Cinnamon Plums With French Toast Nigella Food

FRENCH TOAST WITH CINNAMON PLUMS

Steps:

• In a wide saucepan, combine cranberry juice and 1 cup sugar. Place over low heat, and stir until sugar is dissolved. Add cinnamon stick, and raise heat to bring to a boil; boil for about 2 minutes.
• Add plums, and reduce heat to low. Simmer until plums are tender but not disintegrating, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat, and set aside. (Plums may be served warm or at room temperature; reheat if desired.)
• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, ground cinnamon and 1 tablespoon sugar. Place a large skillet over medium-low heat, and add 1 tablespoon of butter, spreading it in the pan. Dip three slices of brioche in the egg mixture, so they absorb the liquid but don't fall to pieces. Place in skillet and cook until golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes a side. Transfer to a plate and keep warm. Repeat with remaining three slices brioche.
• Place a portion of French toast on each plate with a serving of plum halves and their syrup.

DOUGHNUT FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Beat the eggs with the milk and vanilla in a wide shallow bowl.
• Soak the bread halves in the eggy mixture for 5 minutes a side.
• Heat the butter and oil in a frying pan/skillet, fry the egg-soaked bread until golden and scorched in parts on both sides.
• Put the sugar onto a plate and then dredge the cooked bread until coated like a sugared doughnut.

CINNAMON FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F.
• Whisk together the half-and-half, granulated sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, salt and eggs in a large bowl until very well combined and no visible egg white remains. Pour the mixture into an 8- or 9-inch square baking dish.
• Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add 1/2 tablespoon butter and when it melts, swirl to coat the skillet.
• Put 2 slices of bread at a time in the custard until moistened through, about 10 seconds on each side for the thicker bread and 5 seconds for the thinner sandwich bread.
• When the butter begins to sizzle, transfer the soaked slices to the skillet and cook until the custard is heated through and the slices are very golden brown on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a baking sheet and hold in the oven while you repeat with the remaining butter, bread and custard.
• To serve, fan out the slices on a platter or individual plates and dust with confectioners' sugar and additional cinnamon. Serve with fresh fruit and maple syrup.

CINNAMON SQUARES

Steps:

• Prepare base: heat oven to 325 degrees. In a food processor, combine confectioners' sugar, flour, baking powder and cinnamon. Pulse until free of lumps. Scatter butter cubes across top and pulse again until mixture is crumbly and beginning to come together.
• Press mixture evenly into a shallow 9- to 9 1/2-inch square baking pan. Bake until shortbread is firm, barely colored and no longer has a sheen on its surface, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cool on a rack until warm.
• While shortbread cools, prepare icing: In a small saucepan over low heat, melt butter and syrup together. Whisk in the confectioners' sugar and cinnamon until free of lumps. Remove from heat and allow to cool just until slightly thickened. Whisk again and pour over warm shortbread, using a spatula to reach edges. Allow to cool completely, then cut into 16 squares.