Classic French Pain Perdu

1.In a large shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon until fully combined and smooth.

2.Preheat a large non-stick skillet or frying pan over medium heat.

3.Dip each slice of bread into the custard mixture, allowing it to soak for about 20-30 seconds per side, ensuring the bread absorbs the custard but does not become overly soggy.

4.Add 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter to the preheated skillet and let it melt, coating the pan evenly.

5.Place the soaked bread slices in the skillet, cooking in batches if necessary to avoid overcrowding.

6.Cook each slice for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until the exterior is golden brown and slightly crisp, and the custard is cooked through.

7.Add more butter to the skillet as needed for subsequent batches.

8.Transfer the cooked pain perdu to a warm plate and keep warm while cooking the remaining slices.

9.Serve the pain perdu immediately, topped with fresh mixed berries and a generous dusting of powdered sugar.

10.Optionally, drizzle with maple syrup or honey for added sweetness.