THE BEST FRENCH TOAST

The Best French Toast image

Our favorite bread for making French toast is pain de mie for its neutral flavor and spongey texture, which helps it absorb the egg mixture without falling apart. It's sometimes hard to find, so you can substitute brioche for a richer and more decadent toast or challah for an all-purpose choice. Many French toast recipes call for stale bread, but we lightly toast fresh bread slices in the oven instead. We like a slightly longer soak time on the bread to give it a more custard-like texture. If you like your French toast on the drier side, cut the soak time down to 30 seconds per side.

Provided by Food Network Kitchen

Time 1h15m

Yield 8 slices

Number Of Ingredients 11

Ingredients

1 loaf pain de mie, brioche or challah
10 large eggs
2 cups half-and-half
1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/2 stick (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, plus more for serving
Maple syrup, for serving
Confectioners' sugar, for serving

Steps:

Arrange a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 300 degrees F.
Cut the bread into 8 slices about 3/4-inch thick. Arrange them in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet (it's ok if they overlap). Bake, flipping them halfway through, until very lightly golden on both sides, about 12 minutes. Let them cool on the baking sheet until ready to use. Reduce the oven temperature to 200 degrees F.
Vigorously whisk the eggs in a large bowl until blended and no streaks of whites remain. Add the half-and-half, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg and whisk until completely incorporated. Transfer to a 2-quart baking dish.
Gently press 2 slices of the toasted bread into the custard. Turn to coat and then gently press down on the bread until you feel it start to soak up the custard-this is key for a luscious, moist texture. Let the bread soak for about 1 minute per side; it should feel heavy but still hold its shape and not fall apart.
Melt 1 tablespoon of the butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Cook 2 of the soaked bread slices until they are a deep golden brown, the custard has set and the insides are cooked through, 4 to 5 minutes per side. The center of the bread will puff slightly while the crust will contract, making it look puckered. You may have to alternate between medium and medium-low heat if the bread browns too quickly or not fast enough. Transfer the slices to a rimmed baking sheet and hold in the warm oven. Repeat with the remaining butter and bread.
Serve the French toast with butter, maple syrup and a sprinkle of confectioners' sugar.