Crispy Sweet and Salty French Toast

Today is a french toast kind of Sunday. I woke up and just had the hankering for french toast. That and the fact that I had an excessive amount of several-days-old bread in the from of loaf and hamburger buns staring at me in the face. Both were getting too dry for as-is use so I had to do something with them and french toast is one of the best ways to use up stale bread.

While I love french toast, I've always felt that it could just be a tad crispier. As soon as it starts getting cold, the toast just starts getting soggier by the minute. This recipe makes some rather crispy french toast with the addition of Japanese style, panko bread crumbs. Since most panko bread crumbs come with some added salt, it gives this recipe a savory taste to it which I really enjoy. If you don't like sweet and salty food combos (think salted caramel ice cream, kettle corn, etc.), this may not be the french toast recipe for you.

The other thing about this recipe is that it calls for a half cup of refrigerated, flavored coffee creamer of choice. It can be viewed as a shortcut since this ingredient covers the milk/cream, sugar and flavoring in one fell swoop but if you really enjoy the flavor of a specific coffee creamer, it'll give your french toast quite a punch of flavor. Today, I used Vanilla Caramel and it did not disappoint. 

CRISPY SWEET & SALTY FRENCH TOAST

Makes about 8 pieces.

Ingredients:

Stale white bread (feel free to use leftover hamburger buns or other forms of bread)

4 eggs

1/2 cup refrigerated, flavored coffee creamer of choice

2-1/2 cups panko bread crumbs

Vegetable oil

Method:

Pour the vegetable oil into a large skillet until it covers the surface in a shallow layer. Heat the oil on the medium setting.

Whisk the eggs and creamer together until well incorporated and pour the panko bread crumbs into a separate shallow bowl.

Dip the bread slices into the egg mixture for several seconds until both sides are covered. Do not allow to soak for too long. You want to allow the bread to absorb just enough egg mixture to coat the surface. Next, dip the bread into the panko crumb mixture and coat well on both sides. Shake off any excess bread crumbs.

Add the bread to the hot skillet and pan fry for about 3 minutes on each side until browned and crispy.

Serve with your favorite maple syrup.

I've got my white bread and one half of a hamburger bun in my skillet.

Crispy Sweet and Salty French Toast aka Coffee Creamer French Toast