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Challah French Toast

Featured in Start Your Day Right.

Transform your morning with incredible challah French toast. Thick slices of braided challah bread, with its slightly sweet flavor and rich egg base, soak up the vanilla-scented custard perfectly. When cooked, each piece develops a golden-brown crust while staying gloriously soft inside. The egg-rich nature of challah means it can stand up to longer soaking times without falling apart, resulting in French toast that's crispy outside and almost pudding-like inside. A drizzle of maple syrup makes this breakfast pure heaven.
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Updated on Thu, 16 Jan 2025 01:18:23 GMT
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A plate of French toast topped with powdered sugar, fresh raspberries, blueberries, and banana slices, served with a side of syrup and a glass of milk. Pin it
A plate of French toast topped with powdered sugar, fresh raspberries, blueberries, and banana slices, served with a side of syrup and a glass of milk. | cookingkeys.com

I discovered this challah French toast recipe during a lazy Sunday when I had leftover challah from Friday night dinner. The magic happens when that rich eggy bread soaks up vanilla-scented custard then turns golden and crispy in butter. Now it's our weekend tradition, bringing that perfect balance of crispy edges and custardy center to our breakfast table.

Why This Works

Every bite brings pillowy soft centers wrapped in golden crispy edges all infused with warm cinnamon and vanilla. The challah's natural sweetness means you don't need much extra sugar, making it perfect for maple syrup or fresh berries. Perfect for those mornings when you want something that feels special but comes together easily.

Your Shopping List

  • The Base: Good challah bread, slightly stale works even better here, cut nice and thick.
  • The Custard: Fresh eggs, whole milk, buttermilk adds tang, pure vanilla extract makes everything special.
  • The Warmth: Ground cinnamon, maybe some nutmeg, real butter for cooking nothing else tastes right.

Let's Cook

Start Your Custard
Whisk those eggs, milk, vanilla, and spices until completely smooth that's your flavor base.
Soak Your Bread
Give each slice time to drink up that custard about a minute each side, don't rush this step.
Get Cooking
Keep your heat medium, melt butter until foamy. Each slice gets three minutes per side, watch for that perfect golden color.
Keep Them Warm
Pop finished pieces in a low oven while you cook the rest, everyone gets to eat hot French toast.
A plate of French toast topped with slices of banana, fresh raspberries, and strawberries, drizzled with syrup. Pin it
A plate of French toast topped with slices of banana, fresh raspberries, and strawberries, drizzled with syrup. | cookingkeys.com

Kitchen Secrets

Slightly stale bread soaks up more custard without falling apart. Don't skip the buttermilk, brings nice tang balances the sweetness. Keep that heat medium, prevents burning gives centers time to cook. Fresh butter for each batch keeps everything golden, not burnt.

Serve It Right

Set out warm maple syrup, fresh berries, maybe some whipped cream. Dust with powdered sugar right before serving, makes everything pretty. Some crispy bacon on the side balances all that sweetness. Keep extras warm in the oven until everyone's ready.

Save Some For Later

Freeze cooked pieces between wax paper, they reheat beautifully. Pop them in the toaster right from frozen, makes busy mornings special. Store leftovers in the fridge about three days, though they rarely last that long.

Mix It Up

Try adding orange zest to your custard, brings bright flavor. Swirl some peanut butter on top while warm, gets all melty. Sometimes I add sliced bananas before cooking, they caramelize nicely. The recipe welcomes creativity while keeping that comfort food soul.

A plate of French toast topped with banana slices, fresh berries, and powdered sugar, drizzled with syrup. Pin it
A plate of French toast topped with banana slices, fresh berries, and powdered sugar, drizzled with syrup. | cookingkeys.com

Make It Yours

Play with toppings until you find your perfect combination. My kids love berries and cream, husband adds extra maple syrup. Some friends keep it simple, others make it dessert-like. That's what makes breakfast fun, taking a classic recipe making it exactly how your family loves it.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can I use regular bread instead of challah?

Yes, you can use other breads, but challah works best because it's rich and sturdy. Brioche or thick-cut French bread are good alternatives.

→ How do I keep French toast warm for serving?

Keep cooked French toast warm in a 250°F oven for up to 30 minutes. Don't leave them longer as they'll start to dry out.

→ Can I make the egg mixture ahead of time?

Yes, you can mix the egg mixture and store it covered in the refrigerator overnight. Just whisk again before using.

→ Why is my French toast soggy?

Soggy French toast usually happens from soaking too long or using too low heat. Stick to 30 seconds per side for soaking and cook on medium heat.

→ Can I freeze leftover French toast?

Yes, cool completely then freeze between layers of wax paper. Reheat in a toaster or oven until warm and crispy.

Conclusion

Transform challah bread into rich, custardy French toast with this simple recipe. The thick, soft bread soaks up the egg mixture perfectly for a delicious breakfast treat.

Challah French Toast

Thick slices of challah bread soaked in a creamy egg mixture with cinnamon and vanilla, then cooked until golden brown. Perfect for a special breakfast.

Prep Time
10 Minutes
Cook Time
15 Minutes
Total Time
25 Minutes

Category: Breakfast

Difficulty: Easy

Cuisine: American

Yield: 4 Servings (8 slices)

Dietary: Vegetarian

Ingredients

01 4 large eggs.
02 1 cup buttermilk.
03 1/2 cup whole milk.
04 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
05 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg.
06 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
07 4 tablespoons butter, divided.
08 8 slices challah bread (1-inch thick).
09 Powdered sugar for serving.
10 Maple syrup for serving.
11 Sliced bananas or berries for serving (optional).

Instructions

Step 01

Combine eggs, buttermilk, milk, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla in a baking dish. Whisk until well blended.

Step 02

Dip each challah slice in egg mixture for 30 seconds per side, letting it soak up the custard.

Step 03

Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.

Step 04

Cook 4 soaked bread slices until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer to plates.

Step 05

Add remaining butter and cook final 4 slices the same way.

Step 06

Top with powdered sugar, maple syrup, and fresh fruit if desired. Serve while warm.

Notes

  1. Can keep warm in 250°F oven for up to 30 minutes.
  2. Best served fresh and warm.

Tools You'll Need

  • Large nonstick skillet.
  • 8x8 or 9x9 baking dish.

Allergy Information

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Eggs.
  • Dairy.
  • Wheat.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 450
  • Total Fat: 23 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 43 g
  • Protein: 17 g