Classic French Toast

This is a yummy classic French Toast recipe of mine. Nothing extravagant, but my family loves it. This French Toast actually works better with day old or longer bread, because the bread won’t fall apart when soaking in egg mixture. This recipe works with many types of bread - brioche sourdough, cinnamon-raisin, Kings Hawaiian, Italian or French to name a few.

1 loaf Challah Bread

3/4 cup light cream

8 large eggs

1/2-1 tsp. cinnamon

2 tsp. vanilla extract

1/2 Tbsp. sugar

butter, unsalted

canola oil

Remove the chalazae which anchor the yolk in the center of the thick white.

Whisk the eggs until the yolks and whites are combined.

Add the light cream, whisking until light and creamy.

Whisk in the vanilla, until combined.

Whisk in the cinnamon, until well combined.

Whisk in sugar, mixing to combine.

Pour the egg custard mixture into a 8” x 8” square pan. Set aside.

Slice the Challah Bread into 1-inch-thick slices,which helps keep the bread from becoming too soggy while promoting a nice, creamy interior. (preferably day-old bread).

* Challah is an egg bread and butter and will give you wonderful creamy insides.

Heat 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons canola oil in a cast iron skillet over medium heat.

* Adding a little oil with butter, prevents the butter from scorching or burning.

Place 2 slices of bread in the egg custard and soak a few moments. Turn the slices over and soak until bread is soaked through, a few moments more.

Set up the pan of the custard with the soaking bread as close to your stove as possible, to avoid unneeded drips.

Also, be sure to let the excess custard drip off of the bread before you place it in the pan to avoid a custard puddle forming beneath the bread as it cooks.

Add the 2 slices of bread to the preheated fry pan. Fry the bread until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side.

Transfer to wire rack while cooking... using a cooling rack prevents underside from becoming soggy.

Note: You can place french toast in a preheated oven 225 °to keep warm while cooking remaining bread... if it needed.

Serve hot with butter and pure maple syrup.

* I like to top it off with cut strawberries, bananas and powdered sugar when strawberries are fresh (but here it is in the middle of Feb. when I posted the recipe & took the pictures!!

Usually I make extra French Toast and freeze for those days when your in a hurry… just take out of freezer & reheat and eat in less than 5 minutes!

To freeze, place cooled French Toast (1 slice per bag) of in a heavy-duty freezer bag and freeze. Use the frozen French toast within 1 to 2 months for best quality.

Remove French toast from freezer bag, place onto microwave safe plate..

Microwave the french toast for 2-3 minutes, depending on your microwave watts.

About 45 seconds into heating, turn the french toast over, add butter.Continue reheating until butter softens.

When butter has softened, remove from microwave and serve.