Cinnamon French Toast (Straightforward & Ready in 15 Minutes!) from the Pantry

Love french toast? You need to try our familiar French toast recipe as well as our STUFFED French toast!

Why you’ll love this unfussy recipe!

Is there anything more handsome than a plate full of cinnamon French toast fresh off the griddle on a Saturday morning? It’s one of our go-to breakfast recipes! Add a glass of orange juice, a strong cup of hazelnut coffee, and a healthy amount of maple syrup, and you have the dependable unfussy breakfast and a great way to start the weekend. Don’t you agree?

Why You’ll Love This

• Ready start to finish in simply 15 minutes
• Made with simple pantry staples you already have
• Perfectly spiced with cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla
• Crispy on the outside, soft and fluffy on the inside
• Easily customizable with any toppings you love

Simple ingredients needed

The basic ingredients for this simple french toast recipe are listed fully down in the recipe card but let’s briefly go over the pantry staples needed including a few substitutions you can make as desired!

• Eggs – create richness and help the custard cling to the bread; no real swap here, they’re essential
• Milk – thins out the egg mixture for the right custard consistency; any milk works, including whole milk, heavy cream, 2%, or even full-fat oat milk for a dairy-free version. Soy milk or almond milk also work great!
• Ground cinnamon – the star spice of this dish; feel free to add a little extra if you love a bold cinnamon flavor
• Ground nutmeg – adds warmth and depth; a tiny bit goes a long way
• Vanilla extract – brings out the sweetness and rounds out the spices; pure vanilla is go-to here
• Salt – only a pinch to balance the sweetness
• Bread – any thick-sliced bread will work well – I typically opt for some kind of white bread! Thick-cut brioche bread, challah, or Texas toast are ideal; day-old or slightly stale bread soaks up the custard without getting soggy french toast.
• Your regular toppings – Worth keeping fresh berries, butter, and a good drizzle of maple syrup!

How to make it

Only a reminder that you can find the FULL written straightforward french toast recipe down in the recipe card, but I want to quickly go over how to make them with visuals for you:)

Recipe Tips

• Use stale or day-old bread – fresh bread gets too soggy; leave it out uncovered overnight or briefly bake it to dry it out
• Whisk the eggs well – more air in the mixture = lighter, fluffier French toast
• Cook right after dipping – don’t let the slice of bread sit in the custard or it’ll get too soft and fall apart
• Preheat your pan – a hot skillet is key to getting that golden, caramelized crust

Toppings

Sometimes keeping it simple is go-to and we often simply serve this with butter, maple syrup and fruit. Here are some other savory ideas:

• Add a boost of protein with a dollop of Greek yogurt.
• Top with any regular fruit – sliced banana, berries, sliced apples, pears or peaches.
• Add healthy fats with a sprinkle of chopped pecans or almonds. You can even pair it with peanut butter or almond butter.
• Make it truly decadent by adding whipped cream, maple syrup, a sprinkle of powdered sugar or even chocolate chips.

Serving suggestions

This dish is great as a main or side dish to a brunch feast. Here are some ideas:

• Breakfast potatoes, hash browns or vegan hash
• Sausage, bacon, or ham
• Eggs or vegan “egg” cups
• Tofu scramble or zucchini crust quiche