The perfect French toast should be soft and creamy on the inside and golden and crispy on the outside. Most often served as an indulgent weekend brunch, the dish is a great way to use up leftovers – with the most basic recipes requiring just eggs, milk and bread.

It is preferable to use stale bread as fresh bread has a tendency to fall apart when dipped in the custard.

Stale white bread is usually used but this can be substituted for brioche or challah for a slightly more indulgent treat.

For savoury French toast, omit the sugar and vanilla and replace with a little salt and pepper; it makes a great snack for kids or part of a weekend fry-up.