Description
This delightful Heart-Shaped French Toast recipe is perfect for a special breakfast or brunch, offering a charming twist on the classic French toast. With a rich custard base flavored with vanilla and cinnamon, this recipe uses thick-cut bread to create a soft, golden, and custardy toast shaped into hearts. Served with fresh berries, maple syrup, and optional powdered sugar or whipped cream, it’s both visually appealing and delicious.
Ingredients
Scale
Custard Mixture
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup milk (whole or your choice of dairy-free milk)
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
Main Ingredients
- 4 slices of thick-cut bread (brioche, challah, or Texas toast work great)
- 2 tbsp butter (for frying)
To Serve
- Maple syrup
- Fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
- Powdered sugar (optional)
- Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt until well combined and smooth.
- Cut the bread into heart shapes: Using a heart-shaped cookie cutter, press into each slice of thick-cut bread to create heart shapes. Save the remaining bread pieces for another use or toast separately.
- Soak the bread: Dip each heart-shaped bread piece into the egg mixture, allowing it to soak for about 20-30 seconds on each side so it absorbs the custard but does not become soggy.
- Heat the pan and melt butter: Place a skillet or frying pan over medium heat and add the butter, allowing it to melt and coat the surface evenly.
- Cook the French toast: Place the soaked bread pieces onto the hot pan and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and cooked through. Avoid overcrowding the pan.
- Serve: Remove the French toast from the pan and plate it. Top with fresh berries, a drizzle of maple syrup, and optionally dust with powdered sugar or add a dollop of whipped cream. Serve immediately for best texture and flavor.
Notes
- Use thick-cut bread like brioche or challah for the best texture and flavor.
- Be careful not to soak the bread too long to prevent sogginess.
- If you don’t have a heart-shaped cutter, you can use a knife to carefully cut shapes or simply cut the bread into triangles or other fun shapes.
- Adjust cinnamon and vanilla according to your taste preference.
- The recipe serves 4, but it can easily be doubled for larger groups.
- For a dairy-free version, use almond, soy, or oat milk and a plant-based butter alternative.
