Body to the Batter: The flour adds a little more body to the batter, which can prevent it from becoming too runny or watery. This creates a more uniform coating on the bread, ensuring a consistent and even result.

What Kind of Bread is Best for French Toast?

When it comes to French toast, not all breads are created equal, and choosing the right one is UBER important to achieving that perfect balance of crispy on the outside, soft on the inside. The best bread for French toast needs to be thick, sturdy, and slightly sweet—something that can soak up the egg and milk mixture without falling apart. Enter challah, brioche, or thick-cut Texas toast—these are the heavy hitters in the French toast world. Challah, with its slightly sweet flavor and soft, fluffy texture, is my personal favorite. It absorbs the custard beautifully, while the crust crisps up perfectly. Brioche, with its buttery richness, adds a melt-in-your-mouth quality, and Texas toast, with its hearty thickness, gives you that satisfying bite. Whatever you choose, just make sure your bread is fresh (but not too fresh—stale bread is actually ideal for soaking up all that goodness!) for a French toast that’s worth waking up for.

Can I Use Regular Sandwich Bread for French Toast?

Absolutely! I don't always have a fancy bread option available when I need to crank out something to feed the offspring, and regular sandwich bread will still make a banging French toast. If you're using a thinner, less substantial bread, make sure not to soak TOO long in the custard mixture, and it's best if your bread is a little on the stale side. If my bread starts out too fresh, I'll leave it on the counter for 15 minutes or so to go a little stale before starting the recipe.

Can I Use Non-Dairy Milk in French Toast?

If you’re looking to make your French toast dairy-free, swapping out regular milk for a non-dairy alternative is super easy and still delicious. Almond milk, oat milk, and coconut milk are all great options that will keep your French toast soft and custardy without compromising on flavor.

Chai Spice French Toast

My favorite way to kick up regular French toast is to substitute chai spice mix for the cinnamon. If you’re looking to give your French toast a warm, aromatic twist, substituting chai spice mix for cinnamon is a game-changer! My chai spice blend includes cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, nutmeg, and allspice, giving your French toast a more complex flavor profile with a delightful kick of spice, a hint of floral sweetness from the cardamom, and subtle heat from the ginger. Just swap out the cinnamon for an equal amount of chai spice blend. You can thank me later!

Storage

Storing French toast properly is key to keeping it fresh and tasty for later. Here’s how to do it:

1. For Short-Term Storage (2-3 Days):
   After making your French toast, let it cool completely to room temperature. Place the slices in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag and store in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat it in a toaster, oven, or skillet to bring back that crispy exterior.
2. For Longer-Term Storage (Up to 1 Month):
   If you want to keep your French toast for longer, you should keep it in the freezer. Lay the slices out on a baking sheet in a single layer and freeze them until solid (about 2 hours). Once frozen, transfer the slices into a freezer-safe bag or container. This method prevents the slices from sticking together and makes it easy to pull out just as many as you need. Frozen French toast will stay good up to a month (although I've kept it longer than that with no loss of flavor or texture...shhh). To reheat, pop it straight into a toaster, toaster oven, or oven to crisp it back up. Makes a perfect super quick breakfast!

Reheating in a skillet, toaster, or oven will help restore the delightful crispness to your French toast.

FAQ

Related

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Pairing

These are my favorite dishes to serve with crispy challah French toast: