Crunchy French Toast
A favorite brunch spot in Key West, Florida always serves up some tasty morning meals. This is one we tried recently during a trip to celebrate my husband’s birthday with family. It was so good that I just had to make it at home. Delicious brioche is covered with an egg mixture, dipped in a crunchy coating and lightly fried to make Crunchy French Toast. Serve it with fresh fruit and maple syrup to make a special treat for breakfast or brunch!
Honey Bunches of Oats breakfast cereal (Honey Roasted) from Post is what I use for the crunchy coating in this recipe. I place the cereal in a gallon-size plastic bag and use a rolling pin or drinking glass to crush the cereal. Don’t make the crumbs too fine, as you want them to be somewhat chunky. The cereal has oats, granola clusters and honey, which makes the perfect crispy coating for Crunchy French Toast.
What type of bread should I use for French Toast?
I use thick-sliced brioche for this recipe. It is a French bread that is made with eggs, sugar and butter, making it soft and slightly sweet. When making French toast, it is important for a few reasons to use a thicker, more sturdy bread. First, you want the bread to absorb the egg mixture. That not only allows the coating to stick, but it also flavors the bread. Second, once the bread gets covered with the crunchy coating it becomes heavy. You want a bread that will hold its shape during coating and frying the French toast. Be sure to use a pair of tongs or a spatula to flip your French Toast as that will prevent it from tearing or falling apart.
Crunchy French Toast Recipe
What’s needed?
- thick-sliced brioche bread
- milk
- vanilla
- eggs
- Honey Bunches of Oats cereal
How to make Crunchy French Toast?
- Add eggs, milk and vanilla to a shallow bowl or plate. Whisk until combined.
- Place cereal in a gallon-size plastic bag and use a rolling pin to gently crush the cereal to form crumbs. Put the crushed cereal on a second plate.
- Add two tablespoons of canola oil to a large skillet over medium heat.
- Dip each slice of bread in the egg mixture, flip to dip the second side. Then dip in the cereal crumbs to cover. Gently place the coated bread in the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden. Repeat with remaining slices of bread.
- Place french toast on a serving plate and serve while warm. This recipe makes 4 slices, recipe can easily be doubled.
What toppings can I serve with Crunchy French Toast?
- Fruit- Strawberries and blueberries are the best to serve with this sweet breakfast. The fresh fruit is simply delicious with French Toast and a drizzle of syrup. We have also tried sliced bananas, blackberries and fresh peaches. So good!
- Maple syrup- Syrup is a classic topping for French Toast. Make sure to buy real maple syrup, while it is more expensive, it is also more flavorful and will last longer than imitations because you need less syrup to get the sweet taste you desire.
- Flavored syrups– There are a variety of syrups that come in different flavors. Look for them in your grocery store. One that we have come to like is Butter Pecan, which has a rich, sweet, nutty flavor. It is great on pancakes and French Toast.
For more delicious breakfast and brunch dishes, check out these sweet recipes:
Crunchy French Toast
Ingredients
- 4 slices brioche, thick-cut bread
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 large eggs
- 2 cups cereal, Honey Bunches of Oats, crushed
- syrup, for topping
Instructions
- Add eggs, milk and vanilla to a shallow bowl or plate. Whisk until combined.
- Place cereal in a gallon-size plastic bag and use a rolling pin to gently crush the cereal to form crumbs. Put the crushed cereal on a second plate.
- Add two tablespoons of canola oil to a large skillet over medium heat.
- Dip each slice of bread in the egg mixture, flip to dip the second side. Then dip in the cereal crumbs to cover. Gently place the coated bread in the skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes per side, until golden. Repeat with remaining slices of bread.
- Place french toast on a serving plate and serve while warm. This recipe makes 4 slices, recipe can easily be doubled.
Equipment
- 1 large skillet