Challah French Toast

Challah, a beautifully braided and egg-enriched bread, holds a special place as the traditional start to the Jewish Sabbath meal. Its richness and golden hue make it the perfect canvas for creating the most luxurious French toast. The secret to making this dish truly exceptional lies in letting the “royale” (egg mixture) soak all the way to the center of thick bread slices and cooking them slowly, ensuring they’re perfectly cooked inside without overbrowning. Prepare to indulge in a breakfast treat fit for royalty.

SERVES 4

IINGREDIENTS:

• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 3 cups milk
• 6 extra-large eggs, beaten
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 8 thick slices (1″ thick) challah or other bread
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• Pure maple syrup

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Begin by creating a paste with the ground cinnamon and a drop of milk in a mixing bowl. Gradually whisk in the remaining milk, beaten eggs, vanilla extract, sugar, and salt. Transfer this delightful mixture to a wide, deep dish.
2. Submerge the thick slices of challah or your chosen bread in the egg mixture. Allow them to soak for at least 10 minutes, ensuring the slices are fully submerged. Use your fingertips to gently press them down and turn them over halfway through this soaking process. This step ensures that the bread absorbs the rich flavors of the egg mixture.
3. Heat a large, heavy-bottomed skillet over a medium-low flame. The ideal choice is a cast-iron skillet, such as a “Griswold.” You’ll know the skillet is ready when a small piece of butter sizzles but doesn’t smoke upon contact.
4. Melt half of the butter in the skillet and start frying the soaked bread slices. It’s crucial not to overcrowd the pan, so work with two slices at a time. Cook them on both sides until they develop a delightful bounce-back texture when poked with your finger, which should take approximately 4 minutes per side.
5. Serve the Challah French Toast as they come out of the pan, or keep them warm in the oven until you’re ready to serve. Important note: Do not reuse the butter; instead, wipe the pan clean after each batch to ensure the next set of slices cooks perfectly.
6. To elevate the dish to the next level of deliciousness, serve your Challah French Toast with a generous drizzle of pure maple syrup, which complements the richness of the bread and the flavors of the egg mixture.

This Challah French Toast recipe turns a traditional Jewish Sabbath bread into a breakfast masterpiece. The combination of rich challah bread, the aromatic egg mixture, and the slow, careful cooking process results in a breakfast dish that’s indulgent and comforting. Whether served as a weekend treat or a special occasion breakfast, your taste buds are in for a royal treat. Drizzled with pure maple syrup, this Challah French Toast is the perfect way to start your day with a touch of elegance and flavor. Enjoy your culinary journey through this luxurious breakfast delight!

Now you’re ready to enjoy a breakfast experience fit for royalty. The luxurious, golden slices of Challah French Toast are sure to delight your taste buds and make any morning special. Bon appétit!