Custardy French Toast Food

THE BEST FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• For the casserole: Trim the ends from 1 loaf day-old brioche (about 1 pound) and cut into ten 1-inch thick slices. Cut each slice in half diagonally to make two triangles from each piece. (If the bread is fresh, dry it out a bit. Place the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees F for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.)
• Whisk together the eggs, cream, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl until well blended. Dip each triangle of bread in the custard, lightly coating each side. Shingle the pieces in the prepared pan, overlapping slightly.
• Pour any remaining custard over the bread slices. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let rest 15 to 20 minutes at room temperature before baking. Remove the plastic wrap and bake until the casserole is golden and puffed and the custard is set, 45 to 50 minutes.
• For the topping: bring the butter, sugar and syrup to a boil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until the butter is melted and the mixture is begins to thicken, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla, a pinch of salt, and the walnuts, stirring to coat. Turn off the heat and add the sliced bananas, stirring to coat evenly. Spoon the desired amount of the banana-syrup mixture over the casserole and serve any additional on the side.

FRENCH TOAST CUSTARD

Steps:

• Brush both sides of bread with butter; place in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. In a large bowl, beat eggs and yolks. Add milk, cream, sugar, vanilla and nutmeg; mix well. Pour over the bread slices. Cover and chill overnight. Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. , Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 55-60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes before serving. Dust with confectioners' sugar if desired.

CHEF JOHN'S FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
• Whisk eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, allspice, and salt together in a large bowl. Place bread slices in egg mixture and soak, turning to coat, until bread is completely saturated.
• Melt butter in a cast-iron skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, cook bread in hot butter until golden, about 3 minutes per side. Transfer toasted bread to a baking sheet.
• Bake toast in the oven until outside is crisp and slightly puffed, 12 to 15 minutes.

CUSTARDY FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Directions for immediate French Toast: Yield 8 slices.
• Beat eggs, milk, sugar, salt, extracts and cinnamon in a large bowl with a spout. Beat only until well-combined but not excessively frothy.
• Strain the egg mixture into an 8" x 8" pan to dip the bread into. Straining the mixture removes any egg whites not incorporated into the custard.
• Heat butter in a skillet large enough to handle four slices of bread. When butter begins to sizzle, lay all four slices of bread in the pan. Allow to soak for 10 seconds, flip over the slices, and continue to turn the slices onto each side until you can feel the weight increase but the bread still holds it's shape.
• Lay each slice into the hot pan and cook on each side at least 4 minutes before turning, so the egg custard sets up in the bread and doesn't tear when turned.
• Flip over to the other side when first side is golden brown. Serve immediately with maple syrup, honey, powdered sugar or preserves. Repeat with additional four slices.
• Directions for Over-Night French Toast:.
• Arrange the 6-8 bread slices in a 9" x 13" pan, or use 4 slices in an 8" x 8" pan, using 1/2 of the custard for the next day. Beat eggs, milk, sugar, salt, extract and cinnamon in a bowl with a spout. Beat only until combined, not until it's frothy.
• Using a strainer, strain the custard mixture over the sliced bread; turn once, to make sure that the bread is well coated. Cover, refrigerate overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Uncover the pan and bake for 30-40 minutes, until the bread is puffed up and slightly golden brown. Cut into slices and serve with topping of your choice.

CINNAMON CUSTARD FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• In large mixing bowl place contents of 8 eggs, beat eggs with a wisk for about 30 seconds or until smooth.
• Next, add the vanilla extract, nutmeg and 80 proof brandy. The cinnamon is the last ingredient that you will add. Make sure you sprikle both sides of bread with cinnamon before placing in the cooking skillet.
• Once bread is fully coated, place French toast in well buttered skillet or grill. Cook each side of French toast until golden brown. Total cooking time is approximately 5 minutes.
• Serve French toast with butter and pure maple syrup.

DINER-STYLE FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Whisk eggs, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt in a large bowl.
• Heat a large griddle or 2 cast-iron or nonstick skillets over medium. Brush with a thin coating of oil, then a thin coating of butter.
• Working in batches, dip each slice of bread into egg mixture. Cook, flipping halfway through, until golden brown on each side, about 2 minutes per side. Repeat with remaining bread, brushing griddle with remaining oil and butter as needed. Dust French toast with powdered sugar just before serving. Serve with maple syrup alongside.