French toast was a special treat when we were kids. The dish was reserved for birthday breakfasts or Sunday brunches when relatives from out of town spent the night and bacon and eggs just wouldn't do. For such a simple dish, basically bread dipped in egg and fried, it always had a gourmet status attached to it, perhaps because it could so easily be dressed up with warm spices, fruit toppings, surprise fillings and even a dollop of freshly whipped cream.

If you've found making French toast at home daunting because of the time required or uncertainty about the ideal egg and milk mixture and perfect spice combination, turn to the slow cooker. These recipes guarantee flawless French toast every time, so scrumptious that everyone will ask for seconds.

Cinnamon swirl French toast
Cinnamon swirl bread in this recipe ensures warmth in every bite. Adding a tad more cinnamon plus nutmeg, raisins and walnuts gives this French toast a hearty stick-to-your ribs texture that satisfies for hours. If you forget to leave the bread out the night before to get stale, just spread the cubes on a baking sheet, and put them in a preheated 250 F oven for 8-10 minutes to dry them out. Fresh bread results in mushy French toast. Get the recipe here.

French toast with leftover sandwich buns
Leftover sandwich buns give French toast a slightly different flavor and look like fancy handmade breakfast buns on the plate. You can use extra hamburger or hot dog buns, or any extra rolls you don't want to go to waste. Don't forget that sprinkle of powdered sugar on top — it adds wow to your presentation and just a hint of extra sweetness. Get the tutorial here.

Overnight French toast
Waking up to the aroma of cinnamon and sugar wafting through the house promises a sweet start to your day. Put all the ingredients into a slow cooker, set it on low, and you'll have breakfast ready eight hours later. For an extra special treat, tuck your favorite fruit under the bread cubes so they can gently caramelize overnight. Peaches, bananas, berries and pears are excellent choices. Adding salt to unsalted butter in the mixture makes the sweetness of the brown sugar shine. Get the recipe here.

Overnight breakfast casserole
Pumpkin spice became prolific in a wide range of foods in recent years, and this is one of the best ideas yet. Mix eggs, milk, vanilla and stale bread cubes with a can of pumpkin puree, and refrigerate for one hour. This crucial step helps it keep its body during eight hours of slow cooking. A hefty full tablespoon of pumpkin pie spice and brown sugar transform this French toast into a dish of wonder, so rich and satisfying it could easily double as dessert with a scoop of creamy French vanilla ice cream on top. Get the recipe here.

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