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The recipe
Daddio’s French Toast
Makes four slices
Ingredients
- 4 slices Texas toast
- 2 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¼ teaspoon almond extract
- ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
- Dash of salt
- Dash of sugar
- Small dash of nutmeg
- Small dash of apple-pie spice
- Butter for cooking
Prepare the bread
For the standard recipe, leave the bread uncovered overnight or dry it in a 275°F oven for approximately 10 to 15 minutes, flipping it once.
The bread should become dry and barely golden, not crisp or dark. Allow it to cool briefly before dipping it into the custard mixture.
Day-old Texas toast, brioche, or challah also works well. Lightly drying the bread allows it to absorb the custard without becoming soggy and helps create a tender center.
Make the custard
Whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla, almond extract, cinnamon, salt, sugar, nutmeg, and apple-pie spice until thoroughly combined.
The small amount of sugar helps produce a gently caramelized surface. The nutmeg and apple-pie spice should remain subtle and support the cinnamon rather than overpower it.
Dip and cook
Dip each side of ordinary sandwich bread for approximately 5 to 10 seconds. Thicker bread can soak slightly longer.
Cook in butter over medium to medium-low heat so the center sets before the exterior becomes too dark. When the pan is at the right temperature, the butter should make a gentle, steady sizzle as it hits the pan. It should not remain silent or brown aggressively.
As a helpful timing reference, each side generally takes about 2 minutes and 30 seconds when the heat is set correctly. Use the sizzle, color, and texture as your guide, and cook until both sides are beautifully golden and the custard has set through the center.