Classic French Toast

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon (14g) butter
• 1 tablespoon (11g) vegetable oil
• 6 to 8 slices bread, somewhat stale
• 3 large eggs
• 3/4 cup (170g) heavy cream or whipping cream
• Pinch of table salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 tablespoons (25g) granulated sugar
• 2 tablespoons (28g) rum (optional)
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Before you cook

• Heat the oven to 400F and line a baking sheet with parchment.
• Put the butter and oil in a heavy skillet over medium heat, or preheat an electric griddle to 300F.
• Set out slightly stale bread slices.

Steps

1. Whisk the eggs, cream, salt, nutmeg, sugar, rum and vanilla until smooth but not foamy.
2. Pour the custard into a shallow pan wide enough to hold two slices of bread.
3. Soak two slices for about 30 seconds per side, until saturated but not falling apart.
4. Lay the soaked bread in the hot skillet or on the griddle.
5. Fry about 2 minutes per side, until deep golden brown.
6. Move the cooked slices to the parchment-lined sheet and hold them warm in the 400F oven.
7. Repeat the soaking and frying with the remaining bread.
8. Serve with butter and maple syrup, or dust with confectioners or cinnamon sugar.