Brioche French Toast with Mixed Berries

What's better than starting your day with one of these fluffy and thick French toasts
 covered in sunshine-sweet berries and gooey maple syrup

Happy Wednesday! I know, I know ... nobody's favorite day of the week. But today I have something special for you. Something that will make you jump right out of bed and forget all about the next few days before you get to relax this weekend. Something hearty and nutritious to kick-start the day in the right direction. And something that is quick and easy, so that nobody will be running late out the door.

Here it is: extra thick and fluffy French toasts, soft on the inside, golden and crispy on the outside, covered in sweet and juicy berries, and a must-have drizzle of maple syrup.  
Looks lick-your-fingers delicious, right?! It sure is!

My boys absolutely love this for breakfast or weekend brunch. Who wouldn't love to wake up to one of these insanely delicious piece of goodness every day?!? Because it shouldn't be just a special treat for Sunday. After all, these French toasts are not that hard to do. All you need is 15 minutes or less to slice the brioch or French bread, mix the milk, eggs and a couple of other ingredients, dunk, and cook. 
When breakfast tastes this good, you really don't want to wait for too long to take a bite.

The secret to a delicious french toast that's not too soggy, or too dry is in the bread. My favorite bread for this recipe is brioche bread (or you can use Italian or French loaf, stale bread works too!). Make sure to cut it into thick slices of at least 1 inch in thickness or more. It will stay soft and moist on the inside, and slightly crunchy on the outside. 
Also, you need to soak the slices in the milk/egg mixture in a shallow dish just enough to get it wet all the way through, but not too much that it will fall apart. Make sure the butter in the pan is hot and sizzly, so you will end up with a nice and slightly crunchy golden layer.

INGREDIENTS:

YIELD: 2-4 servings (one or two slices each)

1. • 4 slices of brioche bread (or French loaf) cut into 1-inch thick slices
   • 2 eggs
   • 1.5 cups (350 ml) of whole milk (or your favorite)
   • about 2 tablespoons of sugar, divided
   • 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon 
   • pinch of salt
   • about 2 tablespoons (30 gr) of butter (for cooking)
   • fresh berries and maple syrup for serving

PREPARATION:

TIME: 15 minutes

Slice the bread in thick slices. At least 1 inch in thickness.

Whisk together the eggs, milk, one tablespoon of sugar, cinnamon and salt in a large casserole dish, large enough to dip the slice of bread 

Heat a nonstick, large enough frying pan over medium heat. Melt one tablespoon of butter in the skillet over medium-high heat. When it starts to sizzle, soak the slices of bread one at a time in the egg and milk mixture until they absorb the liquid, a few seconds on each side depending on the bread. It takes longer for older, crunchier bread. A lot less for softer bread.
Place the slices on the sizzling butter, and cook on each side for about 2-3 minutes until golden brown. 

You might have to do this in two skillets (or in two times) depending on the size of your bread slices.
Add more butter to the pan if necessary before turning the slices.
Lower the heat to medium-low, and cook for a few more minutes on each side. If you like, you can sprinkle the slices with a little more sugar before turning, to get a sugary/caramelized golden and crispy layer. The perfect French toast!
Serve immediately, topped with fresh berries or your favorite fresh fruit, and maple syrup if you like. 

PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD: Brioche French Toasts with Berries