The Best Brioche French Toast Recipe | Valerie's Kitchen (2024)

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Thick-sliced brioche dipped in a sweet egg custard creates the most tender, buttery, luxurious French toast ever! Serve this Brioche French Toast with fresh berries and warm maple syrup for an easy but elegant breakfast.

The Best Brioche French Toast Recipe | Valerie's Kitchen (1)

I did this Brioche French Toast recipe for Christmas brunch last year and I’ve had it tucked away ever since, ready to share with you for Mother’s Day.

It’s such a great choice for even the most novice of cooks to pull together in a snap for a special breakfast in bed but would also be a wonderful choice for a more formal Mother’s Day brunch menu.

The Best Brioche French Toast Recipe | Valerie's Kitchen (2)

The Best Bread for French Toast

Brioche is a French pastry bread that uses more eggs and butter than most other yeast breads. The result is pillowy, buttery and slightly sweet. It’s frequently baked as a round loaf but has been rapidly gaining popularity and now you’ll find it readily available in the form of everything from hamburger buns to sliced bread.

Trader Joe’s carries a really nice loaf of thick-sliced brioche for a great price. I’ve also seen it at Costco and even my local Safeway. Look for a sliced loaf to make this recipe truly a breeze to prepare.

The Best Brioche French Toast Recipe | Valerie's Kitchen (3)

One note – be sure to remove the little strip of paper from the bottom of the slices before dipping in the egg custard as directed in the recipe. It might seem obvious but when you’re moving quickly first thing in the morning, it can be easy to miss!

The Best Brioche French Toast Recipe | Valerie's Kitchen (4)

For the simple egg custard I recommend using whole milk. There’s more body in whole milk than reduced fat milk which makes for a richer custard that will adhere to the bread and yield a better result.

To further enhance the buttery-sweet brioche, I like to add a touch of sugar and vanilla extract to the egg mixture.

For one recipe of French toast it’s easy to cook it in batches in a large skillet on the stove but when I’m cooking for a large group I like to double this recipe, using two loaves of brioche, and cook it on my counter top electric griddle. To make it easier to coat several pieces of bread at once, whisk the egg custard together in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish

The Best Brioche French Toast Recipe | Valerie's Kitchen (5)

I cooked up some yummy chicken breakfast sausage (also a Trader Joe’s item) and served it with warm pure maple syrup and fresh berries.

I think I can speak for most mom’s out there that this would be a very delicious way to start Mother’s Day.

The Best Brioche French Toast Recipe | Valerie's Kitchen (6)

Looking for more breakfast or brunch inspiration? Check out my entire collection of breakfast recipes including my Muffin Tin Hash Brown and Scrambled Egg Cups, Easy Crustless Quiche Bake and Oven Roasted Breakfast Potatoes.

The Best Brioche French Toast Recipe | Valerie's Kitchen (7)

Brioche French Toast

5 from 139 votes

Thick-sliced brioche dipped in a sweet egg custard creates the most tender, buttery, luxurious French toast ever! Serve this Brioche French Toast with fresh berries and warm maple syrup for an easy but elegant breakfast.

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Author: Valerie Brunmeier

Keyword: breakfast, brunch, french toast

Print RecipePin RecipeRate Recipe

Prep Time:5 minutes minutes

Cook Time:20 minutes minutes

Total Time:25 minutes minutes

Servings: 5

Ingredients

  • 4 eggs
  • ¾ cup whole milk
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons butter, divided
  • 10 slices brioche
  • ½ cup pure maple syrup, warmed
  • fresh berries, for serving

Instructions

  • Whisk the eggs in a low shallow dish – a pie plate works well – or if you’d like to coat several pieces of bread at once, use a 13- x 9-inch baking dish. Add the milk, sugar and vanilla extract and whisk again until well combined.

  • Add 1 tablespoon butter to a 12-inch to 14-inch skillet and place over MEDIUM heat. Meanwhile, place one slice of brioche into the egg mixture and turn to coat both sides. When butter has melted and begins to foam, add the coated brioche. Dip and transfer as many pieces of brioche that will comfortably fit in the pan without touching. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and then flip the bread and cook for another 3 to 4 minutes on the other side.

  • Transfer the French toast to a platter and keep warm. If you don’t have a warming tray, place the French toast on a baking sheet and transfer to a 200 degree oven until ready to serve.

  • Wipe down the skillet with a paper towel and repeat the process with remaining butter, bread, and egg mixture.

  • Serve immediately with warmed maple syrup and fresh berries.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 531 kcal · Carbohydrates: 58 g · Protein: 13 g · Fat: 27 g · Saturated Fat: 15 g · Cholesterol: 272 mg · Sodium: 448 mg · Potassium: 169 mg · Sugar: 23 g · Vitamin A: 1060 IU · Calcium: 138 mg · Iron: 1.3 mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.

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FAQs

Should I dry out brioche for French toast? ›

You can dry it by toasting it in the oven or leaving it out overnight. Don't Let the Bread Soak Too Long. Unlike French toast casserole or overnight French toast, you don't want the bread to soak in the custard for an extended amount of time.

Why is my brioche not fluffy? ›

If the kneading is not done correctly and the dough is not kneaded enough or is kneaded too much, this will affect the texture of the brioche. The dough should be left to rise in a warm place, away from any draughts.

Why is restaurant French toast so much better? ›

According to the chef, the difference comes down to two main elements: the use of high-quality yeasty bread and allowing it time to properly soak. While you can use regular old white bread at home, you may want to give yours an upgrade — try subbing in thick-cut slices of brioche instead.

Should French toast have more eggs or milk? ›

Whatever you decide on, the ratio of liquid to egg will still be about ¼ cup liquid to one egg, and one egg per two slices of bread. So, if you want to make four slices of French toast, you would need four slices of bread, two eggs, and ½ cup milk.

Why does brioche need to sit overnight? ›

Kneading with a stand mixer is highly recommended for brioche dough. Cold proof your dough: According to Martin, letting the dough proof in the fridge overnight provides extended fermentation time, which in turn develops more flavor.

Should you leave bread out overnight for French toast? ›

Ideally, the bread should be slightly stale. A drier bread will soak up all the custard. Bread can be left out with the wrapper open the day before cooking. If you find yourself in a pinch, dry your bread slices in a 275°F oven for 10 minutes before soaking them in the custard.

How do you know when brioche is done? ›

Brioche should be a deep brown when done, should sound hollow when tapped, and will read 190°F at the center using an instant-read thermometer.

What to add to French toast to make it better? ›

Sugar: A tablespoon of white sugar lends welcome sweetness to this decadent breakfast recipe. Vanilla: A teaspoon of vanilla extract adds complexity and takes the flavor up a notch. Cinnamon: Ground cinnamon lends coziness and warmth. .

Is butter or oil better for French toast? ›

Butter gives French toast a deep richness and comforting quality, which are what we crave on mornings we sizzle this breakfast staple. To prevent burning or smoking, use a combination of butter and oil in the pan to cook the toast.

How to stop toast from going soggy? ›

When you balance two slices of bread together to stand up in the shape of a tent, it can prevent that condensation from building up on the bottom half of the bread. It allows more room for free air flow so that the bread can cool down without trapping any heat underneath.

How do you toast bread without it getting soggy? ›

A toast rack is the perfect way to do this, but you can also just prop the slices against each other like a little tent.

How do you make brioche less dry? ›

Here are some pointers for avoiding a dry, crumbly brioche:
  1. The dough must contain sufficient water. ...
  2. Always mix the dough first, then mix in the butter. ...
  3. Use only bread flour. ...
  4. Keep butter and dough cool. ...
  5. Knead the dough long enough to make it smooth and shiny. ...
  6. Avoid overmixing the dough once the butter is incorporated.
Jan 21, 1986

How to avoid soggy French toast casserole? ›

It could be because of the bread you used. If the bread you start with is too soft (such as white sandwich bread), it won't absorb all of the wonderful custard that it should, and it might end up soggy. If you find yourself with a soggy casserole, for whatever reason, try baking it a bit longer until it firms up some.

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