Sandwich bread

Sandwich bread is a French toast classic. It’s a nostalgic favorite for our culinary producer Kelli Foster (of Dinner Therapist fame.) “For me, nothing beats thick slices of white bread for French toast. It needs to be thicker than sandwich bread, for sure. This kind of French toast both reminds me of my childhood and diner-style French toast.”

The light, pillowy texture of sandwich bread can yield super-soft, airy results if you choose the right one. Look for bread that is labeled “hearty,” “thick-cut,” or “Texas toast.” Thin slices are more likely to collapse when soaked. You can also opt for a pullman loaf and slice the bread yourself to your desired thickness. Sliced wheat bread also makes good French toast, but might require a little extra soaking time.

Challah

Denser than sandwich bread, but still soft and pliable, challah is one of the most popular choices for French toast. Challah is a traditional Jewish egg bread. Its flavor lends itself perfectly to a dressed-up custard (we also love it in bread pudding!), and its braided shape makes for especially nice-looking slices.

Brioche

Another gold-standard option, rich brioche is the perfect balance of sturdy texture and soft, uniform crumb. It’s a remarkably versatile bread used for everything from hamburger buns to ice cream sandwiches, and French toast is a great showcase for it. Brioche’s buttery, lightly sweet flavor is a great backbone for sweet or savory French toasts.

Shokupan

Fluffy shokupan is a lightly sweetened white bread that has a soft texture. Much like brioche, its subtle sweetness works very well with the flavors of French toast. Milk bread slices are often on the thicker side, which makes it great for soaking up custard.

(Andrea Rivera is associate food editor at TheKitchn.com, a nationally known blog for people who love food and home cooking. Submit any comments or questions to editorial@thekitchn.com.)

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