Our Very Favorite French Toast Recipes for Breakfast or Brunch

Matthew Hranek

From classic to stuffed to baked, these French toast recipes highlight all the different ways to serve this dish for an irresistible breakfast or brunch.

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Kirsten Frances

It's a question you've wondered for years: Is French toast really French? We're not sure, but what we do know for certain is that this traditional breakfast and brunch dish is a classic for good reason. From sweet to savory (yes, really!), whether cooked on the stovetop a slice at a time or baked in the oven as a casserole, French toast is a crowd-pleasing way to start the day.

Here's what we do know about this comforting recipe: The French call their take French toast pain perdu, which translates to "lost bread," because these recipes are delicious ways to use up stale or leftover bread. (If the bread is not so fresh it will be drier and absorb the custard better.). Many of our recipes call for dense bread like brioche (Martha's favorite!) or challah, which both do an excellent job of soaking up the eggy-creamy mixture. Other recipes use less expected bread—like baguette or pita—but promise the same mouthwatering results.

The custard is traditional a dairy-rich mixture, but we do have a dairy-free vegan French toast recipe that's truly great and just as creamy as conventional takes. Other recipes are rich thanks to their use of eggs and milk while some get their decadent texture thanks to eggs and heavy cream. Some are scented with vanilla, some with cinnamon. Either way, each bite is bound to be delicious.

Classic French toast is cooked on the stovetop, usually in butter and served one slice at a time to eager eaters. To keep the slices warm as you cook, place finished pieces in a low oven, then serve your stack all at once. If that's too fussy for you, know that French toast can also be cooked in the oven, individual baked slices of bread, custard, and flavorings packed tightly together for baked French toast.

The possibilities don't end there! Try making Bostock, a très chic, très delightful hybrid of French toast and croissant. The version shown here has both strawberry jam and fresh rhubarb, so you know it's a winner. French toast can also be stuffed or made with savory ingredients, but no matter what you do, it's always delicious. In fact, we think it's one of the most comforting ways to start the day.

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Our Very Favorite French Toast Recipes for Breakfast or Brunch

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Classic French Toast

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Baked Stuffed French Toast

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Martha's French Toast with Grand Marnier

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Vegan Banana French Toast

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Pear-and-Raspberry Baked French Toast

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Creme Brûlèe French Toast

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Oven-Baked French Toast

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Pita Bread French Toast

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Peanut Butter French Toast Sandwiches

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Savory French-Toast BLT

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Apple-Maple French Toast

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French Toast with Blueberry Maple Syrup

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Brioche French Toast with Asparagus and Orange Beurre Blanc

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Gluten-Free Polenta "French Toast"

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Pumpkin Pie French Toast

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