French Toast has become a popular breakfast item among UK restaurants, making its way onto menus nationwide. It is simple to prepare and requires only a few essential ingredients, making it as delicious at home as in your favourite café. Its versatility has led to multiple versions of the traditional French toast recipe, with interchangeable flavours, textures, and toppings.

undefined

Some of the best chefs in the world have developed their French toast recipes, looking for the best combination between those slices of eggy bread. Here are some recipes and tips for creating the best French toast at home.

undefined

1. Gordon Ramsey - Michigan French Toast

An indulgent and refined take on the classic, Ramsey's Michigan French toast transforms a simple recipe into the standout dish of your family breakfast buffet. The addition of the caramelised apple topping beautifully balances the richness of the French toast, resulting in an impressive combination of flavours.

Ingredients:

  • 3 eggs
  • ¼ cup granulated sugar, divided
  • About ¼ cup heavy cream, divided
  • 2 small red apples, cores removed and chopped into large pieces
  • Unsalted butter
  • 1 tablespoon apple cognac
  • 3 thick slices - white (or brown) sandwich bread
  • Olive oil
  • Jam of choice
  • 1 ½ tablespoons crème fraîche

Instructions

Heat two skillets over medium-high heat. Whisk eggs with sugar and cream. In one skillet, caramelise sugar, then add apples, butter, and cream, cooking until jammy. Coat bread slices in the egg mixture and brown in the second skillet with butter and olive oil. Assemble by layering jam and caramel apples between bread slices, top with crème fraîche and more jam. Scatter the remaining apples and serve immediately.

undefined2. Jamie Oliver - Chocolate & Banana French Toast

Chocolate enhances many dishes, and Jamie Oliver's Banana and Chocolate French Toast recipe is no exception. The combination of banana slices and chocolate spread transforms these pieces of eggy bread, making them much more enjoyable for having been fried instead of toasted!

Ingredients:

  • 2 bananas
  • 2 large free-range eggs
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 pinch of ground cinnamon
  • 2 slices white bread
  • 25g blanched hazelnuts
  • A small knob of unsalted butter or olive oil
  • 40g dark chocolate (minimum 70% solids)
  • 2 teaspoons icing sugar
  • 2 tablespoons Greek-style yoghurt to serve

Instructions:

Peel and slice the banana, then whisk eggs with vanilla and cinnamon in a bowl. Soak bread slices in the mixture. Toast hazelnuts in a dry pan, crush them, and set aside. Heat butter in the pan, cook one slice of soaked bread, add chocolate, and sandwich with the second slice. Add banana slices to the pan, cooking both until golden. Dust the sandwich with icing sugar, flip briefly to caramelise, then cut diagonally. Serve each half with caramelised banana slices, a dollop of yoghurt, and a sprinkle of crushed hazelnuts.

undefined

3. Rick Stein - Brioche French Toast

Rick Stein's Brioche French toast strikes the perfect balance between luxury and simplicity, making it an ideal quick breakfast to start your day with a smile. The buttery brioche paired with tart cherry compote is truly delicious and sure to impress.

Ingredients: 

  • One egg
  • Splash of milk
  • 1 tbsp  unwaxed lemon zest
  • Sprinkle of vanilla caster sugar
  • Butter
  • Thick slice (3cm-ish) of brioche or other bread
  • Icing sugar 
  • Sour cherry compote or fresh fruit and berries

Instructions:

Whisk an egg with milk, lemon zest, and sugar in a shallow bowl. Heat butter in a frying pan over medium heat. Dip bread into the egg mixture, ensuring it’s well soaked. Place the bread in the pan and fry until golden and crisp on both sides. Serve immediately with a dusting of icing sugar and  compote.

undefined

4. Raymond Blanc - Pain perdu avec des fraises

The pain perdu avec des fraises is a traditional French recipe for making French toast, adapted in an original Parisian style. This version features refined ingredients such as vanilla extract and cognac, aiming to replicate the authentic flavours of this delicious dish.

Ingredients:

  • 2 large eggs
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 100ml milk
  • 2 tsp cognac
  • A dash of vanilla extract
  • 4 slices of bread, crusts removed, cut in half diagonally
  • 40g unsalted butter
  • 4 tbsp water
  • 50g caster sugar
  • 25g butter, diced
  • 200g mixed berries

Instructions:

For the bread, whisk eggs, sugar, milk, cognac, and vanilla in a dish, then soak the un-crusted bread for 5 minutes on each side. For the mixed berries, heat water and sugar in a pan until dissolved, then add mixed berries and butter. Cook until the sauce thickens, then set aside. Fry the soaked bread in butter until golden. Serve on warm plates, topped with more mixed berries, syrup, icing sugar, and shredded mint.

French Toast's remarkable versatility enables you to mix and match various flavours and ingredients to create your perfect Breakfast. Utilise some of the clever recipes and flavours above to enhance your Breakfast and Brunch skills today.

We have more items and experiences from celebrity chefs here.

If you enjoyed this article, view more recipes, news articles, and updates here.

 

 

 

Find the perfect brunch

Start your search now ›