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Rich French Toast

Source of Recipe

From "The King Arthur Flour Baker's Companion"


Recipe Introduction

"When we tested this recipe, it was met with universal acclaim. The difference between this and ordinary French toast is the quality of the ingredients. Start with a high-rising, white bread � be sure it's slightly stale, otherwise it will fall apart in the batter. Slice it thick; we found ⅝ inch just about right. Bathe it in nutmeg- and rum-accented cream. Saut� it gently in butter then serve it on warmed plates with sifted sugar and maple syrup. Crispy on the outside, toothsome yet tender within, this is the French toast of which dreams are made."

List of Ingredients

1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
3 large eggs
� cup cream
� teaspoon salt
� teaspoon nutmeg
2 teaspoons rum (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 slices bread, frozen and thawed or several days old


Recipe

Preheat the oven to 250� F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease it generously and set aside.

Place the butter and vegetable oil in a heavy skillet and set it over medium heat.

In a small bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, salt, nutmeg, rum, and vanilla. Stir until smooth but not foamy. Pour the batter into a shallow casserole dish large enough to hold two pieces of bread snugly.

Place two pieces of bread in the soaking dish, turn them over, and turn them over again. The entire process should take about 15 seconds; you want the bread to absorb some of the liquid but not to become thoroughly saturated.

Place the bread in the skillet and fry it for 3 minutes before turning. Turn the bread; it should be golden brown. If not, raise the burner heat slightly. Fry the bread on the second side for about 2 minutes. Again, it should be golden brown. Transfer the French toast to the baking sheet and place it in the preheated oven. Allow it to remain in the oven while you cook the remaining pieces. When all the pieces are cooked, serve the French toast on heated plates, dusting it with confectioners' sugar, if you like.


Makes 12 slices