French toasts are what you feel like indulging in on lazy weekend mornings. A crispy brown toast with melting bread inside, soaked in a wash of egg and milk, topped with fresh fruits like berries and maple syrup.
French toasts are pure indulgences. That brown crisp on the outside and soft bread inside, soaked in a mixture of egg and milk, makes wanting this every weekend. Add maple syrup and a dollop of butter, and throw in fresh berries, like some blueberries and a few sliced strawberries, for a luxurious treat.
I like a bit of spice to compliment all that sweetness in the toast, and I prefer cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg. Cinnamon, combined with nutmeg, tastes so warm and comforting and reminds you of fall. A pinch of nutmeg is enough not to make it too spicy and works very well with hot cinnamon.
But this french toast recipe is not a very strict definition of such a versatile dish. The toppings can be any combination, and you can go crazy.
The best bread for french toast
Brioche is my first choice for the best french toast recipe. It is a soft and cakey bread with a buttery feel and taste. It tastes so good I can munch on them as a snack. Brioche has weight and is spongy in texture, soaking up the egg and milk mixture without falling apart and dissolving in that.
Brioche is a loaf made from a dough enriched with egg and loads of butter, giving it a slightly sweet yet rich taste and a cakey texture.
Other than brioche, Jewish challah bread is a good alternative. Similar to the brioche, it is made with eggs but without dairy.
Left-over bread would be a great choice. For one, you get stale bread which has dried up with time. In addition, what better way to use leftover bread?
Ingredients
Brioche Bread - Brioche is a soft and cakey bread with a buttery feel and taste.
Half & half - is a mixture of half cream and half milk. It is more diluted than heavy cream but thicker and creamier than milk.
Eggs - are the essence of the dip and the flavor the bread absorbs.
Vanilla, Cinnamon & Nutmeg - spices to up the flavor of the toast.
Orange Zest - to have some citrusy flavor in the toast.
Sugar - a little sugar to balance the spices.
Salt - added to bring all the flavors together.
Butter - is used for cooking the bread, and you can add a dollop of butter to make the breakfast richer.
How to make brioche french toast
This is a breakfast recipe and, thus, a simple thing to do. You cannot go wrong with this. Plus, you can get creative and wild with your toppings.
One important thing to remember is to use dry bread to prevent french toast from getting soggy. Whether you use brioche, challah, or regular sandwich bread, it better be a bit dry. It can be dry from leftover bread, which slowly loses moisture as it fresh bread dries.
Another way to make the bread dry is to toast them a bit. You can bake them in the oven or pan for a little while. Do not toast them too much, as you must do it again after dipping them in the egg mixture.
Serve with toppings
There are a plethora of toppings to add to french toast. The variety of sweet to savory toppings you can use and the result it can give makes french toast such a versatile dish.
Maple syrup is a must for me. I would not skip this for honey as honey is healthy but more viscous and sweet. Kids will also love a spread of Nutella on top. Chocolate sauce and caramel will undoubtedly be hits too.
Fresh fruits like bananas, blueberries, and strawberries make it refreshing. Berries add a sweet yet slightly tart taste to the overall sweet profile of the maple syrup.
You can also try a variety of nuts, from almonds to walnuts. The crunchy taste of nuts with the spice of cinnamon and the sweetness of maple syrup will surely make you crave for seconds.
Add a dollop of butter or cream cheese for a more lavish and rich serving. Make it even more indulgent with some ice cream.
Brioche French Toast
Equipment
- 1 pan to toast the bread
- 1 Bowl to mix egg and milk
Ingredients
- 6 slices Brioche Bread
- 1 cup Half & half
- 2 large eggs
- 2 teaspoon Vanilla
- ½ teaspoon Cinnamon
- Pinch of Nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon Orange Zest
- 2 tablespoon Sugar
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
- 4 tablespoon Butter
Instructions
- In a big mixing bowl / rectangular dish add half & half, Eggs, Vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, sugar, salt, and zest. Whisk well.
- Dip bread slices one by one into the mixture and coat them on both sides.
- Melt butter in a skillet. Cook dipped brioche slices for 1 minute on each side or until golden brown in color.
- Continue this method until all slices of brioche bread have been fried.
- Serve it with fresh berries. Drizzle maple syrup on top
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