After a week of cold breakfasts in a rush out the door, there’s nothing better than a piping hot French toast breakfast with real maple syrup for a weekend brunch. But for some people, it’s an intimidating meal to master and can require a little trial and error.
The history of the famous breakfast
According to FoodRepublic.com, the dish we now know as French toast originated in a 4th-century Roman cookbook, which described soaking pieces of white bread in milk and beaten egg, then frying it in oil and covering it with honey. As for why we call it French toast, legend has it that a New York man named Joseph French introduced the comfort food in 1724, but left off the "'s" when he was naming it.
French toast is so popular that there’s even an unofficial National French Toast Day on Nov.
28, according to National Day Calendar.
Though it’s known as a carb-heavy meal, it also does have a bit of protein; the University of Rochester Medicine reports one slice of French toast with butter contains 10.34 grams of protein, 18.76 grams of fat and 36 grams of carbs. But this can vary depending on your bread and other variations.
Choosing a bread for the best French toast
When a meal is made mostly of bread, the bread choice matters.
"Brioche is traditional for French toast, but from a nutritional point of view, still considering taste, sourdough and whole grain bread are better options. Look for bakery options of these breads vs. shelf-stable for better ingredients and flavor," says Vahista Ussery (aka "Chef V"), a registered dietitian nutritionist, chef and founder of totaste.com in Fort Worth, Texas.
"Whole grain bread provides you with fiber, phytonutrients and more vitamins and minerals than white bread, including brioche. Sourdough provides you benefits from fermentation, including a more steady rise in blood sugar vs. a spike you get from traditional white bread," Ussery says.
She says you should start with a delicious bread, and that if you don’t like it plain, you won’t like it for French toast.
Prepare additional ingredients
French toast is typically made by soaking bread in a mixture of milk, eggs and spices before cooking in a pan or the oven. Ussery says that "creamier milks" including cow, coconut or cashew make for the best French toast.
Gather your eggs and choose your spices, keeping an eye on the sugar content that additional ingredients can bring, if that’s a concern. "Cinnamon and vanilla extract, which are classic additions, add an aura of sweet flavor without sugar. Pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, cardamom, almond extract and coconut extract do the same. Another strategy is to add mashed banana to the custard mix. Mash the banana very well, then whisk it with the eggs and milk. Bananas offer natural fruit sugar, not to be confused with added sugars."
You can also use toppings after cooking to add sweetness, such as fruits or syrups. Be mindful of the health pros and cons of all ingredients, and speak to a health care provider if you have specific questions about French toast and your own diet.
Cooking tips for French toast
Kara Brown, recipe developer (including a variety of fancy toast), beekeeper and founder of Bee Inspired, a honey making business in the Washington, DC area, says to cook it on medium heat in a nonstick or well-seasoned skillet. "The key is steady, moderate heat. If the pan is too hot, the outside gets dark before the custard in the middle has a chance to set."
She prefers to use slightly stale bread because it holds the custard better than fresh bread.
"For a crowd, baking it on a sheet pan or making a baked French toast casserole is another easy option. You can get good browning without standing over the stove cooking every slice," she adds. She prefers using butter while cooking, but you can also use oil.
For more tips and ideas, do a little research on the best French toast, such as searching #Frenchtoast to find home chefs perfecting this breakfast classic on TikTok. And try challah French toast, too. You won't regret it.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Tips from experts for the best French toast
