French toast is a delicious breakfast or brunch recipe that everybody loves. Join Eric from Simply Elegant Home Cooking as he shows some simple steps to take this classic recipe up a few notches! Eric’s French toast recipe is delicious because it uses brioche bread, along with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla to spice things up. Also, it is imperative to dry out your bread so that it absorbs a maximum amount of the custard. Stick around, this is a recipe you don’t want to miss!
Ingredients:
-4 thick slices brioche bread
-2 large eggs
-1/2 cup half & half
-2 teaspoons cinnamon
-1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
-1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
-1/8 teaspoon salt
-1 tablespoon butter (plus more for serving)
-1/2 tablespoon cooking oil
-fresh fruit, confectioners sugar and maple syrup for serving
Directions:
-Remove eggs and half and half about 30 minutes before cook time.
-If using fresh bread, lightly toast the bread for 8 minutes on each side in a 300 degree f oven to draw out the moisture (skip this step if using days old bread)
-Preheat the oven to 350 degree f as the French toast will be cooked first in a skillet and them finished in the oven.
-Once bread is dried, use a fork or knife to poke 4-5 holes on each side of each slide to help allow the custard to soak in.
-Create the custard by combining the eggs, half & half, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract and salt into a large bowl and whisk thoroughly until evenly incorporated.
-Begin preheating a large nonstick skillet between medium low to medium heat.
-Soak 2 pieces of the brioche bread in the custard for one minute, flip, and soak for an additional minute. Remove the bread to a clean plate and let sit for another few minutes while pan preheats.
-Add half a tablespoon of butter and a small amount of oil to the pan, let it melt and slightly brown, then add in the 2 slices of bread. Fry for 2 1/2 to 3 minutes per side then remove to a sheet pan with a rack.
-Soak the remaining bread, wipe out the skillet, and repeat the process with fresh butter and oil.
-Once all French toast is fried and placed on the baking rack, place the rack in the preheated oven and bake for 6-8 minutes.
-Serve with softened butter, maple syrup, and confectioners sugar.