Stuffed French Toast Cooks Illustrated Food

WINE COUNTRY FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• For the roasted grapes: Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. In a bowl, combine the sliced grapes, grapeseed oil, rosemary and salt. Mix to coat the grapes evenly. Scatter the grapes on a sheet pan or in a large skillet and roast in the oven, 15 to 20 minutes. They should not be shriveled up, just plump and juicy.
• For the syrup: In the meantime, in a stainless steel saucepan, add the wine and rosemary sprig. Simmer on medium-low heat until reduced by half, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove the rosemary, add the syrup, turn off the heat and let rest. (This can be done ahead of time)
• For the egg wash: In a bowl or casserole dish large enough to fit the bread flatly on the surface, beat the eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla. Beat until all the ingredients are well combined.
• For the French toast: Heat a large nonstick or cast-iron skillet to medium-high. Dip the bread in egg wash on both sides, allowing the egg wash to soak in but not over saturate the bread. Add the butter to the skillet and let melt. Place the bread in the skillet and let brown, about 3 minutes. Flip the bread over and place some brie on the cooked side of 1 slice of bread. Allow the cheese to soften while the second side cooks to golden brown. Turn off the heat and sandwich the 2 slices together. Cut the bread on a diagonal and plate. Top with roasted grapes and drizzle with pinot noir syrup.

CINNAMON RAISIN STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• In a small bowl, mix together the cream cheese, sugar, and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon until thoroughly combined. Spread cream cheese mixture onto 4 slices of raisin bread. Top each spread slice with another slice of raisin bread to make 4 sandwiches.
• In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs with milk and 1/8 teaspoon of cinnamon. Dip each sandwich into the egg mixture on both sides.
• Grease a skillet with butter, and place over medium heat. Brown the sandwiches in the skillet for about 2 minutes per side.

STUFFED FRENCH TOAST (COOK'S ILLUSTRATED)

Steps:

• Microwave the cream cheese (in a large bowl) on high just until softened, 5 to 10 seconds. Check it. You'd be surprised how microwave ovens vary.
• Stir in 2 tablespoons of the sugar and all of the cinnamon and nutmeg. Stir till smooth. Wrap tightly and chill for about 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, adjust oven rack to the middle position. Heat oven to 200 degrees. Arrange the bread on a rack set over a rimmed baking sleet. Bake it until slightly dry, about 15 minutes. (I would say "or stale bread", but if you're familiar with their exhaustive testing approach, it's best to just trust them and do this step.).
• Spread the cream cheese evenly over 4 pieces of bread. Leave a 1/2-inch at the edges. ( If you do not leave the border clear, it will just come out while cooking and be wasted.) Lightly press the rest of the slices over the top to make 4 sturdy sandwiches.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter. Whisk it with the milk, egg, vanilla, salt and the remaining 2 T. of sugar. Slowly whisk in the flour until smooth. Pour the batter into a large shallow dish.
• Slide 2 sandwiches into the batter and soak both sides, about 1 minute per side. Meanwhile, melt 1 more T. of the butter in a 12-inch non-stick skillet over medium heat until it begins to brown, swirling to coat the pan.
• Remove the bread from the batter. Let excess batter drip back in the dish. Lay two sandwiches in the hot skillet. Cook until golden brown on both sides, about 2.5 minutes per side. Transfer to a wire rack and keep warm in the oven. Repeat with the other two sandwiches.

COOKS ILLUSTRATED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 300. Place bread on wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet. Bake bread until almost dry throughout (center should remain mostly moist), about 16 minutes, flipping slices halfway through cooking. Remove bread from rack and let cool 5 minutes. Return baking sheet with wire rack to oven and reduce temperature to 200 degrees. 2. Whisk milk, yolks, sugar, cinnamon, 2 tablespoons melted butter, salt, and vanilla in large bowl until blended. transfer mixture to 9x13 pan. 3. Soak bread in milk mixture until saturated but not falling apart, 20 seconds per side. Using firm slotted spatula, pick up bread slice and allow excess milk mixture to drip off; repeat with remaining slices. Place soaked bread on another baking sheet or platter. 4. Heat 1/2 tablespoon butter in 12 inch skillet over medium low heat. When foaming subsides, use slotted spatula to transfer 2 slices soaked bread to skillet and cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and continue to cook until second side is golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes longer. Transfer to baking sheet in oven. Wipe out skillet with paper towls. Repeat cooking with remaining bread, 2 pieces at a time. Almond-Crusted French Toast Process 1/2 cup slivered almonds and 1 Tablespoon light brown sugar in food processor until coarsely ground, 12 to 15 one-second pulses. Follow recipe above, adding 1 tablespoon triple sec and 2 teaspoon grated orange zest to milk mixture in step 2. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon nut mixture over one side of each soaked bread. Follow cooking directions in step 4, starting with nut mixture side down.

STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Take 6 slices of Texas toast and spread with cream cheese generously. Lay them cream cheese up in bottom of 9 x 13 pan, top with pecans, apples and raisins. Lay 6 more pieces of Texas toast on top. In a large bowl mix together the milk, eggs, cinnamon and sugar, Pour it over Texas toast in pan, be sure to do it slowly so it covers the toast. Cover with plastic wrap and let cool in a refrigerator for 4 hours or overnight.
• Bake on 375 for 1 hour till you see it turn golden brown and puffed up. It can get rather tall so beware.
• * As a tip after covering with plastic wrap put 3 boxes of broth on top for weight. It helps saturate the Texas toast.

STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• In a small bowl beat together the cream cheese, 2 tablespoons of the apricot jam, and the 1 teaspoon of vanilla until light and fluffy. Stir in the pecans and set aside.
• Cut the bread into ten to twelve 1 1/2-inch-thick slices; cut a pocket in the top of each. Fill the pocket with about 1 1/2 tablespoons of the cheese mixture.
• Combine the remaining apricot jam and orange juice in a small saucepan. Warm over low heat, whisking as jam melts so the mixture is a smooth syrup.
• Beat together eggs, whipping cream, cinnamon and the 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Preheat a large frying pan over medium heat, or use a griddle, if preferred. Using tongs, dip filled bread slices in the egg mixture, being careful not to squeeze out the filling. Cook in lightly greased pan for about 2 minutes per side or until lightly brown. Keep warm in a 300 degree oven while cooking remaining slices.
• To serve, drizzle warm syrup over the hot French toast.
• Tip: For lower fat, use 1 cup refrigerated egg product in place of whole eggs and 1% milk instead of whipping cream.

STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• FRENCH TOAST:.
• In a small bowl, combine cream cheese and strawberry jam. Stir in sliced strawberries.
• Cut a slit through the side of each slice of bread, without cutting all the way through, to create a pocket. Scoop strawberry filling into the pocket and press gently shut.
• In a shallow bowl, whisk together egg, heavy cream, vanilla extract, brown sugar and cinnamon. Dunk each slice of bread into egg mixture, soaking each side. Shake off any excess liquid. Cook bread slices on a lightly greased nonstick griddle or skillet on medium heat until browned on both sides, about 2 minutes per side. Remove from heat.
• FOR ASSEMBLY:.
• Frame the French toast with the split banana. Sprinkle powdered sugar. Use all other ingredients to top like a sundae.