French Toast · Classic Skillet
Classic Skillet French Toast
Screen stays on while you cook
Before you start
Gather your ingredients
Weights from USDA FoodData Central cup weights; counted things stay as counts.
Swaps for whole milk
Instead of milk
- Unsweetened soy milk: The same amount. The closest plant milk for baking: its protein helps things brown and set.
- Unsweetened oat milk: The same amount. Creamy and mild with a hint of sweetness.
- Unsweetened almond milk: The same amount. Thinner and less rich, so cakes are a little paler and drier.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
Swaps for granulated sugar
Instead of sugar
- Less sugar: Up to ¼ less in cookies, muffins and quick breads. Less browning and spread, a drier, more cake-like texture, and bakes go stale sooner.
- Brown sugar: The same amount, packed. Moister and chewier, with a caramel flavor and darker color.
- Coconut sugar: The same amount. Darker and caramel-like, a little less sweet; cookies spread slightly less.
Swaps for vanilla extract
Instead of vanilla extract
- Vanilla bean paste: The same amount. Stronger, with visible vanilla seeds.
- Vanilla bean: The seeds of 1 bean for each 1 tbsp extract. A deeper, floral flavor and visible seeds.
- Alcohol-free vanilla: The same amount. Made with glycerin; a slightly milder taste.
Swaps for ground cinnamon
Instead of cinnamon
- Pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice: The same amount. Mostly cinnamon, with ginger, nutmeg and allspice or cloves: a little spicier.
- Ground allspice or nutmeg: About ¼ the amount. Much stronger and different, but warm in the same way.
Swaps for kosher salt
Instead of salt
- Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
Swaps for unsalted butter
Instead of butter
- Salted butter: The same amount, with about ¼ tsp less salt per stick (½ cup) elsewhere in the recipe. Nothing noticeable once you cut the salt.
- Plant-based butter sticks: The same amount. The closest swap.
- Refined coconut oil: The same amount: solid when the butter is soft or cold, melted when it is melted. It is all fat, so bakes are a bit more tender and rich, with no butter flavor.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
Swaps for maple syrup
Instead of maple syrup
- Honey: The same amount. Thicker and sweeter, browns faster, and it isn't vegan.
- Agave syrup: The same amount. Sweeter, with no maple taste.
- Pancake syrup: The same amount. Sweeter and flatter in flavor (it is mostly corn syrup); fine on pancakes, not great in baking or glazes.
Step 1 of 10
Heat the oven to 200°F (95°C) and set a sheet pan inside to keep finished slices warm.
200°F
Step 2 of 10
Crack the eggs into a wide, shallow dish and until no streaks of white remain.
whisk (how to whisk)
Whisk Beat ingredients with a whisk to mix them smoothly or to add air. 1. Use a bowl big enough to whisk without splashing; set it on a damp towel to stop it spinning.2. Hold the whisk loosely and move it in quick circles or side to side, touching the bottom.3. For lumpy mixtures, add liquid a little at a time and whisk after each.4. For sauces on the stove, keep the whisk moving across the whole bottom of the pan. Done when: The mixture is even with no lumps or streaks of egg. How to whisk: mistakes to avoidStep 3 of 10
Whisk (how to whisk)
Whisk Beat ingredients with a whisk to mix them smoothly or to add air. 1. Use a bowl big enough to whisk without splashing; set it on a damp towel to stop it spinning.2. Hold the whisk loosely and move it in quick circles or side to side, touching the bottom.3. For lumpy mixtures, add liquid a little at a time and whisk after each.4. For sauces on the stove, keep the whisk moving across the whole bottom of the pan. Done when: The mixture is even with no lumps or streaks of egg. How to whisk: mistakes to avoidStep 4 of 10
Melt 1/2 tablespoon of butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat until it foams.
Step 5 of 10
Lay 2 slices of bread in the custard and let them soak, then flip and soak the other side. They should feel heavy but not fall apart.
Step 6 of 10
Lift the slices, let the extra custard drip back into the dish and lay them in the hot pan.
Step 7 of 10
Cook until the bottom is deep golden brown.
Step 8 of 10
Flip and cook until the second side is golden and the center feels springy, with no wet custard when you press it.
Step 9 of 10
Move the slices to the warm sheet pan in the oven.
Step 10 of 10
Repeat with the rest of the bread, adding a little butter to the pan for each batch. Serve with maple syrup and fruit.
All done
Enjoy!
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