French Toast, is beautiful golden crisp bread covered in cinnamon sugar, topped with fresh fruit or sometimes even drizzled with maple syrup. This iconic French-American breakfast is a must for brunches with the families and friends.

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History about French toast

Have you, ever wonder, why do we call it French Toast? If you are thinking, it is because it’s coming from France, then you are not far away with your answer, but it’s just a bit more complex, then just saying, French toast is obviously coming from France!

Let me get you a bit of a history of French toast. So, the earliest known reference to French Toast is in the Apicius (Roman cookbook from the 4th or 5th century), where it is described as “sweet dish”. That is the first meaningful mention of toast dipped in milk and served as a sweet dish.

The recipe depicts soaking the bread in milk only. And here they refer to as “Pan Dulcis”, meaning soft bread. Later, in the 14th century, we can see German recipes using the same methods, dipping bread in egg and milk mixture and then fried. Not necessarily using anything sweet to covering the bread, as these days with sugar and cinnamon. But the usage was rather salty than sweet, for side dishes to the meats and game birds.

Later, in the 15th century in France, the usual common name in French language for this sweet braid is “pain perdu”! Meaning: old or lost bread, which is also bread dipped in eggs and fried. But it refers to older and hard bread, not fresh toast, what we use here in North America.

This is finally bringing us to the origins and founder of today’s French Toast. One legend states that the “French” in the name doesn’t refer to the nation itself, rather to an innkeeper named Joseph French. He is the one who created the French toast dish what we know today, back in 1724.

And he advertised it as a “French Toast”. Which should be his own last name. But because he was grammatically inept, he forgot to use the apostrophe for “French’s toast”. So here you have it, a nice introduction to the history of French toast.

Ingredients for French toast

We will need white toast, or any white bread, brioche or even sourdough bread works. Milk, eggs, butter, vanilla extract for better aroma and powdered sugar with cinnamon for dusting.  Simple skillet (or non-stick pan will do the trick). As tools simple large bowl, whisk, flipping spatula, and plates to place sugar mixture and French toasts on it.

• milk
• eggs
• vanilla extract
• salt
• white bread
• unsalted butter
• Icing sugar and cinnamon

How to make a French toast

1. The process is fairly easy: we break the eggs in a medium bowl and add all the other ingredients, except butter, icing sugar and cinnamon.
2. Whisk well until all ingredients are well combined.  Reheat a skillet over medium-low heat and melt 1 tbsp of butter.
3. Dip the bread slices in the egg mixture and, letting them soak a bit. Brown for about 2 minutes each side, turning with a spatula.
4. Dust the toast with a mixture of icing sugar and cinnamon and top them with fresh fruit. Some might slide a little slice of butter on hot toast to add more buttery taste. Enjoy it warm with a cup of coffee or tea.

More sweet breakfast recipes

• LEMON POPPY SEED SCONES
• HOLIDAY SWEET BRAIDED BREAD
• HOMEMADE BELGIAN WAFFLES RECIPE
• CHOCOLATE ALMOND BABKA RECIPE
• APPLE STREUSEL MUFFINS RECIPE

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