If there's one breakfast my family never gets tired of, it's this Tres Leches French Toast. I make it all the time because it's incredibly easy, unbelievably delicious, and always disappears within minutes. Thick slices of buttery brioche are soaked in a rich tres leches custard, cooked until perfectly golden, and topped with fluffy whipped cream and fresh berries for the ultimate breakfast or brunch treat. It has all the creamy, indulgent flavors of classic tres leches cake in a cozy French toast form, making it a recipe that's perfect for weekend mornings, holidays, or whenever you want to make breakfast feel a little extra special.

Two slices of challah french toast on a plate topped with tres leches syruc, whipped cream and a strawberry

This is the perfect brunch at home dish. I love a good tres leches cake and the idea to combine tres leches and french toast seemed like a match made in heaven.

Key ingredients needed

Challah bread: Thick, rich slices soak up the tres leches custard beautifully while staying soft and fluffy inside.
Three milks: A combination of sweetened condensed milk, evaporated milk, and whole milk gives the French toast its signature creamy, indulgent flavor.
Eggs: Help create a rich custard that coats the bread and cooks up perfectly golden.
Grand Marnier: Adds a subtle citrus flavor that enhances the sweetness and gives the French toast an elegant touch.
Vanilla extract: Brings warmth and depth to the custard, complementing the creamy tres leches flavors.

See recipe card for quantities and full list of ingredients

All of the ingredients needed for tres leches french toast — Ingredients needed for Tres Leches french toast

Instructions

We're going to start by making our tres leches custard.

Making tres leches custard. Combnining condensed milk and evaporated milk in a bowl — Beginning the tres leches syrup

Pour your condensed milk, cream, grand marnier, vanilla and evaporated milk into a large bowl. Mix until well combined.

Pour your condensed milk, cream, grand marnier, vanilla and evaporated milk into a large bowl — The condensed milk, cream, grand marnier, vanilla and evaporated milk in a large bowl ready to be mixed

Once the tres leches syrup is well mixed, pour out 1.5 cups of the syrup and reserve for later. Then add to the bowl the eggs and cinnamon.

bowl filled with completed tres leches custard

Slice your challah bread into 1 inch slices. Place the bread in a single layer on the rack. Bake, flipping halfway through, until dry to the touch on both sides, about 15 minutes total. Remove from oven and let cool 5 minutes.
Completely submerge the slices in the custard until drenched but not falling apart, 1 to 2 minutes per side. When removing the slice, lightly tap the bread against the side of the bowl to remove any excess custard.
Set a large skillet to medium-low heat and melt 1 tablespoon of butter. Add 2-3 soaked challas slices Cook until the bottoms are golden-brown, about 4 minutes. Flip and cook until the second side is browned, about 3 minutes more. Add additional butter to the pan in between batches, swirling as it melts.

Cooked challah french toast arranged in a casserole dish — Cooked french toast in prepared casserole dish

Once you've cooked all of your french toast, place them in a casserole dish. Then pour the reserved tres leches syrup over the top of the french toast slices.

Pouring tres leches syrup over the french toast arranged in the casserole dish — Pouring reserved tres leches syrup syrup over the french toast

Once you've poured the tres leches, serve and garnish with whipped cream and your choice berries.

Top tips for making

Be sure that your challah is completely dried out before making.
Make sure your skillet is set to medium low heat to make sure you don't burn your french toast.

Variations and substitutions for this tres leches french toast recipe

Variations

Top with fresh fruit: Add sliced strawberries, blueberries, bananas, or raspberries for a fresh, colorful finish.
Make it extra decadent: Drizzle with dulce de leche, caramel sauce, or chocolate sauce before serving.
Add warm spices: Sprinkle cinnamon, nutmeg, or pumpkin pie spice into the egg mixture for extra warmth and flavor.
Stuff it with cream cheese: Spread sweetened cream cheese between two slices of bread before dipping for a rich, cheesecake-inspired version.
Use flavored bread: Try cinnamon swirl bread, brioche, or challah for even more flavor and a softer texture.
Turn it into a casserole: Assemble everything in a baking dish and bake for an easy make-ahead tres leches French toast casserole.
Make it dairy-free: Use dairy-free milk, sweetened condensed coconut milk, dairy-free evaporated milk, and coconut whipped cream for a delicious dairy-free version.
Make it lower in sugar: Use a sugar-free or reduced-sugar sweetened condensed milk alternative, skip the sweet toppings, and serve with fresh berries and a light dusting of cinnamon instead.

Substitutions

Challah bread: Brioche, French bread, Texas toast, or thick-cut white bread all work well. Slightly stale bread is ideal because it absorbs the custard without falling apart.
Whole milk: Use 2% milk or substitute almond milk, oat milk, soy milk, or another favorite dairy-free milk.
Sweetened condensed milk: Sweetened condensed coconut milk is an excellent dairy-free substitute. For a lower-sugar option, use a reduced-sugar or sugar-free sweetened condensed milk alternative if available.
Evaporated milk: Use dairy-free evaporated milk, half-and-half, or additional whole milk if needed.
Grand Marnier: Substitute Cointreau, orange liqueur, or triple sec for a similar citrus flavor. For an alcohol-free version, use splash of orange extract or extra vanilla extract.
Eggs: Replace with your favorite liquid egg substitute or a commercial egg replacer for an egg-free version.
Vanilla extract: Almond extract or a splash of rum extract makes a delicious alternative.
Whipped cream: Use coconut whipped cream or dairy-free whipped topping for a dairy-free option, or simply dust with powdered sugar and cinnamon.
Maple syrup: For a lower-sugar option, serve with sugar-free maple syrup or fresh fruit instead of traditional syrup.

Storage instructions for this easy french toast

Make-ahead tip: This recipe is ideal for preparing in advance. Assemble it the night before, refrigerate overnight, and bake the next morning for an easy, stress-free breakfast or brunch.

Refrigerate leftovers: Allow the Tres Leches French Toast to cool completely, then transfer it to an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Store toppings separately: If possible, keep whipped cream, fresh fruit, and any additional toppings separate until you're ready to serve. This helps maintain the best texture and prevents the French toast from becoming soggy.

Reheat gently: Warm individual slices in the microwave for 30–60 seconds, or reheat in a 325°F oven for 10–15 minutes until heated through. You can also warm slices in a skillet over medium-low heat for lightly crisped edges.

Freeze for later: To freeze, place cooled slices in a single layer on a baking sheet until frozen solid. Transfer them to a freezer-safe bag or airtight container with parchment paper between each slice. Freeze for up to 2 months.

Thaw and reheat: Thaw frozen French toast overnight in the refrigerator, then reheat in the oven, toaster oven, or microwave until warmed through. Add fresh whipped cream and toppings just before serving for the best flavor and presentation.