Challah bread: As the star of the show, a rich, eggy challah loaf is paramount. Its dense yet soft texture absorbs the custard mixture like a dream, ensuring a soft, flavorful, and incredibly satisfying French toast.

Eggs: These are the foundation of our creamy custard mixture. Eggs provide essential richness, create structure, and act as a binding agent, ensuring all the flavors meld together harmoniously.

Milk: Adding a delicate creaminess to the custard, milk is key to achieving a moist and tender French toast. Whole milk will provide the richest results, but any milk variety works well.

Vanilla extract: This aromatic ingredient is a flavor enhancer, infusing the custard mixture with a sweet, warm, and inviting note that complements the challah beautifully.

Ground cinnamon: A classic spice pairing for French toast, ground cinnamon adds warmth, a subtle spice, and a comforting aroma that perfectly balances the sweetness of the challah bread and other ingredients.

Salt: Just a pinch of salt is vital for balancing the overall sweetness of the dish and enhancing all the other flavors, making them pop without making the French toast taste salty.

Butter: Used for cooking, butter gives the Challah French Toast its beautiful golden-brown color, a delightful crispy exterior, and an incomparable rich, buttery flavor that makes each bite heavenly.

Achieving perfectly cooked French toast every time involves a few simple yet crucial techniques. When preparing your Challah French Toast, ensure the challah bread is slightly stale. This might seem counterintuitive, but fresh bread tends to become overly soggy and can fall apart when heavily dipped in the egg mixture. The slightly dried-out texture of stale bread allows it to absorb the custard mixture more effectively without disintegrating, leading to that coveted crispy exterior and a soft, custardy interior. If your challah bread is fresh, don’t worry! You can easily dry it out by placing the slices in a low oven (around 200°F or 95°C) for about 10-15 minutes, or by leaving them out on a wire rack overnight.

Another key tip is to avoid overcrowding your griddle or skillet. Cook French toast in batches, leaving enough space between slices for even cooking and proper browning. Maintain a medium heat; too high, and the exterior will burn before the inside cooks through; too low, and you’ll end up with greasy French toast. Cook until each side is beautifully golden brown, typically 3-4 minutes per side. Don’t be shy with the butter for cooking – it not only prevents sticking but also contributes significantly to the flavor and crispiness!

Elevate your Challah French Toast experience by pairing it with these delicious and thoughtfully selected side dishes:

Even if you don’t have all the exact ingredients, you can still enjoy a delicious French toast with these thoughtful substitutions:

• Challah bread – Substitute with brioche bread: Brioche is another enriched, slightly sweet bread with a similar soft texture and richness, making it an excellent and luxurious alternative for French toast. It will provide a similar tender, custardy result.

• Challah bread – Substitute with Texas toast: Texas toast is characterized by its thickness and sturdy crumb, which makes it ideal for soaking up the egg mixture without becoming mushy. It yields a satisfyingly hearty French toast.

• Eggs – Substitute with flax eggs: For a vegan alternative, mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water per egg needed. Let it sit for 5 minutes to thicken. This acts as a good binder and provides a similar texture.

• Eggs – Substitute with silken tofu: Blend ¼ cup of silken tofu per egg for a creamy, rich, and excellent vegan option. It adds moisture and helps achieve a custardy interior.

• Milk – Substitute with almond milk: For a dairy-free option, unsweetened almond milk works wonderfully. It contributes creaminess without altering the flavor profile significantly.

• Milk – Substitute with coconut milk: Full-fat coconut milk will add a rich, velvety texture and a subtle, pleasant coconut flavor, elevating the tropical notes if desired.

• Vanilla extract – Substitute with maple syrup: Replace vanilla with an equal amount of pure maple syrup in the custard mixture. This adds a natural sweetness and an irresistible hint of maple flavor directly into the toast itself.

• Vanilla extract – Substitute with almond extract: For a slightly different but equally delightful aroma, use almond extract. It provides a warm, nutty flavor that beautifully complements the other ingredients.

• Ground cinnamon – Substitute with pumpkin pie spice: Pumpkin pie spice is a fantastic blend that includes cinnamon along with other warming spices like nutmeg, ginger, and cloves, adding a more complex and festive flavor to your French toast.

• Ground cinnamon – Substitute with nutmeg: If you’re out of cinnamon, a pinch of nutmeg offers a warm, slightly sweet, and aromatic flavor that can stand in beautifully.

• Salt – Substitute with sea salt: Fine sea salt can be used in the same quantity as regular table salt and often provides a cleaner flavor. It’s an easy, direct substitute.

• Salt – Substitute with kosher salt: Kosher salt has a larger flake size, so you may need to use slightly more (about 1.5 times the amount) to achieve the same level of seasoning compared to fine table salt.

• Butter – Substitute with coconut oil: For a dairy-free option, coconut oil works exceptionally well for cooking. It imparts a delightful, subtle coconut flavor and creates a lovely crispy crust.

• Butter – Substitute with margarine: Margarine is another reliable non-dairy alternative for cooking your French toast, providing similar browning and a rich mouthfeel.

If you’re a fan of Challah French Toast, you’ll surely love these creative and equally delicious variations:

Enjoying delicious Challah French Toast doesn’t always mean making it fresh on the spot. It’s an excellent candidate for make-ahead meals or for enjoying leftovers. Proper storage ensures its deliciousness for later:

• Allow the cooked Challah French Toast to cool completely on a wire rack. This crucial step prevents condensation, which can lead to soggy French toast when stored.

• For short-term storage, arrange the cooled slices in a single layer or with parchment paper separating them in an airtight container or a resealable plastic bag. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat using your preferred method.

• If you wish to store the French toast for a longer duration, especially for future quick breakfasts, prepare it for freezing. Lay the individual slices in a single layer on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. This prevents them from sticking together. Freeze until the slices are solid, which usually takes about 1-2 hours.

• Once individually frozen, transfer the solid slices to a heavy-duty resealable freezer bag or an airtight freezer-safe container. Press out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Label with the date and store in the freezer for up to 2 months. Beyond this, the quality may start to diminish.

• To reheat frozen Challah French Toast in the oven, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the frozen slices on a baking sheet and cover loosely with aluminum foil to keep them moist. Bake for 10-15 minutes or until heated through and slightly crispy.

• Alternatively, for a crispier texture, you can reheat the French toast directly in a toaster or toaster oven from frozen or thawed. Toast on a medium setting until warm and golden.

• For a very quick microwave option, place a single slice on a microwave-safe plate and cover it with a damp paper towel to help retain moisture. Microwave on high for 30-60 seconds, checking for doneness. Note that this method typically results in a softer, less crispy texture.

• When you’re ready to serve, top your freshly reheated Challah French Toast with your favorite toppings like warm maple syrup, juicy fresh berries, or a delicate dusting of powdered sugar.

Bringing leftover French toast back to life while preserving its delicious texture is easy with these methods:

• Oven Method: Preheat your oven to a moderate 350°F (175°C). Arrange the leftover challah French toast slices in a single layer on a baking sheet, ideally lined with parchment paper to prevent sticking. For best results and to prevent drying out, cover the slices loosely with aluminum foil. Bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until they are thoroughly heated and lightly crisped on the edges. This method is excellent for maintaining a crispy exterior while keeping the inside soft and fluffy.

• Toaster Oven Method: A fantastic option for smaller batches! Set your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the French toast slices directly on the rack or on a small, toaster-oven-safe baking tray. Heat for about 5-7 minutes, making sure to check them halfway through to prevent over-browning. This is a quick and energy-efficient way to achieve a good level of crispiness.

• Microwave Method: For the fastest reheating, place your French toast slices on a microwave-safe plate. To prevent them from drying out and becoming rubbery, cover them with a slightly damp paper towel. Microwave on medium power for 30 seconds to 1 minute, checking to see if they are heated through. While this method is incredibly fast, it generally results in a softer texture rather than a crispy one.

• Skillet Method: To regain some of that initial crispiness, heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add a small amount of butter or neutral oil. Once the butter is melted and shimmering, place the French toast slices in the skillet and cook for about 2-3 minutes per side, or until they are warmed through and nicely browned again. This method mimics the original cooking process quite well.

• Air Fryer Method: For optimal crispiness with minimal effort, preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the French toast slices in a single layer in the air fryer basket, ensuring they don’t overlap. Heat for about 3-4 minutes, flipping them halfway through. The air fryer excels at giving French toast a delightful crunch on the outside.

Having the right kitchen tools can make the process of preparing Challah French Toast even smoother and more enjoyable:

• Mixing bowl: A spacious bowl is essential for comfortably whisking together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt, ensuring a well-combined custard.

• Whisk: This simple tool is key to blending the egg mixture smoothly and incorporating air, which contributes to a lighter, fluffier French toast.

• Griddle: A flat, non-stick cooking surface, ideal for cooking multiple slices of coated challah bread evenly and efficiently, is a fantastic asset for French toast.

• Large skillet: If a griddle isn’t available, a large non-stick skillet works perfectly as an alternative for cooking your bread slices, just ensure it’s wide enough.

• Spatula: A sturdy, heat-resistant spatula is indispensable for safely and easily flipping the bread slices to ensure they cook evenly on both sides and achieve that perfect golden-brown crust.

• Measuring cups: Accurate measurement of milk and other liquid ingredients is crucial for achieving the correct consistency of the custard mixture.

• Measuring spoons: Used for precisely measuring smaller quantities of ingredients like vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt, ensuring optimal flavor balance.

• Bread knife: If your challah bread isn’t pre-sliced, a sharp, serrated bread knife will help you cut thick, even slices that are perfect for French toast without squishing the bread.

• Plate: Simple yet necessary for serving the cooked French toast, ready for a generous drizzle of toppings.

• Serving utensils: Forks and knives are the basic tools needed for enjoying this delicious breakfast treat.

Short on time but still craving homemade Challah French Toast? Here are some smart tips to streamline your preparation:

Prepare ingredients ahead: The night before, measure and whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt. Cover the mixture and store it in the refrigerator. In the morning, simply give it a quick whisk before dipping your bread, saving you valuable time.

Pre-slice bread: If you’re using a whole loaf of challah, slice the challah bread into desired thick slices in advance. Store the slices in an airtight container or bag at room temperature (or lightly toast them for a few minutes in a low oven to get them slightly stale, then store). This little step will significantly streamline your morning routine.

Use a large griddle: To maximize efficiency, utilize a large electric griddle or the biggest skillet you have. Cooking multiple slices of French toast at once will drastically reduce the overall cooking time, getting breakfast on the table faster.

Quick toppings: Have your favorite maple syrup, fresh berries (washed and prepped), and a shaker of powdered sugar ready to go. A quick assembly line for toppings means less fumbling and faster serving once the French toast is off the heat.