An easy and decadent recipe for vanilla and honey French toast. Perfect for cozy weekend mornings, this classic French toast ​combines pillowy brioche bread, eggs, milk, honey, and spices and can be on the table in about 20 minutes. Sweet, simple, and delicious, and sure to be a family favorite! Gluten-free and dairy-free friendly.

French toast sweetened with honey and topped with maple syrup and fresh berries on a white plate.

Vanilla Honey French Toast

We’ve been making this easy honey French toast for more than a decade now, and it’s still just as delish as ever.

When I first shared this recipe, we had just brought home our little rescue puppy, Mack. Getting him settled in and house-broken meant lots of early wake ups and not-so-restful nights. This sweet breakfast was the perfect pick-me-up for those sleepy mornings.

It’s a pretty classic French toast recipe, with the familiar eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon, but features honey as the sweetener instead of sugar. It’s simple, sweet, and endlessly adaptable to any number of favorite toppings. I’m most partial to maple syrup and berries, but bananas and almonds are also fantastic.

Puppy training aside, this is most definitely a special-occasion breakfast – for us that means birthdays, Easter, Mother’s Day, or just a once-in-a-blue-moon, especially indulgent, slow Sunday morning. Hope you love it too! Happy cooking!

Spring cherry blossoms in dappled light.
Close up of fresh blueberries and raspberries in farmers market baskets

Honey French Toast Ingredients:

You’ll need just a handful of ingredients to make this easy French toast recipe.

  • bread: brioche or challah is ideal. The age and moisture content of your bread will determine how soft the centers of your French toast will be. Brioche is naturally quite soft and pillowy. I like to let it get a bit dry – at least a day or two old is best. You can speed this up in a pinch with a very light toast in the oven. Or, if you prefer a softer, more custard-y texture you can use fresh bread, too.
  • butter: a bit of butter adds flavor while frying the toast.
  • eggs: you’ll need three large eggs, whisked well, to form the custard.
  • milk and cream: a combination of whole milk and heavy cream rounds out the rich custard base.
  • honey: instead of the traditional sugar, honey adds sweetness and flavor.
  • vanilla and cinnamon: a splash of pure vanilla extract and a pinch of cinnamon for that classic French toast flavor.
  • for serving, top with your favorites: a dusting of powdered sugar, drizzle of honey or maple syrup, and lots of fresh berries. A trifecta of strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries is my favorite!

Find all the exact ingredients and measurements in the recipe card, below.

French toast sweetened with honey and topped with maple syrup and fresh berries on a white plate.
French toast sweetened with honey and topped with maple syrup and fresh berries on a white plate.

How to Make Easy French Toast:

This French toast recipe is quick and simple, and perfect for beginners. Here’s how you’ll make it:

  1. Preheat the oven, gather your ingredients together, and slice your bread.
  2. Whisk together the custard, add to a shallow dish, and dip each bread slice in the batter, until evenly coated.
  3. Working in batches, fry each piece in butter until golden. Keep warm in the oven until all the french toast is ready.
  4. Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar, maple syrup or honey, and fresh berries!
Close up of fresh blueberries and raspberries in farmers market baskets
A drizzle of maple syrup being poured over a stack of French toast with raspberries.

Honey French Toast FAQs

What kind of bread is best to make French toast with?

A day or two old Brioche or Challah is your best option.

Can you make French Toast without eggs?

The short answer is yes, with the caveat that the texture and flavor won’t be exactly the same. I used to do this for our egg-allergic toddler. You’ll need about half as much liquid, and may need to adjust your cooking time.

Can you make French toast gluten-free?

Sure. Sourcing gluten-free challah or brioche may be a challenge, but if you can find it, it should work well. And the rest of the recipe is naturally gluten-free.

How to make dairy-free:

Simply use plant-based butter and almond or coconut milk.

French toast sweetened with honey and topped with maple syrup and fresh berries on a white plate.

Looking for More Honey Treats? Bake These Next:

If you make this vanilla honey French toast recipe, be sure to leave a comment and rating below letting me know how you liked it! ★★★★★ Star ratings are especially helpful because they help others find my recipes too. xo, Laura

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French toast sweetened with honey and topped with maple syrup and fresh berries on a white plate.

Vanilla Honey French Toast

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 6 reviews
  • Author: Laura Bolton – Fork Knife Swoon
  • Prep Time: 5 mins
  • Cook Time: 15 mins
  • Total Time: 20 mins
  • Yield: 4 Servings
  • Category: Breakfast
  • Method: Stovetop
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegetarian
Print Recipe

Description

An easy and decadent recipe for vanilla and honey French toast. Perfect for cozy weekend mornings, this classic French toast ​combines pillowy brioche bread, eggs, milk, honey, and spices and can be on the table in about 20 minutes. Sweet, simple, and delicious, and sure to be a family favorite! Gluten-free and dairy-free friendly.

Ingredients

  • 8 slices challah bread (or brioche or thick bread)
  • 2 Tbsp unsalted butter
  • 3 large eggs
  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1 Tbsp honey
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 250℉. Place an oven-safe wire rack on a large sheet pan. Set aside.
  2. In a medium bowl, beat the eggs together with the milk and cream. Add the vanilla, honey and cinnamon and whisk to combine thoroughly.
  3. Add the custard to a shallow bowl or baking dish.
  4. Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Melt 1 Tablespoon of butter until shimmering.
  5. Working in batches, soak each slice of bread in the egg mixture for about 10 seconds, flipping once to get both sides.
  6. Add the bread to the skillet, leaving space between each piece. Cook for 2-3 minutes, each side, until the toast is golden brown.
  7. Place the cooked pieces of toast on a cookie sheet in the oven to stay warm while cooking the remaining pieces. Serve warm with butter, maple syrup or jam, and fresh berries. Enjoy!!
Vanilla Honey French Toast

This recipe was originally published in December 2012. We’ve since added new photos and recipe notes.