It has been a long time since I've shared a favorite recipe and I thought that with Valentine's day coming up, this is the perfect time to share a super easy way to make simple French toast special without spending a lot of time doing it. Heart shaped cookie cutters and whipped strawberry butter turn ordinary French toast into a Valentine's day breakfast that your sweetheart is sure to love.
French toast:
1 loaf Italian bread
1/3 cup half and half or heavy cream
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
A dash of cinnamon (optional)
Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
Fresh strawberries for garnish (optional)
Strawberry butter:
1/2 cup softened butter
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1 tablespoon strawberry preserves
Other tools:
Pastry bag (or small bag with the corner removed) fitted with a star tip2 1/2 to 3 inch heart shaped cookie cutter
fine strainer for dusting with powdered sugar.
Directions:
French toast:
Slice bread into eight to ten 1 inch slices. Using a 2 1/2 to 3 inch cookie cutter, cut bread slices into hearts. Combine eggs, half and half, cinnamon (optional) and vanilla in a pie plate and mix well. Dip four bread shapes into the mixture, turning to coat both sides. Let stand 1-2 minutes. This will help the bread absorb the egg mixture and to fluff back up after being squashed by the cookie cutter.
Melt two tablespoons of butter in a 10 inch skillet or griddle. Heat until sizzling. Add four slices of coated bread. Reduce heat to medium and cook bread for 3-4 minutes or until golden brown, turning once. Remove from skillet and keep warm. Clean skillet and repeat the process with the remaining butter and 4 heart bread pieces.
Strawberry butter:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl. Beat at medium speed until creamy, scraping the bowl often. Place the mixture into a pastry bag fitted with a star tip and refrigerate until ready to serve. Don't allow it to chill completely or allow it to come back to room temperature prior to serving.
Hint: if you don't have a pastry bag, a sandwich bag with the corner clipped off will also work.
Hint: if you don't have a pastry bag, a sandwich bag with the corner clipped off will also work.
To serve:
Dust slices with powdered sugar, pipe on strawberry butter and garnish with fresh berries. Serve with warm maple syrup if desired.
See?! I told you that it was easy. Heart shaped French toast with whipped strawberry butter and fresh strawberries. Perfect for Valentine's day breakfast, a bridal shower brunch, or any time that you want to make someone feel loved without spending hours in the kitchen to do it!
Sharing at:
Between Naps on the Porch
Cedar Hill Farmhouse
From My Front Porch To Yours
Our Mini Family
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Stone Gable