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But First We Brunch » Recipes » French toast

How To Make French Toast (For One Or Two)

Modified: Jan 12, 2025 by Cynthia Christensen · This post may contain affiliate links · 1 Comment

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5 from 1 vote
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Pouring warm maple syrup over French toast with granola and raspberries.
Pouring warm maple syrup over French toast with granola and raspberries.
Pouring warm maple syrup over French toast with granola and raspberries.
French toast on a white plate sprinkled with granola and fresh raspberries.
French toast on a white plate sprinkled with granola and fresh raspberries.
Pinterest image of pouring maple syrup over French toast.

Let's learn how to make delicious French Toast for One or Two. Perfect for a cozy weekend breakfast or brunch at home, this quick and easy recipe transforms simple ingredients into a warm, indulgent treat that feels like a hug on a plate.

French toast on a white plate sprinkled with granola and fresh raspberries.

Save This Recipe! 💌

I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later, plus you'll get great new recipes from me every week!

When I was first married, learning How to Make French Toast for One or Two was one of the most adult-ish things I ever did. In my classic French toast recipe, I talk about how this dish is one of the most enduring childhood memories of my father. Making it for my own husband just felt so grown up.

Since we're making a small batch French toast, we might as well make it worth our while. I'm using heavy cream, I'm cinnamon, I'm adding nutmeg, I'm adding vanilla, and I'm topping it with crunchy homemade granola, and a drizzle of warm maple syrup. I am living life and I'm loving it!

Jump to:
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • Variations
  • Quick Recipe Video
  • Instructions
  • Expert tip
  • Serving Suggestion
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More small batch recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Ingredients & Substitutions

They are simple ingredients, but they come together in such an indulgent way. Let's take a look at them, and see where you can make changes:

Ingredients needed to make French toast for two.
  • Sliced Bread - You can make French Toast with any bread you like. My favorite is brioche bread or challah, because they are super rich with butter and/or eggs, or even a good white bread will do great.
  • Heavy cream - Making the custard for dipping the bread requires milk. Even almond milk, coconut milk, or your favorite plant based milk will do, but we're treating ourselves, right? I'm using heavy cream. Yes, you can use half-and-half. You can use milk. You can even make eggnog French toast or make French toast with coffee creamer.
  • Cinnamon and nutmeg - Classics are a classic for a reason. Cinnamon and nutmeg are the perfect warm spices for French toast. If you don't like or can't eat cinnamon, feel free to leave that out. Add a little more vanilla instead.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Variations

French toast is just such a part of my story as a human being, my relationship with my father, my relationship with my husband and children, that I will always have delicious French toast recipes for you. Here are a few:

  • Citrus - I always thought of orange marmalade as something weird that my Grandma would put on her toast, but by adding it to the custard and the syrup, my Orange Marmalade French Toast ain't just for old ladies anymore!
  • Oven-baked - When you are pressed for time, you just don't want to be chained to the stove. My Sheet Pan French Toast bakes in the oven, giving you time for a shower, or another cup of coffee.
  • Kid friendly - I highly encourage playing with your food, especially when the food is my French Toast Sticks! Perfect for take away breakfast or sitting and dipping, you'll want to get your hands on a few!

Quick Recipe Video

Instructions

It always amazes me that people think of French toast as being indulgent and fancy, when it's actually so simple to make. Check out the pictures below, read through all the instructions, and gather your ingredients. You'll have delicious French toast for two (or just yourself) in no time!

Adding cream to eggs to make French toast custard.

Step 1: Add together eggs and heavy cream in a medium bowl.

Whisking together the ingredients for French toast custard.

Step 2: Add sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg and whisk until thoroughly blended. Pour egg mixture into a small sheet pan or shallow dish.

Placing a slice of bread into French toast custard.

Step 3: Preheat a cast iron pan, or nonstick pan, over medium heat. Dip bread in custard mixture, turning to get both sides moistened.

A slice of French toast cooking in a cast-iron pan.

Step 4: Add one tablespoon of butter to preheated pan and place dipped bread in the pan. Cook for 2 to 3 minutes on the first side, or until golden brown.

A slice of French toast in a cast-iron pan.

Step 5: Flip over and cook on the other side another 2 to 3 minutes. Place on a baking sheet in a 200°F oven to keep warm while you cook the rest of the French toast.

Two slices of cinnamon cardamom french toast on a white plate.

Step 6: Sprinkle with some powdered sugar and serve with butter and warm syrup. Add fresh berries or sliced strawberries if you like.

Expert tip

This easy French toast recipe is even easier than most people expect. Here are a few tips to make sure that you get the best French toast of your life, every time:

  • Use slightly stale bread: Day-old bread absorbs the custard better without becoming too soggy. If you don't remember to leave your bread out the night before (and don't we always forget?) just place it on a wire rack in a 250° oven for about 10 to 15 minutes.
  • Soak or dunk: if you like a super rich, extra–indulgent French toast, let the bread soak in the custard for about 20–30 seconds per side, ensuring it's fully absorbed but not falling apart. If you like your toast, lightly frenched (is that a thing?) Just give it about five or 10 seconds per side.
  • Use medium heat: Cook the French toast on medium heat. This allows it to develop a golden-brown crust while cooking through without burning.
  • Butter wisely: Add a small amount of butter to the pan for flavor and to prevent sticking, but don't overdo it, as it can make the toast greasy. And don't forget to wipe out the pan between batches of French toast, or you will get a burnt flavor.

Serving Suggestion

Pouring warm maple syrup over French toast with granola and raspberries.

Whatever I'm eating, I will almost always be team texture. So, if I am eating something soft, I want something a little crunchy to give a bit of contrast. When I make this French toast, I like to top it with a little granola, along with some warm maple syrup that has just a pinch of salt added. Try it!

Recipe FAQs

How many slices of bread should I use for one or two people?

Typically, 2 to 3 slices per person is enough, depending on the size of the slices and your appetite.

Can I cook all the French toast at once?

If your skillet, or electric griddle, is large enough, you can cook multiple slices simultaneously. Otherwise, cook in batches and keep the first batch warm in a low-temperature oven (around 200°F).

What’s a quick way to serve French toast for two with minimal cleanup?

Use one large bowl for making the custard, and dipping the bread, and a nonstick skillet to cook everything. Clean as you go to save yourself some work.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Place fully cooled French toast in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave, or place in a single layer on a sheet pan in a 350°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes.

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    Small Batch Overnight Cinnamon Rolls
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Did you try this recipe?
Leave a comment with a ⭐️ rating below to tell me all about it, and don't forget to tag me on Instagram!
I appreciate you!
-Cynthia

📖 Recipe

French toast on a white plate sprinkled with granola and fresh raspberries.

How to Make French Toast (for One or Two)

I'm going to show you how to make delicious French Toast for One or Two. Perfect for a cozy weekend breakfast or brunch at home, this quick and easy recipe transforms simple ingredients into a warm, indulgent treat that feels like a hug on a plate.
5 from 1 vote
Author: Cynthia Christensen
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 20 minutes mins
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine American, French
Servings 2 servings
Calories 257 kcal

Equipment

  • Nonstick pan or ⤵️
  • Cast iron pan
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 

  • 4 slices bread
  • 2 large eggs
  • ¼ cup heavy cream
  • 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg or a few scritches of a whole nutmeg on a zester
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract

Instructions

  • Whisk eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg and pour into a shallow dish, such as a pie plate.
  • Warm a nonstick pan, or cast iron pan, up to medium heat, then add 1 tablespoon of butter in the pan and allow to melt.
  • Dip bread in egg mixture, turning to coat both sides evenly.
  • Place the piece of bread in the pan and cook 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown. Flip over and cook 2-3 minutes on the other side.
  • Place on a wire rack set on a sheet pan (to prevent sogginess) and keep warm in a 200° oven. Repeat with the rest of the bread.
  • Serve with warm maple syrup. I also like to top mine with a spoonful of granola for texture.

Save This Recipe! 💌

I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later, plus you'll get great new recipes from me every week!

Video

Notes

Keep mess to a minimum: Use one large bowl for making the custard, and dipping the bread, and a nonstick skillet to cook everything. Clean as you go to save yourself some work.
Bread: Use any bread you like. I prefer brioche bread, but challah, or even everyday white bread will work. The thicker the slices, the better, dried overnight, if possible. It will soak up the custard nicely.
Calories: 257kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 220mg | Sodium: 344mg | Potassium: 179mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 11g | Vitamin A: 710IU | Vitamin C: 0.3mg | Calcium: 123mg | Iron: 3mg

The nutritional and caloric information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It does not assert or suggest that readers should or should not count calories, and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s or doctor’s counseling.

Tried this recipe?I would love for you to leave a comment!

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    Iced French Toast Latte
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Comments

    5 from 1 vote

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  1. Cynthia says

    January 13, 2025 at 9:36 am

    5 stars
    My family’s favorite breakfast!

    Reply
Picture of the author with a banner, stating welcome to my blog I am Cynthia.

In our house we get up with the sun, and most of us don't stop working until late in the night, so breakfast and brunch are our family meals. So join me at the kitchen counter, where I cook up delicious food for my busy family, starting first thing in the morning!

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