Challah French Toast

Aug 2, 2026 · By VanillaGoods

Breakfast Pancakes waffles french toast Vanilla: Paste Medium

A stack of thick golden slices of challah french toast on a plate, dusted with powdered sugar

Challah slices soaked in a creamy vanilla custard, pan-fried until golden, topped with whipped vanilla mascarpone and crunchy toasted almonds for a rich and textured breakfast treat.

Prep 15 min

Cook 15 min

Total 30 min

Servings 4

Diet —

Ingredients

Adjust yield

servings

8.0slices challah bread, about 1-inch thick
5.0 large (250.0 g)eggs
1 ¼ cups (300.0 ml)whole milk
3.0 tbsp (38.0 g)granulated sugar
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)vanilla bean paste
½ tsp (1.3 g)ground cinnamon
¼ tsp (1.5 g)fine sea salt
3.0 tbsp (42.0 g)unsalted butter, for frying
1.0 cup (240.0 g)mascarpone cheese
2.0 tbsp (16.0 g)powdered sugar
1.0 tsp (5.0 ml)pure vanilla extract
⅓ cup (35.0 g)slivered almonds
2.0 tbsp (30.0 ml)maple syrup, for serving

Make it at home

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Instructions

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, whole milk, sugar, vanilla bean paste, ground cinnamon, and salt until smooth and fully combined.
Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of butter, swirling to coat the surface.
Dip each slice of challah bread into the custard, soaking about 20 seconds per side, allowing it to absorb the custard but not become saturated.
Place the soaked bread onto the skillet and cook until a deep golden brown forms on the bottom, about 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook the other side similarly. Add butter as needed for subsequent batches.
While the French toast cooks, in a small bowl combine mascarpone cheese, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir until smooth and creamy.
Toast the slivered almonds in a dry pan over medium-low heat, stirring frequently, until golden and fragrant, about 3 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
Serve the French toast slices warm, topping each with a dollop of vanilla mascarpone and a sprinkle of toasted almonds. Drizzle with maple syrup as desired.

Tips

Use day-old challah slices for best texture so they absorb custard without breaking apart.
To intensify vanilla flavor, substitute vanilla bean paste in custard and fresh vanilla extract in mascarpone topping.

Recipe FAQ

How long does it take to make challah french toast?

Plan on 15 minutes of prep and 15 minutes of cooking. The recipe makes 4 servings.

How should I store challah french toast?

Store leftover cooked French toast without topping in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Keep mascarpone mix separate and add before serving. Reheat gently in a toaster oven or skillet.

Can I make challah french toast ahead?

Prepare the custard and mascarpone topping up to 4 hours ahead and keep refrigerated until use.

Can I use a different form of vanilla?

Yes. This recipe uses 1 tsp vanilla bean paste (5 ml). Each teaspoon of pure vanilla extract can be swapped for 1 teaspoon of vanilla bean paste, the seeds of half a vanilla bean, or 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla powder. Paste and seeds add the classic dark specks.

Challah slices soaked in a creamy vanilla custard, pan-fried until golden, topped with whipped vanilla mascarpone and crunchy toasted almonds for a rich and textured breakfast treat.

Estimated · per serving

Nutrition

Per serving = 1 of 4 servings this recipe makes.

881 Calories / serving

57.7g Fat

69.7g Carbs

22.8g Protein

37.0g Sugar

Whole recipe (4 servings): ~3524 cal · 231g fat · 279g carbs · 91g protein · 148g sugar

Estimated values per serving, calculated from standard ingredient data. Not verified Nutrition Facts; actual values vary with brands, measurements, and preparation.

Per serving · 881 calories

What it takes to burn one serving

Brisk walking 167 min·9.7 mi·~19550 steps
Walking uphill or incline treadmill 119 min·6.0 mi·~11900 steps
Moderate cycling 90 min·18.0 mi
Swimming laps 123 min
Jogging 86 min·7.2 mi·~13750 steps
Stair climbing 81 min·~7300 steps
Dancing 143 min
Bodyweight circuit training 90 min
Cleaning, errands, or playing with the dog 205 min

Rough estimates for one serving, based on standard MET values at about 155 lb. Your own burn depends on body size, effort, and fitness. Shown for context only — food is not something you have to earn.

Made with VanillaGoods

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