French Toast with Fruit

French Toast — known in France as Pain Perdu, meaning lost bread — is a brilliant way to transform slightly stale bread into a luxurious breakfast. The thick egg and milk custard soaks into the bread, creating a rich, creamy interior with a beautifully golden, slightly crisp exterior. Using brioche or thick-cut white bread gives the best results — the buttery richness of brioche makes this something truly special. Served with fresh seasonal fruit and a dusting of icing sugar, it makes for a beautiful weekend brunch that takes less than 20 minutes from start to finish.

• ✅ 4 thick slices brioche or white bread
• ✅ 3 eggs
• ✅ 1/2 cup milk
• ✅ 1 tsp cinnamon
• ✅ 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ✅ 2 tbsp butter
• ✅ 2 tbsp icing sugar
• ✅ Fresh strawberries and blueberries
• ✅ Maple syrup to serve

1. 1Whisk together eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla in a shallow dish.
2. 2Dip bread slices in the egg mixture, coating both sides.
3. 3Melt butter in a non-stick pan over medium heat.
4. 4Cook bread 2–3 minutes per side until deep golden.
5. 5Transfer to a plate, dust with icing sugar.
6. 6Serve topped with fresh fruit and a drizzle of maple syrup.