Oh, my. Look at those thick slices of French Toast. Dusted with confectioners’ sugar and served with maple syrup and fruit. It is like eating dessert for breakfast! French Toast, alsoalso known by such names as eggy bread, German toast, gypsy toast and poor knights bread, as well as others, is made of bread, usually day-old, soaked in milk, then in beaten eggs and then fried until golden brown.
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One of the earliest versions of French toast has been traced back to the Roman Empire. In France it is called pain perdu, meaning “lost bread”, because it makes use of stale bread that might otherwise be thrown away.
Usually, French toast is served with butter, maple syrup and powdered sugar but the possibilities are endless. You might like the popular chocolate hazelnut spread with sliced bananas. French toast can be topped with just about anything you like.
For a really special treat and pretty presentation, top French toast with a sweetened combination of berries. Click Mixed Berry Compote for the easy recipe. Scroll to the bottom of this post as there are lots of tablescape ideas and brunch recipes in this long post.
What is the best bread for making French toast?
People use a variety of different breads to make French toast. In the western and southwestern United States, many cooks prefer sourdough bread. Within some Jewish-American communities in the New York area, people use leftover challah bread. I made this recipe from a loaf of rustic, day-old bread I made the day before.
My son-in-law makes a really greatNo-Knead Breadalmost daily for his large quiver of children. I was so inspired that I had to make a loaf of this crusty and hearty bread too. Because of its sturdy texture, it absorbs a lot of the egg mixture without becoming soggy and makes great French toast.
French Toast is lovely for breakfast but we also enjoy it for an easy dinner. With a side of bacon or sausage and juice and coffee, it is a great breakfast-for-dinner meal.
How to make French toast
Crack 4 eggs into a shallow bowl.
Whisk lightly just to break up the eggs. I love this handheld rotary beater 🙂
Pour in 2/3 cup milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla.
Add a dash of salt and cinnamon (or nutmeg) to the mixture and beat until blended.
Melt some butter in a large skillet over medium heat.
Dip slices of bread (just the slices that will fit on to the skillet without crowding) into the milk egg mixture, until thoroughly saturated but not soggy and falling apart.
Thicker, denser slices of bread can absorb more egg mixture than thinner, soft bread.
Cooking French toast
Allow the excess egg to drip off, and place the bread slices onto the hot skillet.
Cook the French toast until the underside is golden brown, then flip and brown the other side.
Continue cooking until both sides are golden brown, adding additional butter if needed.
Serve immediately or keep warm in a 200 degree F oven while cooking the rest.
Not only is French toast delicious, it is budget-friendly and a great way to use up bread that is becoming stale.
Serve hot with butter, maple syrup, and dust with confectioners’ sugar. A side of bacon or sausage is always good too as is sliced peaches and whipped cream.
French Toast Recipe
INGREDIENTS:
- 4 eggs
- 2/3 cup milk
- 2 Tbs. sugar
- 1/2 tsp vanilla
- dash salt
- dash of cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)
- 6-8 thick slices day old bread
- butter for pan
- maple syrup
- confectioners’ sugar
DIRECTIONS:
In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, salt and cinnamon (if using) until well blended.
Melt some butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Turn slices of bread (just the slices that will fit on to the skillet without crowding) into the milk egg mixture, until thoroughly saturated but not soggy and falling apart. (Thicker, denser bread can absorb more egg mixture than thinner bread. I soaked this bread in the egg mixture for close to a full minute without the bread falling apart as I lifted it to the skillet.)
Allow the excess to drip off, and place the bread slices onto the hot skillet.
Cook the French toast until the underside is golden brown, then flip and brown the other side.
Serve immediately or keep warm in a 200 degree F oven while cooking the rest.
Serve hot with butter, maple syrup, and dust with confectioners’ sugar.
You might also like…
Quiche Lorraine
Fluffy Pancakes
Homemade Waffles
Full English Breakfast
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