Fluffy and tender on the inside and golden crisp outside, the best French Toast we‘ve ever tasted was during a trip to Japan. I‘ve recreated it here following the chef‘s recipe and tips. Now, you can make this amazing dish at home for breakfast or brunch!
Prep Time15 minutesmins
Cook Time20 minutesmins
Total Time35 minutesmins
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: Japanese
Keyword: French Toast
Servings: 4
Calories: 413kcal
Author: Namiko Hirasawa Chen
Ingredients
3large eggs (50 g each w/o shell)
¼cupsugar
½tsppure vanilla extract
2½cupswhole milk
1French baguette
2Tbspunsalted butter
toppings of your choice(I suggest confectioners‘ sugar,maple syrup, and fruit such as berries; optional)
In a large bowl, beat 3 large eggs (50 g each w/o shell).
Add ¼ cup sugar and ½ tsp pure vanilla extract. Whisk well to combine.
Add 2½ cups whole milk and whisk well together.
To Soak the Baguette
Cut 1 French baguette into pieces 1½–2 inches (4–5 cm) thick.
Dip each piece into the bowl with the custard mixture, soaking both sides of the bread. Then, place each soaked baguette slice in a deep baking dish, with the soft white side facing up.
Pour the leftover custard mixture into the baking dish.
Soak in the custard mixture for 5 minutes. Then, flip to soak the other side for 5 minutes. The side facing up now is the “dry” side. While waiting for the baguette to soak, prepare your toppings (optional) like fruit, powdered sugar, and maple syrup.
To Cook the French Toast
Preheat the oven to 350ºF (180ºC). Grease the rimmed baking sheet with butter. Heat 2 Tbsp unsalted butter in a large frying pan or griddle.
When the butter is melted and the pan is hot, place the bread in the pan, “dry” side DOWN. The “dry” side is the side facing up in the baking dish (the first side that you soaked).
Cook until the bottom is golden brown. Then, turn over to cook the other side until golden.
When both sides are nicely browned, transfer to the baking sheet.
Bake at 350ºF (180ºC) for 6 minutes. For a convection oven, reduce the cooking temperature by 25ºF (15ºC).
Remove from the oven and serve on a plate.
To Serve
Add the toppings of your choice (optional). I sprinkled confectioners’ sugar and drizzled maple syrup on top and served with strawberries and blackberries. Enjoy!
To Store
You can keep the leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and in the freezer for a month.