This simple, battered French toast provides an incredible flavor boost without soggy bread and comes together in just minutes. It’s a perfect sweet treat for any home breakfast!
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Denny’s Iconic French Toast
Denny’s has been called “America’s Diner.” Almost anywhere you go, you’re likely to find a location of this casual favorite, serving up everything from homestyle breakfasts to burgers and other hearty classics, typically 24 hours a day. Through more than seven decades, the chain has expanded to more than 1,700 locations, each offering the same reliable and tasty dishes.
One of the most iconic is Denny’s French Toast, which puts a slightly different but even more delicious spin on the breakfast classic. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend the time or money heading out to Denny’s to enjoy it.
What makes this Denny’s French Toast so good?
Denny’s French Toast is proof that you don’t need a sophisticated recipe or pricey ingredients to have a delicious meal. The incredible flavor comes from a combination of ordinary sugar, vanilla, and eggs, supplemented with as much syrup and butter as your heart desires (or your stomach can handle).
It’s an excellent choice for breakfast as it’s filling without weighing you down and pairs perfectly with other breakfast favorites.
Why you will love this recipe
The secret to the incredible taste and texture of Denny’s French Toast is in the batter used to coat it. Rather than soaking the bread in a more liquid mixture like many French toast recipes, this one helps keep all that liquid outside, ensuring the bread doesn’t become soggy.
Even better, Denny’s French toast doesn’t rely on any fancy ingredients, allowing you to put a tasty breakfast on the table with everyday kitchen staples.
Ingredients
Here’s what you’ll need for a batch of Denny’s French toast:
- Eggs
- Milk
- All-purpose flour
- Powdered sugar
- Vanilla extract
- Salt
- Sliced bread (thick white bread/Texas toast-style)
- Butter (for cooking and serving)
- Maple syrup (for serving)
Thanks to these relatively simple ingredients, it’s easy to modify for those with dietary restrictions or preferences. Non-dairy milk can be swapped in for traditional milk, while gluten-free flour and bread can also be used.
How to make Denny’s French Toast
Though you may have made French toast before, Denny’s does it a little differently than many home cooks:
- Beat eggs and milk in a medium bowl.
- Add flour, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt. Beat until combined.
- Strain the mixture into another bowl to remove lumps.
- Preheat a skillet or griddle to 350°F and brush with butter.
- Dip a slice of bread into the batter mixture, ensuring both sides are fully coated.
- Add the bread to the skillet, cooking until golden brown, about one to two minutes per side.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar, then cut diagonally if desired.
- Serve the French toast immediately with butter and maple syrup.
While it’s OK to use a typical skillet for this recipe, frequent breakfast cooks or those making French toast for large groups may benefit from a dedicated griddle, which can fit more and provide a more even cooking experience.
What goes well with Dennys-Style French Toast
French toast is a classic sweet breakfast treat that goes well with a variety of other dishes. Many choose to jazz up their French toast with fresh berries or fruit. Chopped nuts can also add texture when sprinkled on top.
Other toppings to try are whipped cream, chocolate chips, or a sprinkle of cinnamon.
The sweetness of the French toast also provides an ideal contrast to many savory or salty breakfast items. Try pairing it with bacon, sausage, or ham, or with an order of fried or scrambled eggs.
When it comes to beverages, your favorite will likely work well with this delicious recipe. This includes a hot cup of coffee or tea, a cold glass of milk or juice, or even a mimosa for those enjoying a boozy brunch.
How to store leftover French Toast
If your eyes were a bit bigger than your stomach and you’ve got leftover French toast, don’t worry; it’s easy to store. First, allow the toast to cool to room temperature. Place them in an airtight container in the refrigerator, using a slice of wax or parchment paper to separate slices and keep them from sticking if desired. It’ll be good for three to four days.
For longer-term storage, Denny’s French toast can also be frozen. After cooling, freeze the slices in a single layer in your freezer, then store them in a freezer-safe bag or container. French toast frozen this way will last up to two months.
How to reheat French Toast
Those looking to reheat their French toast have a few options.
To toast individual slices, put them in the toaster until they’re warmed through.
Larger quantities can be reheated in an oven set to 350°F for 10-20 minutes.
For those in a rush, the microwave is also an option. This method takes just one to three minutes, depending on the thickness of the bread and whether it’s refrigerated or frozen.
Love Denny’s? Try these copycat recipes!
Popular Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
- Bacon Omelette
- Cheese Blintz Recipe
- Chocolate Pancakes
- Egg Casserole with Ham
- Eggs in a Basket Recipe
- French Toast Sticks
- Funfetti Pancake Recipe
- Homemade Oatmeal
- Restaurant Style Pancakes
- Strawberry Pop Tart Recipe
Check out more of my easy breakfast recipes and the best copycat recipes here on CopyKat!
Denny’s French Toast
Ingredients
- 4 eggs
- 2/3 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 8 slices Texas Toast bread
Instructions
- In a medium-size bowl, beat together the eggs and the milk.
- Add flour, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt into the egg mixture. Beat to combine.
- Strain the custard mixture using a wire mesh strainer into another bowl.
- Heat a skillet or a griddle to about 350 degrees.
- Brush the skillet/griddle with butter.
- Place the bread into the custard mixture, then flip over the bread, and then place the bread onto the hot cooking surface.
- Cook for 1 to 2 minutes on each side. The bread should be golden in color when cooked through.
- Remove the French toast from the skillet.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Cut the French toast diagonally if desired.
- Serve with butter and maple syrup.
John Fuller
Really nice and creamy coating. I have added crushed corn flakes, crushed cheerios, crushed frosted flakes as a last coating before they hit the cast iron. I roll the flakes on my cutting board
to a fine size not powder and put each slice onto the crushed flakes and then into the buttered
pan. Nice and crunchy. Powdered cinnamon/sugar as a dusting. What a great punch that gives.
Mo
This was so God, no mushy middle, I did tweak a little as well. I mixed half brown and white sugar, added a dash of nutmeg, a little more of the cinnamon and vanilla. Over all this was a hit with the kids.
Deanna Nathan
This is delicious! My now favorite French toast recipe!
Jenny
Delicious! It would dirty the blender but I think I’d combine the custard ingredients in a blender next time. I’m going to make French toast this way from now on. So good with raspberry topping and creme freche!
Stephanie
Oh great idea about the blender!
Annietlc
I’ve never thought of adding Powdered Sugar to the egg mixture. A dash of regular granulated sugar, yes. The flour, too, Who-da-thunk!! I’m definitely trying this next time, cause I know that you know what you’re doing!
Ctay
Are the Texas toast frozen ?
Stephanie
No, they are fresh.
Claudia Beene
Can u get a version of the Shrimp
Baskets recipe for Shrimp Slaw also their Fried PIckles ( in Panama Beach, Florida)
Thanks
CB
Stephanie
I will have to give it a try.
Christine
I may be dense here, but why does the egg and milk mixture need to be strained, and why into another bowl??
Stephanie
It strains out undissolved lumps of flour and bits of protein from the egg whites from the batter. This makes the batter more uniform.
jonny 5
but isn’t the strain step before the add flour step?
Stephanie
No, it’s after.
Kay
That is not what your recipe says. You need to change it. Yours says strain the custard mixture into another bowl, THEN beat in flour etc…
Stephanie
Thank you Kay, you are right.
Ross
Make a custard by beating together the eggs and the milk in a medium-size bowl. Strain the custard into another bowl. Beat in flour, powdered sugar, vanilla, and salt.
Heat a skillet or a griddle to about 350 degrees. Brush the skillet/griddle with butter.
I hope my interpretation of this great recipe may clarify some questions about it’s preparation.
Place a slice of bread into the custard mixture coating one side of the bread. Flip over the bread, coating the other side of the bread. Place the bread onto the hot cooking surface.
Cook for 1 to 2 minutes on each side. The bread should be golden in color when cooked through. Remove from skillet.
Cut the toast diagonally, and sprinkle with powdered sugar, and top with butter.
Pat Cody
So Ross, I’m curious as to why you felt the need to restate the recipe.
Stephanie
I wasn’t super clear initially, and Ross made a clarifying statement.
Bethy
Why flour?
Lita
Love your recipes……
Stephanie
Thank you! I hope you enjoy the French toast!