This delicious French toast recipe from Alton Brown is the perfect balance of crispy and custardy. It’s quick, easy, and made with simple ingredients you likely have at home. The secret? A touch of honey for richness and an optional Frosted Flakes coating for extra crunch. Enjoy it hot with maple syrup, whipped cream, or fresh fruit!
Recipe Ingredients:
- 1 cup half and half
- 3 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons honey, warmed in microwave for 20 seconds
- 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
- 8 (1/2-inch) slices day-old or stale country loaf, brioche, or challah bread
- 4 tablespoons butter
- Crushed Frosted Flakes, for coating, optional
How To Make French Toast?
- Prepare the Custard: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the half-and-half, eggs, honey, and salt until well combined. This can be done the night before—just refrigerate the mixture overnight.
- Soak the Bread: Pour the custard mixture into a shallow dish or pie pan. Dip each bread slice into the mixture, letting it soak for 30 seconds on each side. Place the soaked bread on a wire rack set over a baking tray and let it rest for 1–2 minutes. If using Frosted Flakes, coat the soaked bread before cooking.
- Cook the French Toast: Preheat the oven to 190°C / 375°F. In a large frying pan over medium-low heat, melt 1 tbsp of butter. Place two slices of bread into the pan and cook until golden brown, about 1–2 minutes per side. Transfer to a wire rack set over a baking tray. Repeat with the remaining butter and bread slices.
- Finish in the Oven: Once all slices are browned, place them in the preheated oven for 5 minutes to ensure a crisp outside and a soft, custardy inside.
- Serve: Enjoy immediately with maple syrup, whipped cream, or fresh fruit.
Recipe Tips:
- Use Day-Old Bread: Fresh bread can become too soggy. Stale bread absorbs the custard without falling apart, giving you the perfect texture.
- Don’t Skip the Resting Time: After soaking, let the bread rest on a wire rack for 1–2 minutes. This helps the custard absorb evenly, preventing sogginess.
- Cook on Medium-Low Heat: High heat burns the outside before the inside is cooked. A lower temperature ensures a golden, crispy crust with a soft center.
- Finish in the Oven: Baking for a few minutes makes the toast crisp on the outside and fully cooked inside—no undercooked, eggy texture!
- Try the Frosted Flakes Coating: For extra crunch, coat the soaked bread in crushed Frosted Flakes before frying. It adds a sweet, crispy layer that makes it even better!
How To Store & Reheat Leftovers?
- Refrigerate: Let the leftover French toast cool to room temperature. Store it in an airtight container or wrap it tightly in plastic wrap. Keep it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Freeze: Once cooled, place the French toast slices in a single layer on a baking tray and freeze for 1 hour. Then, transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or container, separating layers with parchment paper. Freeze for up to 2 months.
- Reheat: Heat a dry frying pan over medium-low heat. Place the French toast in the pan and cook for 1–2 minutes per side until warm and crispy.
Nutrition Facts
- Calories: 159 kcal
- Total Fat: 6.13g
- Saturated Fat: 2g
- Cholesterol: 88mg
- Sodium: 251mg
- Potassium: 95mg
- Total Carbohydrate: 20.02g
- Dietary Fiber: 0.9g
- Sugars: 4.5g
- Protein: 5.58g
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Alton Brown French Toast
Description
This delicious French toast recipe from Alton Brown is the perfect balance of crispy and custardy. It’s quick, easy, and made with simple ingredients you likely have at home. The secret? A touch of honey for richness and an optional Frosted Flakes coating for extra crunch. Enjoy it hot with maple syrup, whipped cream, or fresh fruit!
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare the Custard: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the half-and-half, eggs, honey, and salt until well combined. This can be done the night before—just refrigerate the mixture overnight.
- Soak the Bread: Pour the custard mixture into a shallow dish or pie pan. Dip each bread slice into the mixture, letting it soak for 30 seconds on each side. Place the soaked bread on a wire rack set over a baking tray and let it rest for 1–2 minutes. If using Frosted Flakes, coat the soaked bread before cooking.
- Cook the French Toast: Preheat the oven to 190°C / 375°F. In a large frying pan over medium-low heat, melt 1 tbsp of butter. Place two slices of bread into the pan and cook until golden brown, about 1–2 minutes per side. Transfer to a wire rack set over a baking tray. Repeat with the remaining butter and bread slices.
- Finish in the Oven: Once all slices are browned, place them in the preheated oven for 5 minutes to ensure a crisp outside and a soft, custardy inside.
- Serve: Enjoy immediately with maple syrup, whipped cream, or fresh fruit.
Notes
- Use Day-Old Bread: Fresh bread can become too soggy. Stale bread absorbs the custard without falling apart, giving you the perfect texture.
- Don’t Skip the Resting Time: After soaking, let the bread rest on a wire rack for 1–2 minutes. This helps the custard absorb evenly, preventing sogginess.
- Cook on Medium-Low Heat: High heat burns the outside before the inside is cooked. A lower temperature ensures a golden, crispy crust with a soft center.
- Finish in the Oven: Baking for a few minutes makes the toast crisp on the outside and fully cooked inside—no undercooked, eggy texture!
- Try the Frosted Flakes Coating: For extra crunch, coat the soaked bread in crushed Frosted Flakes before frying. It adds a sweet, crispy layer that makes it even better!
Alton Brown French Toast
