French Toast 101

If I have a choice, I usually choose a Belgian waffle or Buttermilk pancakes over French toast. But when I have leftover French bread sitting on the counter, I'm all over making French toast. You know how I love Cooks Illustrated. In the Jan/Feb 2009 issue, they thoroughly researched and conquered the art of making French Toast. btw- Here's my plug for Cooks. Whether you are a seasoned (no pun intended) cook, or a beginner, Cooks is a great resource. No ads, just pure recipes, and helpful cooking info. The recipes almost always include the chemistry behind why for example, it is better to dry bread in the oven vs. leaving it out on the counter when making French toast:

Normally exposing bread to air causes its starch molecules to bond and recrystallize, leading to a harder texture but most breads now include stabilizers in the form of mono- and diglycerides that slow down this process. In the test kitchen, we have determined that leaving bread out to stale isn't nearly effective as drying it in the oven, which hardens it by actually removing moisture. One test conducted: French Toast made with hearty white bread dried in a low oven side by side with the same bread left out overnight. Each type of bread was soaked for about 20 seconds per side in the egg mixture. The oven dried version won hands down, producing French toast that was browned and crisp on the outside and tender and velvety on the inside, with no trace of sogginess.

Are you thinking what I am thinking? Someone has a little too much free time on their hands. Or maybe I should have paid a little closer attention in Chemistry class. Oh, wait, I never took Chemistry. Anyway. The article also goes into depth to explain the process by which they chose to use all egg yolks instead of the whole egg, how to properly soak the bread, and what type of bread turns out the best product.

I was a little skeptical( I know, you're surprised). I mean, who needs a recipe for French Toast? It was absolutely delish. Really "crisp and tender". "Sweet and puffy." Just like they said it would be. Yum.

French Toast 101

8 large slices hearty white sandwich bread or good quality challah bread

1 1/2 cups whole milk (*warmed)

3 large egg yolks

3 tablespoons light brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted, plus 2 tablespoons for cooking

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoons vanilla extract

Adjust the oven to middle position and heat oven to 300 degrees. Place bread on wire rack set in rimmed baking sheet. Bake bread until almost dry throughout. Center should remain slightly moist, about 16 minutes, flipping slices halfway through cooking. Remove bread from rack and let cool 5 minutes. Return baking sheet with wire rack to oven and reduce temperature to 200 degrees.

Whisk milk, yolks, sugar, cinnamon, 2 tablespoons melted butter, salt, and vanilla in a large bowl until well blended. Transfer to a 9x13 inch baking pan.

Soak bread in milk mixture until saturated but not falling apart. About 20 seconds per side. Using a firm slotted spatula, pick up bread slice and allow excess milk mixture to drip off, repeat with remaining slices. Place soaked bread on another baking sheet or platter.

Heat 1/2 tablespoon butter in a 12 inch skillet over medium low heat. When foaming subsides, use slotted spatula to transfer 2 soaked slices to skillet or griddle and cook until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and continue to cook until second side is golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes longer. If toast is cooking too quickly, reduce temperature slightly. Transfer to baking sheet in oven. Wipe off skillet with paper towel. Repeat until all bread slices are cooked. Serve immediately.

Tips:

-*Warming the milk helps the milk and melted butter to mix together without the melted butter solidifying in cold milk.

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