Description
This rich and cozy apple butter French toast is perfect for fall!
Ingredients
- 3 eggs
- 1/2 cup apple butter
- 1/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Pinch of salt
- 8 slices challah bread (about 1” thick)
- 2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1 Tablespoon canola oil, divided (or another neutral oil)
- Maple syrup and powdered sugar, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Whisk eggs, apple butter, heavy cream, vanilla, and a pinch of salt together in a shallow bowl or baking dish.
- Press one slice of challah bread into the egg mixture. Let sit for a minute or two, then turn and repeat to coat the other side.
- Melt a small knob of butter (about 1 teaspoon - you can eyeball this!) with a small drizzle of canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
- Use a fork to lift each piece of challah up out of the egg mixture. Let some of the egg mixture drip off, then place bread in the hot skillet.
- Cook bread 2-4 minutes per side until golden brown. Add more butter and canola oil a bit at a time between batches. Repeat this process - dipping each piece of challah into the batter and cooking until golden - until you've cooked all the French toast pieces.
- Remove cooked French toast to a plate. Top with any remaining butter along with powdered sugar and maple syrup. Serve immediately.
Notes
Additions and Substitutions. Use applesauce, pumpkin puree, or pumpkin butter in place of apple butter. Omit the vanilla extract if you don’t have it on hand. Add ground cinnamon or a pinch of ground cloves to the batter if you’d like more pronounced fall flavor (the flavor of this French toast will depend largely on the apple butter you use). Use half and half in place of heavy cream if you like. Top with toasted walnuts, sliced apples, or an extra dollop of apple butter.
What kind of bread should I use? We prefer using a challah or brioche bread for this recipe, but it also works with thick-cut sourdough, crusty white bread, or sandwich bread in a pinch.
Work in batches to cook this French toast (depending on the size of your skillet). To keep cooked French toast warm while you cook the rest of the batches, place on an oven-safe plate or baking sheet and keep in the oven on its lowest setting (200° F or below) while you finish cooking the rest. Be sure to use oven mitts to take the plate in and out of the oven as it can get quite warm.
