French Toast

French Toast
Posted in : Breads Pastas Stuffings, Breakfast Brunch, Late Night on
by : ChefLars
Tags: , , ,

A Little Personal History:

I do love French Toast! Whether for breakfast, brunch or late night snack. Here’s my favorite version with toppings and options how to freeze for later in the “Tips, Notes and Variations” section.

Description:

French toast, also known as eggy bread,[1] gypsy toast,[2] German toast,[3][4] or Spanish toast[4] is a dish of bread soaked in beaten eggs and then fried.

The earliest known reference to French toast is in the Apicius, a collection of Latin recipes dating to the 4th or 5th century; the recipe mentions soaking in milk, but not egg, and gives it no special name, just aliter dulcia “another sweet dish”.[5]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_toast

Categories: Breakfast, Brunch, Late Night Snack
Servings: 4 bread slices
Time: – Preparation:   10 minutes
– Cooking:         10 minutes
Equipment: Cutting board and bread knife, measuring cups and spoons, medium mixing bowl, whisk, large skillet
Difficulty: Easy

Ingredients:

  • 4 – 1” thick slices of French bread loaf
  • 2 egg
  • ½ cup milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon sugar
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 Tbs butter, more as needed

Procedure:

  1. Cut four 1” slices of French bread with bread knife.
  2. In a medium mixing bowl add eggs, milk, and remaining ingredients, except butter. Whisk together thoroughly.
  3. Over medium low-heat, heat butter in skillet or griddle.
  4. Soak a slice of bread in the egg-milk mixture and place on skillet; repeat until skillet is full.
  5. Brown both sides of soaked French bread.
  6. Serve on plates, usually two slices per person, with toppings as desired.

Advanced Preparation:

  • Steps 1-2 can be done a day in advance, covered and refrigerated till ready to make.
  • If you want to freeze for later, refer below to “Freezer Variations” 

Tips, Notes and Variations:

  • The goal is to get both sides of the French toast nicely browned, while making sure the center is cooked. Using excessive heat can scorch the outside of the toast while leaving the inside undercooked.
  • French toast toppings: French toast is often served with toppings similar to those used for pancakes, waffles, and toast. Suggested toppings are:
    • real maple syrup, table syrup
    • butter
    • jam, jelly, fruit syrup
    • fresh fruit
    • whipped cream
    • ice cream – Adding ice cream on top is my Danish variety favorite!
    • powdered sugar
    • nuts
    • honey 

Freezer Variations:

I love a late night snack of French Toast, Sticks or Triangles with an assortment of topping “dips”. The problem of course is late night snacks are best with none or little preparation. So how to freeze better than you store baought? Here are my solutions:

  • Option I – Prepare & Freeze in plastic wrap

  1. Tear off a slice of plastic wrap and place it over a medium sized plate.
  2. Soak bread slices as described above.
  3. Place on plastic wrap and fold up individual French toast. Repeat process for remaining bread slices.
  4. Freeze until ready to heat up in skillet & snack on late night.
  5. When ready, preheat skillet at medium-low heat.
  6. Add a little butter or oil and frozen French Toast slices.
  7. Grill each side of toast till golden brown (8-10 minutes per side)

  • Option II – Prepare, Cook, Cool and Freeze

Note: This is a preferred method if you want to make French Toast Sticks or Triangles for a snacks later. Once cooked and cooled, slice and freeze.

  1. Prepare and cook french toast as described above.
  2. Allow to cool on plate or cooking sheet
  3. Store individually in sandwich plastic baggie, or if storing more than one in gallon plastic baggie, separated with parchment paper. Either way remove as much air as possible.
  4. Freeze until ready to heat up in skillet or microwave.