To find the perfect bread loaf for French toast can be quite amusing. Some like their toast to be chewy while others prefer it to be crunchy. Whatever the choice, the best bread for French toast is the one that pleases your taste buds.
For most of us, who do not like to tease our brains, the best bread for a French toast would be the one that is lightly sweet so that the wonderful flavor just lingers on. This article is a compilation of recipes that will definitely make your choice of bread deliciously appetizing.
Ingredients
- Eggs (large), 4
- Whole milk, ⅔ cup
- Sugar, 2 tablespoons
- Butter, 1½ tablespoons
- Vanilla, 1 teaspoon
- Salt, ¼ teaspoon
Directions
- Mix all the ingredients in a shallow bowl, and whip them up together by using a blender or an egg beater.
- Immerse the bread into the egg mixture. Make sure that both the sides of the bread are covered.
- Melt one and a half tablespoons of butter in a frying pan.
- Add the soaked bread and cook until it is golden brown.
- Use a spatula to flip the bread.
- Serve it hot after sprinkling powdered sugar or maple syrup.
Italian Bread
Ingredients
- One day old Italian bread (thickly sliced), 6 – 8 pieces
- Eggs, 4
- Orange juice, ⅓ cup
- Butter, 3 tablespoons
- Honey, 3 tablespoons
- Vanilla, ½ teaspoon
- Crushed plain cornflakes
- Powdered sugar
Directions
- Spread the bread in a single layer on a baking dish.
- Whip together eggs, honey, and vanilla.
- Pour this mixture over the bread. The bread should be thoroughly coated, leaving the excess mixture to be absorbed.
- Cover the baking dish and refrigerate it overnight.
- The next day, heat the oven to 400ºF.
- Melt the butter and preheat the glass baking dish in the oven.
- Spread the cornflakes on a plate and dip both the sides of the bread into the flakes.
- Place it in the hot baking dish.
- Cooking time depends on the size of the bread.
- Check to see if the bottom of the bread has turned dark golden brown. That is an indication that the toast is cooked.
- Dress up the plate with fresh melon and drizzle some honey or powdered sugar.
Banana Bread
Ingredients
- Eggs, 3
- Banana bread, 1 loaf
- Sweetened, condensed milk, 3 tablespoons
- Butter, 2 tablespoons
- Vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon
- Confectioner’s sugar for dusting (optional)
Directions
- Whip together the eggs, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla with a fork in a shallow bowl. Keep this aside.
- Take a large skillet and melt the butter over medium heat.
- Cut the banana bread into 4 thick slices.
- Dip each slice into the egg mixture.
- Place it in the hot pan, and cook till both the sides of the bread are golden brown.
- Before serving, dust some confectioner’s sugar.
Hawaiian Bread
Ingredients
- Eggs, 3
- Hawaiian sweet bread (thickly-sliced loaf), 1 (1 pound)
- Crushed pineapple with juice, 1 can (8 ounce)
- Mandarin orange segments (drained), 1 can (3 ounce)
- Maple syrup, 1 cup
- Honey, 3 tablespoons
- Water, 1 tablespoon
- Honey, 1 tablespoon
- Grated orange zest, 1 teaspoon
- Rum-flavored extract, ½ teaspoon
- Vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon
Directions
- Whisk together egg yolks, egg white, vanilla, rum extract, orange zest, water, and 1 tablespoon honey in a shallow bowl.
- Coat the bread slices in the egg mixture and keep them aside.
- In a small saucepan, add crushed pineapple, mandarin oranges, honey, and maple syrup. Slightly heat it over medium-low heat for 3 minutes.
- Next, heat a frying pan over medium-high heat.
- Fry the bread slices until golden brown on both the sides. Serve it hot with a fruit sauce.
Wheat Bread
Ingredients
- Whole wheat bread, 8 pieces
- Eggs, 2
- Soy milk, 1½ cups
- Cinnamon, 2 teaspoon
- Vanilla, 1 teaspoon
Directions
- In a shallow baking pan, whip together milk, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon.
- Place the pieces of bread in this mixture.
- Heat a fry pan over medium heat.
- Place the soaked bread on the pan and cook until both the sides are golden brown.
- Serve with maple syrup or your favorite fruit jam spread.
French Toast Bread Pudding
Ingredients
- Eggs (beaten), 4
- Challah or brioche (crust removed and cut into large cubes), 1 loaf
- Milk (or buttermilk is good too), 2 cups
- Sugar, honey, or sweetener of your choice, 3 tablespoons
- Butter, 1 tablespoon
- Vanilla, 1 teaspoon
- Cinnamon, ½ teaspoon
- Salt, ½ teaspoon
Directions
- Take a large casserole and butter it. Then, fill it with the bread.
- Whip together milk, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and sugar into the eggs.
- Pour the custard mixture over the bread, toss it lightly, and refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Toss the bread to give that extra ‘fluff’.
- Bake until lightly golden brown. Insert a toothpick to see if it comes out dry.
- The cooking time is approximately 45 minutes.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar or maple syrup and serve.
Once you try out these recipes, rest assured, you will be greatly pleased and satiated with the taste of French life. Of course, you can use a little creativity and bring in some twist in the above recipes. Do share your experiences with us, we’ad love to hear from you. Till then, eat healthy and stay fit!