French Toasted Apricot Brioche Food

APRICOT BRIOCHE

Steps:

• In a mixer or large bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, yeast and salt, then add the milk and 3 of the eggs and continue mixing to make a smooth dough - 5 mins in the mixer or 8 mins by hand. Add the softened butter and mix for a further 5 mins in a mixer or 10 mins by hand. Put the dough in a lightly oiled bowl and leave in the fridge overnight. Your dough will then be stiff and easy to shape.
• Grease 2 x 500g bread tins, then divide the dough into about 16 pieces and prod some apricots into each piece. Seal them up and shape into little balls. Place the balls in a tin in sequences of 2 until the tin is full. It should take no more than 8 pieces to fill each tin. Leave the brioche for 3 hrs to prove until doubled in size.
• Heat oven to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6. Brush with 1 beaten egg and bake for 20 mins until golden brown and the loaves sound hollow when tapped underneath. Cool on a wire rack.

BRIOCHE FRENCH TOAST WITH CARAMELIZED PEACHES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. In a 9x13-inch baking pan, combine peaches, sugar, almond extract and six tablespoons butter. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until peaches are lightly browned. Put the remaining two tablespoons of butter in a 4x6-inch nonstick loaf pan and place in oven for 10 minutes.
• In a shallow bowl, whisk eggs, milk and cinnamon. Dip brioche halves in egg mixture and place, cut side down, in the heated baking pan. Bake for 7-10 minutes, or until toasted on the bottom. Place brioches on a platter, toasted side up, and top with caramelized peaches. Sprinkle with toasted almonds, if desired.

FRENCH TOASTED APRICOT BRIOCHE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 500 degrees. Lightly butter a large shallow baking dish and sprinkle it with 1 tablespoon of the sugar.
• Cut the apricots in half, remove the pits and place them, cut side up, in the baking dish, in a single layer if possible. Sprinkle them with 3 tablespoons of the sugar and the brandy. Bake for about 20 minutes, until they begin to brown around the edges. Remove the apricots from the oven and set aside.
• Meanwhile, slice the brioche into 8 equal slices and cut each slice in half.
• Beat the eggs in a bowl and stir in the nectar. Stir in the orange peel, 2 tablespoons of the sugar and the nutmeg. Pour this mixture into a shallow dish and add the slices of brioche, turning them so they can soak up the liquid. Set aside.
• Heat half the remaining butter in a large, heavy skillet or a griddle. Fry the soaked brioche slices to brown lightly on each side, adding more butter to the skillet as needed.
• Place 2 pieces of the browned brioche side by side on each of eight dessert plates, leaving about 2 inches of space between the slices of brioche. Spoon the apricots into the space between the pieces of brioche and on top of them. Serve at once, with ice cream or whipped cream on the side, if desired.

BEST BRIOCHE FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Whisk milk, eggs, vanilla extract, sugar, nutmeg, and salt together in a bowl.
• Heat 1 1/2 teaspoons butter in a skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, dip each slice of brioche bread in the egg mixture and cook in the hot butter until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side, adding more butter as needed. Transfer French toast to a baking sheet.
• Bake in the preheated oven until puffed, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Cook and stir 1/4 cup butter in a skillet over medium-low heat until browned and toasty, 3 to 5 minutes. Transfer browned butter to a cold dish. Drizzle browned butter over baked French toast and top each slice with 1 tablespoon maple syrup.

BRIOCHE FRENCH TOAST WITH BACON, BANANA & MAPLE SYRUP

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk the eggs vigorously, then add the single cream, vanilla and sugar, and whisk again.
• When you're ready to cook, heat the oven to its lowest setting, pop a baking tray inside and pour the cream mixture into a shallow dish or tub that will allow space for the brioche to lay flat. Heat a griddle or a frying pan to a medium heat, and melt the butter and the oil together.
• Place the brioche slices in the cream mixture for 1 min, then turn each slice and gently press all over, allowing them to soak up the liquid for another 1 min or so until fully soaked.
• Remove the brioche from the mixture and place onto the hot griddle or pan (you may need to do this in batches). Cook for a few mins on either side until the inside is tender and moist (but not wet). To check this, make a small cut in the middle with a knife - the inside should be like cooked bread pudding. Keep warm in the oven while you cook the remaining slices.
• In the meantime, fry the bacon in a pan for 5 mins until crispy. Serve the French toast topped with bacon, bananas and a drizzle of maple syrup.