Pan Francés 🍞 is the Mexican version of classic French toast, made with bread dipped in an egg, milk, cinnamon, and sugar mixture, then cooked in butter until golden and lightly caramelized.
This was one of our favorite breakfasts growing up, especially served with berry syrup. It’s quick, easy, and a great way to use day-old bread.
Pan Francés is similar to Torrejas, but they are made differently. My Torrejas recipe uses day-old bread and whipped eggs.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe ❤️
- Quick and easy. Pan Francés comes together in just a few minutes with simple ingredients.
- Uses everyday ingredients. You probably already have bread, eggs, milk, cinnamon, and sugar in your kitchen.
- A great way to use older bread. Slightly stale bread soaks up the egg mixture without becoming too soggy.
- Easy to customize. Add your favorite spices or top it with berries, powdered sugar, maple syrup, or cajeta.
- Great for busy mornings. Make a big batch and keep it warm in the oven or reheat leftovers throughout the week.
-Maggie
🍞 Ingredients
- Bread – This is your basic white bread that’s starting to go stale.
- Milk – whole milk, 2%, almond milk, whatever you like and prefer works fine.
- Butter is preferred to absorb into the bread while it’s cooking.
- Ground Cinnamon adds warmth and flavor.
- Eggs – Here you see brown eggs, but you can use white eggs too.
- Vanilla adds spice and depth.
- Sugar – just a little to create a caramelized crust.
You probably already have all these simple ingredients in your kitchen.
Variations
Spices – Try adding nutmeg, ground cloves, ground allspice, or apple pie spice
To make french toast sticks, cut the bread into long sticks and dip into egg mixture. Cook on all sides.
A nice addition to the egg mixture is fresh orange zest.
Toppings – Maple syrup, Nutella, powdered sugar, cajeta, or a delicious berry syrup. Berry syrup instructions are in the recipe card below.
👩🏼🍳 Instructions
- Beat the eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon.
- Dip the bread for 10-15 seconds.
- Flip and let rest for an additional 10 seconds.
The trick to this is not to let it soak for too long.
If you are using bread that is thicker, you’ll need to let it soak a few seconds longer.
- Melt butter in a pan.
- Add the dipped bread.
- Before turning, sprinkle with a little bit of sugar.
- Flip and continue cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes on each side.
- Serve immediately or keep warm in the oven.
The thicker the bread, the more time it will need to cook.
Sugar caramelizes when cooked and will give the french toast a yummy texture.
How to Keep Warm in the Oven
Heat the oven to 200 degrees F and place the french toast on a cookie sheet or a casserole dish. Cover with aluminum foil. Keep inside the oven while making the rest.
Make a big batch. French toast stores extremely well, making it the perfect breakfast for busy weekdays.
Storing Instructions
Place any leftovers in an airtight container. Store for up to 5 days.
Reheating Instructions
- In the Oven: Heat the oven to 350 degrees F, place toast on a baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 7-10 minutes, until warm.
- In the Microwave: Place the french toast on a microwaveable plate. Set the timer for 2 minutes, cook until warm.
- In a regular toaster: Toast for 1-2 minutes. Given, of course, that they fit in the toaster.
- On the stove: Melt butter. Add bread and cook for 1 minute on each side.
🙋🏻♀️ Frequently Asked Questions
Pan Francés is the Mexican version of French toast. Slices of bread are dipped in an egg, milk, cinnamon, and sugar mixture, then cooked in butter until golden and lightly caramelized.
Day-old white bread works very well, but you can also use brioche, challah, French bread, or a baguette. Slightly stale bread is best because it absorbs the egg mixture without becoming too soft.
Don’t soak the bread for too long. About 10–15 seconds per side is usually enough. If your bread is very fresh or soft, toast it for about 1 minute before dipping it into the egg mixture. Cooking over medium heat also helps the center cook without burning the outside.
Yes. Pan Francés stores and reheats well, making it a convenient breakfast for busy mornings. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
Yes! Let the French toast cool completely, then place it in a freezer-safe bag or container with pieces of wax or parchment paper between the slices. Freeze for up to 4 months, although it is best used within 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
🍳 More Mexican Breakfast Recipes
- Papas con Huevos
- Molletes Dulces
- Chorizo con Huevos
- Cafe de Olla
- Huevos a la Mexicana
- Machaca con Huevos
- Migas con Huevo
Pan Francés is one of those simple Mexican breakfasts that is easy to make and even easier to love. The buttery bread gets lightly caramelized on the outside while staying soft and fluffy inside.
Serve it with berry syrup, fresh fruit, powdered sugar, maple syrup, or a drizzle of cajeta. Make a big batch and save the leftovers for an easy breakfast later in the week.
iBuen provecho!
Pan Frances (French Toast)
Ingredients
For the French Toast:
- 8 slices white bread (day old)
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 ½ tablespoon sugar
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ stick butter
- sugar (for sprinkling on top)
To Make the Berry Syrup
- 1 cup berries (frozen or fresh, whatever mixture you like)
- ¼ cup sugar
- ¼ cup water
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
Instructions
For the French Toast:
- Beat the eggs, milk, 1 ½ tablespoon sugar, and cinnamon together.
- Dip the bread slices individually into the egg mixture for 10-15 seconds.
- Immediately turn and dip the other side for an additional 10 seconds.
- If the bread is too fresh or soft, toast before dipping.
- Melt butter in a large skillet.
- Add the dipped bread to the skillet.
- Cook on medium heat for 2 minutes.
- Sprinkle the top of the bread with some sugar, then flip.
- Cook for 2 more minutes.
- Serve immediately, or keep in a warm oven until ready to serve.
How to Make the Berry Syrup:
- Add sugar, water, and lemon juice to a small to medium size saucepan over medium heat.
- Bring it to a boil, stirring occasionally.
- Add the berries and let it boil for about 5 minutes.
- Allow it to cool a bit before serving.
Leave a Reply