Drunken French Toast Recipes

DRUNK FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• In a small saucepan, combine the milk, half and half, vanilla, cinnamon, whiskey, and rum. Bring the mixture to a simmer over medium heat.
• In a separate bowl, whisk together salt, sugar, egg yolks, and egg. Whisk this mixture pretty vigorously for about 5 minutes, or until the egg yolks have lightened a bit in color.
• Remove your milk mixture from the heat and temper it into your egg mixture by whisking it a a little at a time into the eggs, until you've added about half of the milk mixture. Add the remainder of the hot liquid and whisk until combined.
• Return the egg and milk mixture to your saucepan and put it back on the stove over low heat. Heat it, stirring frequently, until it has thickened a bit and will coat the back of a spoon, about 4 minutes. Remove the custard from the heat.
• Dip the challah slices into the custard and soak for about 30 seconds on each side. When the slices have been evenly coated with the custard, place them on a preheated skillet and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
• Serve hot and top with blackberry rum sauce and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

BOOZY CARAMEL FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with butter.
• In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with the brown sugar, corn syrup, and one tablespoon of water, stirring with a whisk until smooth. Pour into the prepared pan.
• Slice off the crusts from the brioche (it doesn't need to be perfect). Cut the bread into 1½-in thick slices. Arrange the bread slices on top of caramel, making sure the entire base of the pan is covered.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, vanilla, Grand Marnier, orange zest and salt until well combined. Pour evenly over bread. Cover with plastic wrap and chill at least 20 minutes or overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
• Bake, uncovered, in the middle of the oven until puffed and golden, 40-50 minutes. Let cool a few minutes (it will deflate), then serve immediately. The caramel base hardens up as it cools, so it's important to serve hot.

CREME BRULEE FRENCH TOAST WITH DRUNKEN STRAWBERRIES

Steps:

• For the French toast: At least 2 hours and up to 1 day ahead, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Place the bread slices on a rack on a baking sheet. Put the bread in the preheated oven, then immediately turn the oven off and let the bread sit until it begins to dry out, 20 to 30 minutes.
• Whisk together the eggs, yolks and granulated sugar until smooth. Whisk in the half-and-half, orange liqueur, vanilla, orange zest and salt. Lay the bread on a rimmed baking sheet or in a large baking dish, pour the custard mixture over the top and let sit for 15 minutes. Flip and let sit for at least 30 minutes more. (You can also cover and refrigerate overnight, turning a few more times.)
• For the strawberries: Meanwhile, combine the strawberries, granulated sugar and orange liqueur in a bowl. Let sit at room temperature until the strawberries release their juices and soften slightly, about 30 minutes.
• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. While the bread is soaking, melt the butter in a small saucepan over high heat, then add the muscovado sugar and whisk until smooth. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with a silicone baking mat and spread the mixture evenly over it. Place the soaked bread directly on the sugar. Bake until golden brown and puffed, about 20 minutes.
• Serve the French toast, sugar-side up, topped with the berries and their juices.

GEORGIA PEACH FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• For the filling: In a saucepan set over low heat, add the peaches, sugar, cinnamon and ginger. Stir until the peaches are evenly coated, and then simmer until the peaches are tender and the syrup thickens, 15 to 20 minutes. Place the peach mixture in a blender and pulse until thick and chunky.
• For the French toast: In a large, shallow bowl, add the milk, cinnamon, vanilla and eggs, and whisk together. Dip the bread in the batter and to soak up the liquid.
• Heat a griddle over medium-high heat, then add some butter. Place the soaked bread on the griddle and cover with large metal bowl to keep the heat in. Cook until golden brown on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side.
• Layer one slice of French toast, a spoonful of the peach filling and a second slice of French toast on four serving plates. Top each plate with confectioner's sugar, whipped cream and some Candied Pecans.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a saucepan set over medium heat, add the brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon and 2 tablespoons water. Mix to combine and cook until the mixture begins to bubble, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Place the toasted pecans on a sheet tray and pour the hot mixture over the top and toss until the pecans are evenly coated. Place in the oven for 6 to 8 minutes. Cool the pecans to handle. Crumble the candied pecans and toast 2 more minutes. Yield: 1 cup

CLASSIC FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200 degrees, and place a wire rack on a sheet pan inside.
• In a shallow bowl, whisk the eggs, additional yolks, milk, vanilla (if using) and salt until foamy and smooth. Set aside. Place a small lump of butter (enough to coat the bottom of the skillet when melted) in a large, heavy nonstick skillet over low heat. It will melt very slowly.
• When butter is just melted and bubbling, raise heat and bring to a sizzle. Place 2 slices of bread in the bowl with the egg mixture. Turn them a few times in the mixture until evenly saturated, about 5 seconds on each side. Do not soak.
• Lift a slice out of the egg mixture, gently shake off any excess, and place in the pan. Repeat until the skillet is full, and let the slices cook at a sizzle for about 2 minutes, until just turning golden brown on the bottom.
• Add another small lump of butter to the pan and flip the slices over, swirling the pan so that the fresh butter coats the bottom. (This will allow the second side to brown.)
• Continue cooking over low heat until the second side is golden brown. Dust with cinnamon sugar, flip again, and dust the other side. Test for doneness by pressing the center: The dent should slowly spring back. If it remains, the interior is not yet cooked. Continue cooking at low heat, flipping occasionally, until done. Serve immediately, or transfer to the oven to keep warm while cooking remaining bread. Serve as soon as possible. Top with maple syrup, berries, jam, sliced bananas, orange supremes - whatever you'd like.