French Toast

Name: French Toast
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 10 min
Total time: 30 min
Ingredients: 8 slices brioche, challah or thick white bread, 2 cm thick, ideally a day old; 4 large eggs; 250 ml (1 cup) whole milk; 60 ml (¼ cup) heavy cream, or more milk; 2 tbsp sugar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; ½ tsp ground cinnamon; 1 pinch fine sea salt; 40 g (3 tbsp) unsalted butter, for frying; maple syrup, berries and powdered sugar

Custard-soaked brioche, crisp outside and creamy within

Makes: 8 slices
Hands-on: 20 min
Total: 30 min
Level: Easy

Thick slices of slightly stale bread soaked in a rich egg custard and fried in butter until golden. Letting the bread soak long enough and finishing in the oven gives a crisp crust with a custardy center.

Ingredients

8 slicesbrioche, challah or thick white bread2 cm thick, ideally a day old
4large eggs
250 mlwhole milk (1 cup)
60 mlheavy cream (¼ cup)or more milk
2 tbspsugar
1 tspvanilla extract
½ tspground cinnamon
1 pinchfine sea salt
40 gunsalted butter (3 tbsp)for frying

To serve

maple syrup, berries and powdered sugar

Diet: Vegetarian
Allergens: gluten, egg, milk

Method

Heat the oven to 180°C (350°F) and set a wire rack on a baking sheet.
Whisk the eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt in a shallow dish until completely smooth.
Soak the bread slices in the custard, 2 at a time, for 20–30 seconds per side, until saturated but not falling apart. Lift onto a plate.
Melt 1 tbsp butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. When it foams, add 2–3 slices.
Fry until deep golden brown, 2–3 minutes per side. Transfer to the rack in the oven. Repeat with the remaining butter and bread. 6 min
Once all slices are fried, leave them in the oven for 5 minutes to set the center. 5 min
Serve with maple syrup, berries and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Why it works

Slightly stale bread has lost some moisture, so it absorbs more custard without turning to mush. Frying sets the outer custard and caramelizes the sugar and milk proteins into a crisp crust. A few minutes in the oven cooks the custard at the center through without burning the outside.

Common mistakes

Under-soaking: dry bread in the middle. Soak until heavy.
Pan too hot: the butter burns and the outside chars before the inside sets. Medium heat.

Variations

Nordic arme riddere: Use plain white bread, flavor the custard with ground cardamom instead of cinnamon, and serve with jam and sugar.

Make ahead and storage

Fried slices freeze for 1 month; reheat in a 180°C (350°F) oven for 10 minutes.

Notes

Fan oven: 160°C (325°F).