Sunday mornings are pretty much the only day of the week that I’m not waking up and rushing out the door. A typical Sunday morning finds us curled up on the couch or in the hammock, discussing whatever pops into our minds or across our Facebook feed.
Sundays are also the perfect time to indulge yourself and your loved ones with a luxurious breakfast to relax and spend quality time together.
This Sunday, I had promised to make my infamous, life changing french toast. Most of the basic ingredients you will already have on hand, such as eggs, milk or half & half, butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla. But there are a few ingredients you may have to go shopping for. It’s totally worth it!
When making this french toast recipe I use challah bread, a dense egg bread that you can usually find in the bakery section of your favorite supermarket. I cut very thick slices of bread to soak up lots of that rich egg batter, cook over medium heat on the griddle to ensure perfect golden brown both sides and then keep them warm in a 250 ° oven to make sure the center is perfectly cooked.
When I cook, it’s nothing but full flavors, baby! No artificial flavorings or low fat anything. Spend the extra few bucks on the good stuff. If you are watching your figure, this french toast is sooo rich and satisfying, your every desire will be fulfilled in your very first bite. But, of course, that leads to second and third bites (or helpings, right?) Calories don’t count on Sundays anyway!
I start with eggs, real vanilla and cinnamon just like everyone else. But that’s where the similarities end and the magic begins. Instead of whole milk, try half & half or heavy cream for a richer flavor. Citrus zest like orange or lemon add a freshness, and you can also put a little of the juice from the fruit in the batter. Add a pinch of nutmeg for a subtle flavor that will have your family and friends saying “hmmm…there’s a little something extra special in here.”
But we’re not stopping there! As Emeril would say, let’s kick it up a notch! Real maple syrup and real butter are gimmies, but to really take it to the next level, you can also top it with cinnamon honey butter, fruit, whipped cream or peanut butter. To take it to a mind blowing level, top it with bananas foster, cinnamon apples or warm homemade berry compote. And if you’re celebrating something, like I don’t know, LIFE, pour in just a splash of Frangelico, Bailey’s Irish cream or Grand Marnier into the egg mixture. Serve it up with scrambled eggs, kicked up hashbrowns, crispy bacon and spicy sausage cooked on the same griddle! You can thank me later when your mouth’s not full! Or you can thank the cook by cleaning up. Just sayin’…
Whether you make this recipe for a Sunday breakfast for two or a family breakfast for ten, this recipe is not only crazy delicious, it’s also insanely easy to prepare. Just 20 minutes from start to table means you can treat yourself and your family and friends anytime and get back to what Sundays are really all about, relaxing.
Mind Blowing French Toast
4
people20
minutesIngredients
1 Loaf Challah Bread (or Brioche)
6 Large Eggs
1 ½ cups milk or half & half
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon honey
½ teaspoon vanilla
Grated Lemon or Orange Zest (Optional)
Pinch of salt
Butter (for frying)
Oil (for frying)
Preparation
- Heat skillet or griddle on medium heat. Heat oven to 250°. Line glass baking dish with parchment paper.
- In a large bowl, whisk together 6 large eggs, 1 ½ cups milk or half & half, 1 tsp cinnamon, ¼ tsp nutmeg, ½ tsp vanilla, 1 tablespoon honey, citrus zest and a pinch of salt.
- Dip 1 slice of Challah bread completely into egg mixture.
- Melt 1 tablespoon butter and oil in the pan .
- Transfer soaked challah bread to the pan, one slice at a time, being careful not to overcrowd the pan. Cook until golden brown all over, about 3 minutes per side. Place cooked slices into lined baking dish.
- Repeat steps 3-5 until all slices have been cooked.
TIps
- Keep french toast warm in the oven until you are ready to serve.