Chocolate Baguette French Toast With Cinnamon Maple Syrup Recipes

CHOCOLATE-DRIZZLED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Make Perfect French Toast using 12 thick baguette slices.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Whisk 4 eggs, 1 1/2 cups half-and-half or milk, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon sugar and a pinch of salt in a shallow bowl. Heat 1/2 tablespoon butter in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Working in batches, dip 6 thick slices white bread, challah or brioche in the egg mixture and cook in the skillet until golden, 2 to 3 minutes per side, adding more butter as needed. Transfer to a baking sheet and bake until puffed, 8 to 10 minutes.
• Melt 3 ounces chopped bittersweet chocolate with 1/3 cup maple syrup in the microwave on 50 percent power, 1 minute; stir until smooth. Top the French toast with the chocolate syrup and confectioners' sugar.

HOMEMADE FRENCH BAGUETTES

Steps:

• Combine the honey, yeast and 1/2 cup warm water. Stir to combine and let the mixture stand until the yeast is activated and begins to foam, 5 minutes.
• Mix the flour and salt in a large mixing bowl with a dough hook and slowly add in the yeast mixture. Gradually add 1 cup warm water and mix until the dough comes together into a ball that is not too wet (you may not need all of the water). If the dough is sticky, add a little bit more flour. Turn out the dough onto a floured surface and knead until the dough is smooth and elastic, 2 to 6 minutes. You can do the thumbprint test: press in the dough with your thumb and it should bounce back when it's ready.
• Form the dough into a ball, place it in a lightly-oiled bowl and cover with a dishcloth, so it doesn't dry out. Let rest in a warm environment until doubled in size, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Punch down the dough and divide it in half. Shape into 2 baguettes by making a flat rectangle out of your dough, then folding the top and bottom towards the middle, like an envelope, and sealing the seam with your fingers. Keep repeating the folding and sealing, stretching the rectangle lengthwise as you go, until it's about 12 to 14 inches long and 2 inches wide. Fold and seal either end to round. Flip seam-side down and place on a sheet pan or baguette pan that has been dusted with cornmeal. Score the tops of the loaves, making deep diagonal slits 1/2-inch deep, cover with a dishcloth and let rise in a warm environment until they have doubled in size, 25 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F and position your oven racks with one on the bottom and the other in the middle. Place an oven-safe (non-glass) bowl or pan on the bottom rack.
• When your bread has doubled for the second time, remove the towel and quickly and simultaneously, slide the sheet tray with the baguettes onto the middle rack while carefully throwing the ice cubes into the bowl on the bottom rack. The ice will create a burst of steam that will give you a nice crispy crust. Quickly shut the oven door so no steam escapes. Bake the baguettes until golden brown, 15 minutes.
• Cook's Note: If you have a glass window on your oven, place a towel over it when throwing the ice in, hot glass can shatter if ice touches it.
• Serving suggestions: ricotta cheese and acacia honey.

GRANDMA RE'S BAGUETTE FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Butter a 9x13-inch baking pan. Place baguette slices into the bottom of the prepared pan.
• Combine half-and-half, milk, eggs, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Pour over bread slices, cover the baking pan, and store in the refrigerator, 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Uncover pan. Combine brown sugar, pecans, margarine, and corn syrup in a bowl and spoon over bread mixture, making sure to touch each slice.
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out mostly clean, about 40 minutes.

CHOCOLATE BAGUETTE FRENCH TOAST WITH CINNAMON MAPLE SYRUP

Steps:

• Start the French toast: Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F. Arrange the baguette slices on a baking sheet and bake until fully toasted, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, make the syrup: Combine the maple syrup and cinnamon sticks in a small saucepan over medium-high heat and bring to a boil. Remove from the heat and keep warm while you finish making the French toast.
• Continue with the French toast: Whisk together the milk, eggs, cocoa, sugar, vanilla and salt in a medium bowl until evenly combined and frothy. Pour into a pie plate or other shallow baking dish. Add a few of the toasted baguette slices at a time and allow to soak in the custard, about 1 minute per side.
• While the bread soaks, melt a couple tablespoons of the butter over medium heat in a large nonstick or cast-iron skillet. Working in batches, cook the baguette slices until cooked through and slightly golden, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a serving platter and repeat with the remaining butter and baguette slices.
• To serve: Divide the French toast among plates, drizzle with the warm cinnamon-infused syrup, dollop with crème fraîche or whipped cream and sprinkle with the chopped chocolate.