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French toast is a delicious treat, and while it's known as a popular breakfast food, you can enjoy it any time of day! Many French toast recipes call for vanilla extract. However, if you don't have any vanilla on hand or you just don't prefer the flavor, don't worry! You can simply omit the vanilla, or if you'd like, you can add another ingredient to replace it.
Ingredients
- 8 slices of thick bread
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup (240 mL) of milk
- 1 tbsp (12 g) of sugar (or sugar alternative)
- 2-4 tbsp (28.5-57 g) of butter
- 1 tsp vanilla (omit or see substitution list below)
- Pinch of salt
- Pinch of cinnamon (optional)
- Toppings (powdered sugar, jam, sliced fruit, maple syrup, etc) (optional)
Makes 4 2-slice servings
Steps
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Start with 8 slices of slightly stale or toasted bread. The texture of your French toast will be best if you have day-old or slightly stale bread. The bread will be more firm, so it will hold up better when you dip it into the liquid mixture. [1] X Research source
If your bread is fresh, lightly toast it in your toaster or oven. Thick-sliced, heavy breads like brioche, challah, or sourdough make delicious French bread. However, sandwich bread is fine if that's what you have on hand.
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Whisk eggs, milk, sugar, salt, and cinnamon in a shallow, rimmed dish. Measure out 2 eggs, 1 cup (240 mL) milk, 1 tbsp (12 g) of sugar or your favorite sugar substitute, and a pinch each of salt and cinnamon. Then, add them to a shallow dish. Your cleanup will be easiest if you mix all your ingredients into the same dish you're going to dip your bread into. Once everything is added, use a whisk to mix all of the ingredients together thoroughly. [2] X Research source- You can use any kind of milk, from skim to whole, or you can make the dish a little more indulgent by using heavy cream instead. You can also use a non-dairy option, like almond milk or coconut milk, if you prefer.
- A cake pan or serving dish would be perfect for this. Whatever dish you choose, make sure it has a rim so your ingredients don't spill. Also, it's best if the dish has a flat bottom so you can dip the bread easily.
Tip: If you like eggier French bread, use 3 eggs instead of 2.
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Include a vanilla substitute or omit the vanilla entirely, if you'd like. Your French bread will be perfectly delicious if you decide to just skip over the vanilla and continue making your French toast as-is. However, if you'd like to incorporate a little more flavor into the dish, you can try replacing the vanilla with a substitute like maple syrup, bourbon, or almond extract. [3] X Research source
- Keep reading for a more detailed list of vanilla substitutions, as well as the measurements you'd use for each one!
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Melt a pat of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Swirl the pan as the butter melts to help it spread across the pan evenly. Exactly how much butter you need will depend on the size of the skillet you're using—you want the butter to lightly coat the bottom of the skillet when it melts. [4] X Research source
- About 1/2-1 tbsp (7-14 g) of butter should be enough to cook 2 pieces of bread at a time. If you are making 8 pieces of bread, you'll need this amount of butter 4 times.
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Dip one slice of bread in the dish, then flip it and dip the other side. Once the butter in your skillet is melted, work quickly to dip the bread for the first batch. Take one piece of bread and place it flat into the shallow dish with the eggs and milk. Immediately flip it over to dip the other side, but don't leave either side in the mixture or the bread will get soggy. [5] X Research source
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Place the bread in the skillet and cook each side for 2-3 minutes. Once you dip the bread, quickly transfer it to the skillet with the hot butter. You should hear a sizzle as the egg mixture hits the hot pan. Allow the bread to cook for about 2 or 3 minutes, then flip it over with a spatula and cook the other side. [6] X Research source
- If you're cooking 2 pieces of bread at a time, quickly dip the second piece and add it to the pan as well.
- You want the bread to be a rich golden brown on each side.
- Continue cooking the bread in batches until it's all finished.
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Serve the French toast hot with the toppings of your choice. French toast is best eaten right away, so once it's finished cooking, place it on a plate and add your favorite toppings. For instance, you might drizzle maple syrup over your toast, or you might add sliced fruit and powdered sugar. [7] X Research source
- Other toppings might include jam, honey, caramel syrup, apple butter, or peanut butter.
- If you won't be serving the French toast right away, place it on a baking sheet and keep it in a 250 °F (121 °C) oven for up to 30 minutes.
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Keep leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 days. While your French toast will have the best texture right after it's cooked, if you have leftovers, you can place them in a sealed container or freezer bag in the refrigerator for 2 days. Reheat it in the microwave or your toaster. [8] X Research source
- If you need to store the French toast longer, freeze it in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- If you want, you can make French toast healthier. [9] X Research source
- Use a whole-grain bread. [10] X Research source
- The bread should be low in added sugar and high in fiber. [11] X Research source
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Use maple syrup or honey in place of vanilla for a rich, sweet taste. Maple syrup is a common substitute for vanilla because they have a similar flavor profile. Honey is also often used in place of vanilla, although it has its own unique taste. Luckily, you can substitute either one in a 1:1 ratio, so if you needed 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of vanilla extract, you could use 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of maple syrup or honey, instead. [12] X Research source
- Both honey and maple syrup are sweeter than vanilla, so you may want to cut back on the sugar in the recipe, or omit it entirely.
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Try using half the amount of almond extract instead of vanilla. Almond extract has a sweet, complex taste similar to cherries. Since almond extract is a strong flavor, you only need half the amount that you would need if you were using vanilla. [13] X Research source
- For instance, if you need 1 tsp (4.9 mL) of vanilla extract for your French toast, you would use 1 ⁄ 2 tsp (2.5 mL) of almond extract, instead.
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Replace the vanilla with bourbon or brandy for boozy French toast. Bourbon has a natural smoky vanilla flavor, and brandy typically has a sweet, fruity taste. Either way, if you have them in your liquor cabinet, you can add a splash to give your French bread a richer flavor. [14] X Research source
- Similar to maple syrup, you can use these replacements in a 1:1 ratio, so you'll need 1 tsp (4.9 mL) to replace the vanilla in your French toast.
Did You Know? Don't worry, this is still a family-friendly recipe! The alcohol will cook out of the bourbon or brandy, leaving behind only the flavor.
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Increase the cinnamon in the recipe to make cinnamon French toast. If you love the spicy flavor of cinnamon, just add extra to your mixture. For instance, if the recipe calls for a pinch of cinnamon, you might increase it to 1 1/2—2 tsp (3—4 g) instead. [15] X Research source
- You don't need to adjust any of the other ingredients in the recipe.
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Recipe and Vanilla Substitutes
References
- ↑ https://www.inspiredtaste.net/44190/baked-french-toast/
- ↑ https://addapinch.com/perfect-french-toast-recipe/
- ↑ https://food.onehowto.com/article/how-to-make-french-toast-without-vanilla-extract-9147.html#anchor_0
- ↑ https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/french-toast/
- ↑ https://addapinch.com/perfect-french-toast-recipe/
- ↑ https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-make-french-toast
- ↑ https://addapinch.com/perfect-french-toast-recipe/
- ↑ https://www.jocooks.com/recipes/french-toast/
- ↑ https://heathershomebakery.com/2020/12/29/easy-whole-wheat-french-toast/
- ↑ https://heathershomebakery.com/2020/12/29/easy-whole-wheat-french-toast/
- ↑ https://heathershomebakery.com/2020/12/29/easy-whole-wheat-french-toast/
- ↑ https://foodsguy.com/french-toast-without-vanilla/
- ↑ https://sugarspunrun.com/easy-french-toast-recipe/
- ↑ https://www.epicurious.com/recipes-menus/how-to-make-french-toast
- ↑ https://www.food.com/recipe/cinnamon-french-toast-172268
Community Q&A
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QuestionCan you use whole wheat breadThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerAbsolutely! Whole wheat bread makes delicious French toast, and you might even find you prefer the texture to white bread.
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QuestionIs it necessary to use cinnamon ?This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerNo, you can leave it out if you want. Check out the revised recipe, which indicates that cinnamon is optional!
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Questionif i add vinilla will it tast betterThis answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.wikiHow Staff EditorStaff AnswerThat's a totally personal preference! Vanilla has a sweet, rich flavor, and it complements French toast very well. However, there are other flavors you could include, or you can leave it out entirely, if you'd like.
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring cup/measuring spoon
- Shallow, rimmed dish
- Whisk
- Butter knife
- Skillet
- Spatula
About This Article
Article Summary
X
To make French toast without vanilla, simply leave it out of the recipe. For example, mix the eggs, milk, salt, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Dip your slices of bread into the mixture, then fry them for 2 to 3 minutes on each side. If you want to add some extra flavor instead of the vanilla extract, try bourbon, maple syrup, or almond extract. Just stir your chosen addition into the mixture before you dip the bread into it. You could also double the amount of cinnamon in the recipe to give your French toast an extra spicy twist. For tips on what to put on top of your French toast when serving it, read on!
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- "This is a good recipe. I, too, was confused because this required big portions of sugar and cinnamon, but it tastes great. Recommended!" ..." more
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