Great French Toast?

[The J-Man!]

Who doesn't love a plate of great French Toast for breakfast? I don't make it too often, but when I do the toast gets plated with a lot of fried egg on the outside. Anyone got some ideas for some really good French Toast? And what I can do to get the egg mixture to soak more into the bread? Thanks!

[Mike Sertich]

I use egg nog and soak sourdough bread in it before toasting

[BobT]

If you add flour to the mix, don't if you want it to soak in more.

Also, let the bread soak long enough to get soggy adn adjust your heat as needed.

Other ideas might be to use buttermilk or add a little yogurt, add cinnamon, or add a little applesauce. The applesauce may not soak in so you might want to turn down your heat a little so it doesn't burn before the toast is done.

[deerminator]

Good tips and ideas. We use a Pillsbury Cookbook recipe that calls for two eggs and half cup of milk X as much as you need for the french toast you're making. It also calls for cinnamon, sugar and vanilla whisked in, which really adds to the taste.

The best way I've found to cook french toast is this (modified from watching Alton Brown on the foodnetwork): Heat several tablespoons of butter in an electrick skillet and fry the french toast on both sides in the butter til just golden brown on each side. To finish cooking and so you don't overcook in the skillet, after just browned, transfer to the oven at around 200 and let cook another 5 minutes or more if needed. Frying it in the butter verus Pam or whatever makes a HUGE difference in taste and texture. So does finishing it in the oven versus overfrying in the skillet.

[DonBo]

Cinnamon Swirl bread makes THE best French Toast.

Try whipping the ingredients as opposed to just whisking them. Definetly add a touch of vanilla, and let the bread sit out for a bit to dry some before dipping in the mix.

I like the idea of finishing them in the oven, have to try that.

REAL Maple syrup helps too, IMHO.

[The J-Man!]

Great ideas guys! I have always used cinnamon and vanilla, I bet I didn't use enough milk, not to mention I used Pam and not butter. Shame on me! I love the idea of cinnamon swirl bread and finishing it in the oven. I'll try some this weekend!

[LABS4ME]

Use french bread... not sliced sandwich bread. WHisk the heck out of the eggs with some milk or half and half so it is fairly runny, add vanilla to the wash. Dip the bread and coat both sides... LET ALL THE EXCESS DRIP OFF! Fry in real butter and sprinkle cinnamon on both sides... a little powder sugar on top when finished. Then syrup or strawberries and whipped cream...

'course to man up the meal a little... you need a good link of venison sausage to help clean up the syrup on the plate!

Good Luck!

Ken

[deerminator]

Good luck. You're already making me long for the weekend with these scrambled eggs and french toasts posts. We usually have one on Saturday and the other Sunday after having bagels and oatmeal all week! Leaving the bread out and not overly saturating the bread with the egg/milk wash is also a very crucial tip. If the bread's too soggy it can get very 'eggy' very fast. Venison sausage sounds great. W

e've been eating the James Dean turkey sausage too. Good eatin' at half the fat. I can have sausage with breakfast both mornings that way! The key with that, though, is to microwave the sausage instead of frying, otherwise you dry it out.

[Coach Dog]

What??? Nobody besides me throws on a slice of american cheese after you flip the french toast? You guys are missing out!

Mine is simple:

plain white bread dipped in egg/milk. Add a little sugar. Add a slice of Bongaards american cheese when you make the first flip. Serve with a nice hunk of real butter and some syrup and there you have it.

[GatorBait]

PBJ Stuffed French Toast is my bread n butter. Simply make a pbj sandwich, dip both sides into your preferred egg mixture and cook away. Stuff is yuuummmmmy.

[Chef]

Cinnamon Swirl bread makes THE best French Toast.

Try whipping the ingredients as opposed to just whisking them. Definetly add a touch of vanilla, and let the bread sit out for a bit to dry some before dipping in the mix.

I like the idea of finishing them in the oven, have to try that.

REAL Maple syrup helps too, IMHO.

You nailed it. Cub Cinnamon bread. I use real Vinalla extract, powdered Cin. and I also ise 1/2 C. of sour cream and 4 eggs, no other moisture needed and it doesn't soak into the bread due to its thick consistancy.

[Jackpine Rob]

A nice french or vienna bread.

Whisk up an egg and milk wash (buttermilk can be real nice) and add cinnamon, vanilla and some nutmeg.

Soak thoroughly in the wash, and fry at medium heat in real butter.

I usually have the oven on low and a cookie sheet sitting in there ready to accept the cooked french toasts. Funny thing, the kids always try to get to the bottom of the pile first, grabbing out the first ones done. I'm not sure if they are better or not, 'cause I'm never quick enough to beat them to the punch!

[kitchy]

The cinnamon bread idea is spot on...however, if you find yourself heading out I-94 west, stop by the Clearwater Travel Plaza and pick up their fritter bread. It's pre-sliced and in their freezer case. It's awesome and you don't really have to doctor up the egg wash if you don't want.

And as mentioned, real maple syrup.

[lip_ripper]

Kitchy, you hit it on the head.

They have different type like apple , raspberry, etc.

The stuff is to die for!

[dewey1]

After you dip the bread, try dipping in cornflake crumbs, then fry in butter. Different, but good.

[Cicada]

I like to use, either, Texas Toast bread for the extra thickness, or Potato Bread for the chewier texture. I always add cinnamon and during the holidays, I did use egg nog and liked that. maybe something similar during the rest of the year might be buttermilk.

[fishinchicks]

My quick recipe is pretty simple, so you can add whatever flavorings you like (cinnamon, vanilla).

For every egg, use 1/4 cup milk and 1 tablespoon sugar.

My mom made a recipe for Carmel French Toast that was awesome! I haven't gotten the recipe yet, but you make a simple caramel sauce and pour it in the bottom of a 9x13 pan, put Texas Toast on top (6 slices), then pour the custard mixture over the bread. Let it sit in the fridge overnight, and bake in the oven right before serving. It gets served hot with the caramel layer on top. If you want, I'll bug my mom for the exact recipe.

[DonBo]

My mom made a recipe for Carmel French Toast that was awesome! I haven't gotten the recipe yet, but you make a simple caramel sauce and pour it in the bottom of a 9x13 pan, put Texas Toast on top (6 slices), then pour the custard mixture over the bread. Let it sit in the fridge overnight, and bake in the oven right before serving. It gets served hot with the caramel layer on top. If you want, I'll bug my mom for the exact recipe.

Yes please, that sounds awesome!

[LMITOUT]

My mom made a recipe for Carmel French Toast that was awesome! I haven't gotten the recipe yet, but you make a simple caramel sauce and pour it in the bottom of a 9x13 pan, put Texas Toast on top (6 slices), then pour the custard mixture over the bread. Let it sit in the fridge overnight, and bake in the oven right before serving. It gets served hot with the caramel layer on top. If you want, I'll bug my mom for the exact recipe.

[Swimbait2009]

My mom made a recipe for Carmel French Toast that was awesome! I haven't gotten the recipe yet, but you make a simple caramel sauce and pour it in the bottom of a 9x13 pan, put Texas Toast on top (6 slices), then pour the custard mixture over the bread. Let it sit in the fridge overnight, and bake in the oven right before serving. It gets served hot with the caramel layer on top. If you want, I'll bug my mom for the exact recipe.

yes please! Sounds GREAT!

[fishinchicks]

Here it is - hot off the (e-mail) press!

CARMEL FRENCH TOAST

Combine in sauce pan:

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup butter

2 tbsp light corn syrup

Cook over med. Heat, stirring constantly, until melted together.

Pour into greased 9x13 Pan and place Texas toast slices to cover syrup

mixture. (Use at least 6 slices)

Combine in bowl: 6 eggs

1 1/2 cups milk

1 tsp. vanilla

½ tsp. cinnamon

¼ tsp. salt

Pour over bread slices, cover and refrigerate over night. In morning uncover

and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve with

strawberries or fruit on each serving

[BobT]

I've done this and it is very good.

Your other recipe calling for 1/4C. milk per egg seems a bit shy on eggs for french toast. I usually use 3-4 eggs per 1/2 C. milk.

[fishinchicks]

The other recipe is from the older version of Betty Crocker's red cookbook. The ratios make it easy for my kids to remember, and you can tailor it for quantity a little easier.

If I were to make it where I let the toast soak overnight, I would definitely use more eggs.

[deerminator]

Chef, we tried the sour cream method this morning and that rocks. I'll never use milk again for french toast. Good stuff. Thanks for the tip.

[bobbymalone]

What??? Nobody besides me throws on a slice of american cheese after you flip the french toast? You guys are missing out!

I grew up just a bit south of the Mason-Dixon line and the father of an ex of mine was from NoDak and he threw a slice of cheese on french toast. I think he used cheddar, but I can't remember. I do remember I though it was gross but he convinced me to try it and it was awesome.