Best New Orleans Style French Toast Recipes

PAIN PERDU ("LOST BREAD"): NEW ORLEANS-STYLE FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• In a large bowl combine the half-and-half or milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla and nutmeg and mix thoroughly. Soak the slices of stale French bread in the custard mixture until they're thorougly soaked. Meanwhile, melt the butter in a heavy skillet and add the oil. When the butter and oil mixture is very hot, fry the soaked bread slices one or two at a time on each side, until golden brown. Drain on paper towels and hold in a warm oven until all the slices are cooked. To serve, Sprinkle with cinnamon and powdered sugar mixture just before serving. Serve with Louisiana cane syrup, a strongly-flavored honey or any good syrup of your choice (real maple or fruit syrups are lovely too, but avoid that artificially-flavored pancake syrup).

PAIN PERDU (NEW ORLEANS-STYLE FRENCH TOAST)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine eggs, sugar, milk, brandy and orange zest. Beat until thick and foamy. Pour mixture into a shallow pan.
• Soak bread slices in the mixture for 1 to 2 minutes on each side until they are thoroughly soaked through.
• Heat a griddle or frying pan over medium heat. Lightly spray griddle with cooking spray. Cook the bread slices 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until golden brown.
• Serve hot.

NEW ORLEANS STYLE FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 375. In large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, salt, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon and allspice. Soak bread slices in custard mixture for at least 30 minutes or til completely saturated.
• 2. Melt a few tablespoons butter in large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add bread in batches and lightly brown, about 2 minutes per side. Don't cook too dark, as additional browning will occur in oven.
• 3. Transfer to lightly buttered, foil lined baking sheets and bake for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, remove and turn each slice over. Put back in oven for another 10 to 15 minutes or til browned and the bread springs back when tested with a finger. Serve at once. Face: The thrifty French, who pride themselves on the short life of their bread, are believed to have invented French toast as a way of using up bread that is no longer fresh. The french name for this tasty morsel is pain perdu, or "lost bread."

NEW ORLEANS STYLE FRENCH TOAST (PAIN PERDU)

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine eggs, sugar, milk, brandy and orange zest. Beat until thick and foamy. Pour mixture into a shallow pan. Soak bread slices in the mixture for 1 to 2 minutes on each side until they are thoroughly soaked through. Heat a griddle or frying pan over medium heat. Lightly spray griddle with cooking spray. Cook the bread slices 1 to 2 minutes on each side, until golden brown. Serve hot.

BAKED FRENCH TOAST, NEW ORLEANS STYLE

Steps:

• Spray a 12 x 8 inch casserole or baking dish with nonstick spray or lightly grease with butter.
• Arrange slices of bread across bottom of dish, completely covering bottom (squeeze in more if the bottom shows).
• In a mixing bowl, combine eggs, half and half, sugar and nutmeg; beat well.
• Pour evenly over the bread, then cover dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
• Before baking, preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• Uncover, and bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until puffed and golden brown.
• Meanwhile, prepare sauce, by melting butter in a skillet over medium heat.
• Add the pears, and cook 2 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.
• In a small bowl, combine water and cornstarch, blending well; add honey and cornstarch to the pears and cook 2 minutes, stirring, or until mixture thickens and is bubbly.
• Serve sauce over French toast.