Short answer
French toast is sliced bread soaked in a mix of eggs and milk, then fried in butter until golden. Thick, slightly stale bread such as brioche or challah holds the custard best and gives a soft centre with a crisp surface.
French toast is sliced bread soaked in a custard of eggs and milk, then fried in butter until golden outside and soft within. The best breads for French toast are thick, slightly dry loaves such as brioche, challah or sourdough, because they absorb the custard without falling apart.
What is French toast?
French toast is a dish of bread dipped in a beaten egg and milk mixture and pan-fried until browned. It is eaten for breakfast and brunch across North America and Europe, and it has many regional names.
In Quebec and France, similar dishes are called pain perdu, meaning lost bread, because the recipe was a way to use up stale loaves. In the United Kingdom, a savoury version is sometimes called eggy bread. In Canada, French toast is usually served with maple syrup, fruit or whipped cream.
What is the history of French toast?
The history of French toast is old and not fully certain. Recipes for soaked and fried bread appear in a Roman cookbook attributed to Apicius and in medieval European cooking, long before the name French toast.
Food historians disagree on how the name arrived. The English phrase appears in print in the 1600s, and some writers link it to the French pain perdu. Others say the French connection is only a label. What is clear is that people across many countries invented similar dishes independently, because stale bread and eggs are cheap and common.
What bread is best for French toast?
The best bread for French toast is thick, rich and a day or two old, such as brioche, challah or thick-sliced white bread. These breads soak up custard and brown evenly.
| Bread | Texture after cooking | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Brioche | Rich, custardy, golden | Sweet plates with fruit |
| Challah | Soft, slightly chewy | Classic brunch slices |
| Sourdough | Tangy, sturdy | Savoury toppings |
| Thick white loaf | Soft and mild | Everyday home cooking |
| Baguette | Crisp edge, chewy centre | Smaller, snack-sized slices |
Cut slices about 2 cm (3/4 inch) thick. Thin sandwich bread can work, but it needs a quick soak and careful frying because it breaks easily.
How do you make French toast?
To make French toast, whisk eggs, milk and flavourings, soak thick bread slices briefly and fry them in butter over medium heat until golden. The method takes about 15 minutes.
- Whisk 4 eggs, 1 cup (250 ml) of milk, 1 tablespoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla and a pinch of cinnamon and salt.
- Pour the custard into a shallow dish.
- Soak each slice for 20 to 30 seconds per side.
- Melt butter in a pan over medium heat.
- Fry the slices for two to three minutes per side until browned.
- Serve hot with maple syrup, fruit or whipped cream.
Cook in batches and keep the finished slices in a 100 degrees C oven so they stay warm without drying out.
How do you stop French toast from going soggy?
French toast stays crisp outside and soft inside when the bread is thick, the soak is short and the pan is hot enough. Sogginess almost always comes from one of those three details.
- Use dry bread: stale slices take up custard more evenly.
- Soak briefly: long soaks make the middle wet.
- Do not crowd the pan: crowding drops the temperature and steams the bread.
- Use medium heat: too hot burns the outside, too low leaves it limp.
- Rest on a rack: a plate traps steam under the slices.
If the middle is still wet, finish the slices for five minutes in a 175 degrees C oven.
What are sweet and savoury versions of French toast?
French toast can be sweet or savoury, depending on the custard and the topping. The same method works for both.
- Sweet: cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup, berries, baked banana, caramel and whipped cream.
- Savoury: a pinch of salt and pepper, then toppings such as cheese, fried chicken, fried eggs or herbs.
- Stuffed: two slices filled with cream cheese or fruit and fried as a sandwich.
- Baked: slices soaked overnight and baked in a dish like a bread pudding.
A thin line separates French toast from bread pudding. French toast is cooked in slices on a pan, while bread pudding is baked in a dish.
How is French toast different from Hong Kong style French toast?
Western French toast is dipped and pan-fried, while Hong Kong style French toast is a thick sandwich of bread dipped in egg and deep-fried. The Hong Kong version is richer and usually has a filling.
| Feature | Western French toast | Hong Kong style |
|---|---|---|
| Bread | One slice, soaked in custard | Two slices, often with a spread inside |
| Cooking | Pan-fried in butter | Deep-fried |
| Typical topping | Maple syrup, fruit | Condensed milk, a pat of butter |
| Texture | Soft with a golden crust | Crisp shell, soft inside |
Both start with eggs and bread. The difference is the cooking method and the filling.
How does Delphi Cafe serve French toast?
Delphi Cafe, an all-day brunch cafe at 20121 Willowbrook Dr #100 in Langley Township, lists two French toast dishes under its house specials. This guide is independent and takes no orders. The details come from the cafe’s ordering page, read on 14 November 2026.
| Dish | Price | Listed components |
|---|---|---|
| Caramel Banana Toast | $19 | French toast with caramel sauce, baked banana, nuts, fruit and whipped cream |
| Chicken Toast | $19 | Fried chicken thigh on French toast with condensed milk, pickles and fruit |
The two dishes show both sides of the dish: one sweet, one that mixes savoury chicken with sweet condensed milk. The menu does not state the bread used. For the full list see the menu page, and for opening times see hours and location.
What toppings go well with French toast?
Toppings that go well with French toast balance sweetness with freshness or salt. The dish is rich, so a sharp or crunchy topping helps.
- Fresh berries or sliced banana
- Maple syrup or caramel sauce
- Whipped cream or yogurt
- Toasted nuts
- A pinch of cinnamon sugar
- Fried chicken or a fried egg for savoury plates
Add toppings at the last moment so the toast stays crisp.
Can you make French toast ahead of time?
You can make French toast ahead and reheat it, which suits a crowd or a busy morning. Cooked slices keep well and reheat in a hot oven.
- Cook the slices fully and let them cool on a rack.
- Store in a single layer in the fridge for up to two days, or freeze them separated by baking paper.
- Reheat on a baking tray at 190 degrees C for about 8 minutes, or toast frozen slices in a toaster.
Reheating in an oven or toaster restores the crisp edge better than a microwave does.
Common questions
Why is it called French toast?
The name is old and its origin is unclear. Similar soaked and fried bread appears in ancient Roman writing and in medieval Europe. The French link may come from the French name pain perdu, meaning lost bread, but this is not certain.
Should French toast bread be stale?
Slightly dry bread is better because it absorbs custard without collapsing. Fresh bread can be dried for ten minutes in a low oven. Very soft sandwich bread turns mushy unless the soak is short.
How long do you soak French toast?
Soak thick slices for about 20 to 30 seconds per side. Thin sandwich bread needs only a few seconds. A longer soak suits very dry, dense loaves and gives a custard-like middle.
Why is my French toast soggy in the middle?
The slices were too thin, soaked too long or fried at too high a heat. Use thick bread, a short soak and medium heat, and cook until both sides are browned and the centre feels springy.
Can French toast be savoury?
Yes. Leave out the sugar and cinnamon, season the custard with salt and pepper and serve with cheese, fried chicken, eggs or vegetables. Savoury versions are common in cafes and in many home kitchens.
For the address, opening hours and menu, see Delphi Cafe in Langley Township.
This article is general information from an independent guide, not from Delphi Cafe itself. For the store’s current details see hours and location.