So, you want to know how to make French toast on a griddle? Well, cooking French toast can be a lot of fun if you know how to do it. This post will help you understand the nitty-gritty of making a French toast on a griddle. You can use a traditional or an electric griddle for it. Yes, you can prepare a sumptuous breakfast for your family in no time with the help of a griddle.
Types of French Toast
As early as the 15th century, the Europeans followed the recipes for making a French toast. It was a simple dish made from stale bread soaked in a mixture of egg and milk and baked until golden brown. This recipe is not far from the French Toast we know and enjoy today.
Today there are thousands of ways to prepare this simple and tasty dish. So, you should not banish it to the breakfast table! Variations of salted French toast, stuffed with ham and cheese, are excellent for a hearty breakfast. You can also use it for lunch, desserts or for those special evenings. I am talking about those days when you would like to combine a breakfast menu with evening dishes.
What it takes to make French Toast
Making French toast is quite easy; you probably already have everything you need!
Bread: Good French toast requires good bread. Choose a bread that is thick enough to carry the egg mixture. The thicker cut allows the bread to absorb the egg without breaking or becoming too soft.
Many people prefer yesterday’s bread. This is because stale bread absorbs more of the egg mix without breaking.
You may want to mix it up with French or Italian bread, brioche, sourdough, or banana bread or the wholegrain versions of it.
If you are gluten-free, there is no reason not to have all the fun with French toast! Experiment with your favorite gluten-free bread types and you are good to go.
Eggs: Choose medium sized, fresh eggs. If you are vegetarian or do not eat eggs, try some of these vegetarian egg substitutes. There is also a new product available on the market. It is known as VeganEgg, which mixes with water to make an egg substitute.
Milk or cream: The liquid dilutes the egg so that it covers the bread and makes it less “eggy”. If you are allergic to milk or prefer alternatives to milk, you may try soy milk, coconut milk or nut milk like almond or cashew milk.
Batter extras:Many recipes, especially for classic French toast, require additives like nutmeg, cinnamon, sugar or vanilla.
Something to lubricate the griddle: Use butter (be careful not to burn it!), cooking spray or a high-temperature oil such as vegetable or canola oil. If you are using a non-stick surface, this step is optional.
Equipment: a bowl to mix the batter, a cutting board and a bread knife if you haven’t already done so, and an electric skillet or large griddle.
Utensils: whisk or fork to mix the dough, heat-proof spatula to turn the bread.
How to make French toast batter
The preparation of the egg mixture is not limited to breaking a few eggs. Here you add the flavor that will permeate the French Toast. Prepare your batter in a bowl large enough to dip slices of bread into it. You have to ensure that the bread is covered on all sides before baking so that it absorbs the batter and forms a good crust when the cooking process is on.
For a simple French toast, you just need an egg,1/3 cup of milk (may slightly vary as it depends on the thickness required). You will also need ½ one teaspoon of vanilla extract per 2 slices of bread. So if you were making French toast for four people, you would have to beat 4 eggs, 1 to 1/3 cup of milk and 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract.
How to cook French Toast in a Skillet or a Griddle
Cooking French toast on a skillet or a griddle can be a messy affair if you are not used to doing it. You will have to first pre-heat a non-stick griddle to 375 degree or heat the skillet to medium level. Then you should slightly oil or butter the griddle pan. When you find that the pan is quite hot, you will have to dip the egg mixture on both sides and make sure that it is properly coated before the cooking starts. Now place it on the skillet or griddle. Keep on cooking until it turns golden brown on both sides. Now remove it from the griddle and keep on repeating the process until all the bread has been toasted.
To make the whole process simple and hassle-free, you should place you batter bowl close to the pan and quickly move the bread from bowl to skillet. You should flip the toast with care. For, the batter can splash up and get burnt if you do it too quickly. Don’t forget to keep the slices warm until they are ready to be served.
Other ways to make French toast
Crispy French toast
French toast at night: Soaking the bread overnight adds even more flavor and makes French toast delightful and divine. In order to do this, soak the bread as usual and then place the slices in an ungreased pan. You should pour the rest of the batter on the bread. Then you will have to cover lightly and leave it in the freeze for at least 8 hours. But it should be more than 24 hours before baking. You should not also forget that there are raw eggs in the batter. So, make sure it is well-covered and refrigerated with caution!
Coated French Toast: After dipping the bread into the batter, you can use a variation. Dip it in something crunchy like Crushed French Toast crunch cereal for more flavor and texture.
Baked French toast: To avoid having to work on a stove top or griddle while your guests are waiting for brunch, you can do one thing. For a change, you can try making French toast for a crowd in the open. Your guests might like to see how you make these delightful French Toasts!
Slow Cooking French Toast: Use your slow cooker on vacation or when you want to make a simple French toast recipe for a crowd. Slow cooking allows the bread to absorb even more flavor.
Stuffed French toast: Chocolate, fruit, cream cheese or salty ingredients can be stuffed into French toast to add flavor. It is up to you what kind of French Toasts you are going to prepare for your guests or family members.
Unique forms of French toast
French toast Roll Ups
French toast doesn’t have to be sliced! You can make French toast rolls, French toast cup cakes, French toast sticks ( kids love it!) or even Monte Cristo sandwiches.
French toast toppings
French chocolate toast with strawberry syrup
Butter and maple syrup are the basic ingredients of French toast, but you can mix them any way you want! You can think about adding whipped cream, fresh fruit slices and fruit sauces. You can also add jams and marmalades, chocolate sauce, caramel, nuts, crushed cereals. And don’t forget about marshmallows and coconut flakes which make the toasts no less tasty. Make ordinary French toast for parties or birthdays more festive by using fun, seasonal ingredients. You may, for example, use heart-shaped strawberries and colorful candies or seasonal crumbles.
Griddle Temp for French Toast
Cooking French toast in a skillet or on the griddle can be a disaster, but it’s worth it! Preheat a non-stick griddle to 375° and brush lightly with oil or butter as desired. When the pan is very hot, dip the bread in the egg mixture on both sides, make sure it is covered and place it on the pan. Cook until it turns golden brown on both sides (2-4 minutes, depending on the size and thickness of the bread). Remove from the griddle and repeat until the whole bread is cooked.
To make the process less chaotic, you can place your batter bowl near the pan and move the bread quickly from the bowl to the griddle pan. You will have to turn the toast carefully, for the dough can splatter and burn if you do this too quickly. You should keep the slices warm in the oven until the food is ready to be served.
Wrapping up
Hopefully, after reading this post, you should be able to make sumptuous, mouthwatering French toasts on a griddle. You may use a traditional egg-milk mix or a flour-based batter, or whatever suits you. But don’t forget that the fluffy French toast is around the corner. And you won’t have to take much trouble preparing it.
Things may be messy a few times in the beginning, but you soon will get the hang of it and become an expert. Now that you know how to make French Toast on a griddle, get going at once.Taste the French toast and thank me later!
As early as the 15th century, the Europeans followed the recipes for making a French toast. It was a simple dish made from stale bread soaked in a mixture of egg and milk and baked until golden brown. This recipe is not far from the French Toast we know and enjoy today.
