Valentine’s Day Brunch: Cherry Brioche French Toast

Cherry Brioche French Toast

Instead of scrambling to find a last-minute Valentine’s Day dinner reservation, whip up a delicious brunch for your Valentine – or your favorite single friends. Our Mini Cherry Brioche is only available for a limited time and it makes a wonderful French toast. Topped with warm maple syrup and rich brandy whipped cream, it’s a sweet way to start the day whether you’re happily single or blissfully coupled.

Cherry Brioche French Toast
Click here to print this recipe!

Ingredients

For the brandy whipped cream:
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 tablespoon brandy
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla

For the French toast:
5 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
*1 Mini Cherry Brioche
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon butter

*Available in our cafés.

Serves 2

Preparing the brandy whipped cream:
In a medium bowl, place the cream, brandy, sugar and vanilla. Mix with a whisk or hand-mixer until the mixture holds its shape, about 2 minutes. Set aside until ready to use.

Preparing the French toast:
1. In a medium bowl, place the eggs, vanilla, brown sugar, cream, cinnamon and nutmeg and whisk to combine. Pour custard into a shallow baking pan.

2. Cut the brioche into 1-inch thick slices. Dredge each slice in the custard, making sure all sides are evenly coated.

3. In a large sauté pan over medium heat, warm the vegetable oil and butter. Lay the brioche slices in the pan and cook until both sides are golden brown.

4. Divide French toast slices among 2 plates. Serve with a drizzle of pure maple syrup and a dollop of brandy whipped cream.

In the Kitchen: Our Best French Toast

French Toast

French toast is the king of weekend brunch. Each week, Head Savory Chef Elizabeth Hall creates a fabulous French toast for our menu. It’s usually stuffed with something amazing like sweetened ricotta or pear butter and topped with anything from seasonal berries and crème fraîche to toasted nuts and whipped cream. As we carry these stacks of toast piled high through the café, it’s never a surprise to hear people swoon. At the end of brunch service we know we’ll find plates scraped clean and lots of happy customers.

The best French toast starts with simple ingredients found in most kitchens and a really good loaf of bread. We reach for generous slices of buttery, sweet Brioche to soak up the eggy custard and caramelize in the pan. Adorned with a dollop of cream or a healthy pour of thick maple syrup, doesn’t matter. A delicious bread is the heart and soul of this meal.

Through Mother’s Day, you can pick up a loaf of our toothsome Chocolate Orange Brioche attached with the recipe for our favorite French toast. Whether you’re surprising Mom with breakfast in bed or treating someone special to an easy weekend brunch, this French toast will make anyone feel loved.