Baked Cereal French Toast Food

CEREAL-STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Cut four 2-inch-thick slices of bread from the center of the loaf (save the rest for another use). Using a paring knife, make a small cut through the bottom of each slice of bread going horizontally to create a pocket for the filling.
• Pour the cereal into a large resealable plastic bag and seal. Using a rolling pin, crush the cereal into pieces; stop before it gets too fine. Pour 2 tablespoons of the crushed cereal into a bowl. Add the cream cheese and chopped strawberries and blueberries and mix.
• In a shallow baking dish, whisk together the half-and-half, vanilla, cinnamon and eggs.
• In a large skillet over medium-low heat, melt 1 tablespoon of the butter.
• Using a spoon, stuff a slice of bread with about 2 tablespoons of the filling. Close the opening and dip into the egg mixture to coat (about 5 seconds on each side). Transfer the bread to the bag filled with cereal and carefully coat each side.
• Cook the bread in the skillet until toasted on both sides, being careful not to burn it, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving plate.
• Stuff, dip, coat and cook the remaining bread slices one at a time, adding an additional tablespoon of butter to the skillet when cooking each batch (see Cook's Note).
• Serve with whipped cream or maple syrup and garnish with berries and more cereal.

CRUNCHY BAKED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450°. In a shallow bowl, whisk the first five ingredients until blended. Place crushed cereal in another shallow bowl. Dip both sides of bread in egg mixture, then in cereal, patting to help cereal adhere., Place on greased baking sheets. Bake 12-15 minutes or until golden brown, turning once.

CHOCOLATE-HAZELNUT FRENCH TOAST WITH CINNAMON CEREAL

Steps:

• Slice the brioche into 1 1/2-inch-thick slices (6 to 8 slices). Lay each slice on its side and cut a 2-inch slit into the bottom of each. Fill the slit with about 1 tablespoon of the chocolate-hazelnut spread.
• Whisk together the milk, vanilla, salt and eggs in a shallow bowl or baking dish. Place the crushed cereal in another baking dish. Dip a slice of the filled brioche into the egg mixture on both sides a few times, making sure the mixture has soaked in, then transfer to the cereal dish and coat with cereal on both sides. Place the bread on a cutting board or plate while finishing dredging the rest. Repeat with the remaining slices, egg mix and cereal.
• Heat a large, nonstick skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons of the butter. Place as many slices as will fit in the skillet. Cook on one side until the coating is crisp and golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes, then flip and cook another 2 to 3 minutes on the other side. Transfer to a platter. Add 2 more tablespoons of butter to the skillet and then more slices. Repeat the process with the remaining butter and slices, reserving 2 tablespoons of butter for the bananas.
• Add the remaining butter to the skillet, let it melt and place the bananas in a single layer in the melted butter. Cook until caramelized, 1 to 2 minutes on each side. Top the toast with the bananas and sprinkle with confectioners' sugar. Serve immediately.

CRUNCHY ORANGE FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Fit a baking sheet with a wire rack. Heat a griddle pan or nonstick skillet over medium heat.
• Zest the orange and set aside. Working over a medium bowl, segment the orange; squeeze the juice from the remaining orange membranes.
• Whisk the eggs, orange zest, milk, cinnamon and orange juice in a baking dish or shallow bowl. Add the cornflakes and bacon to another baking dish and toss together. Dip the bread slices in the egg mixture and let them soak for 1 minute.
• While the bread is soaking, melt 2 tablespoons of the butter on the griddle pan or skillet.
• Working with one slice of bread at a time, let the excess egg mixture drip off and then dredge the bread in the cornflake mixture. Add the bread to the griddle, carefully placing as many slices of bread as can comfortably fit without touching too much (it's OK if the edges need to touch a little). You can dredge the bread, transfer it to an unlined baking sheet and hold for 5 minutes while one batch is cooking.
• Cook on one side, rotating occasionally, until the bottom is golden brown and crisp, about 3 minutes. Flip and cook the other side until it is equally browned, another 2 minutes. Transfer the slices to the prepared baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while you complete the next batches. Repeat the cooking process, melting 2 tablespoons of butter for each batch.
• When all of the French toast is cooked and you are ready to serve, gently stir together the maple syrup and orange segments, making sure not to break up the segments. Spoon the syrup over the French toast and sprinkle with cinnamon. Serve immediately.

CRUNCHY FRENCH TOAST STICKS

Steps:

• Crack the eggs into a pie plate. Add the half-and-half, vanilla, 1/4 cup of the granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon. Whisk lightly until combined; set aside.
• In a separate pie plate, stir together the panko breadcrumbs, crushed cereal and remaining 1/4 cup granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon. Use a fork to stir in the melted butter so that the crumbs are slightly moist. Crack up at the madness that is in this dish, then set it aside.
• One by one, quickly dunk the bread strips in the egg mixture, turning to coat. Then lay them in the dish with the crumb mixture, turning them over, sprinkling and pressing so the crumbs totally cover the surface. Place the sticks on a rack set in a baking sheet. Flash-freeze for 30 minutes to set the surface.
• Transfer the sticks to zipper bags for storage in the freezer. I do smaller bags of 6 to 8 sticks each, but you can do larger batches if you prefer!
• To bake them from frozen state, preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Line a pan with frozen sticks and bake until golden brown around the edges, 15 to 18 minutes. Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve with warm pancake syrup for dipping and fruit to make you feel good about life!