Irresistible Sweet Surrender: Sourdough French Toast and Nutella

Originally posted on June 19, 2024, from my previous blog. This was written after a glorious, unplanned cheat day. A moment where fridge-clearing turned into sweet surrender, and I gave in to my craving for a decadent sourdough French toast loaded with Nutella and berries.

Ever been on a diet and done so well for a few weeks, then one day, it hits you that it’s been a while since your last dessert? Your sweet tooth suddenly activates, and out of nowhere, there is this resistance. Next thing you know, the images in your head are playing like the TV monitors in an expensive Las Vegas buffet. The attractive food is in slow-mo, enticing you to eat it, luring you into that delicious sweetness of French toast!

Quite frankly, the thought process started with, “I’m going to clean my fridge and figure out what to do with the remaining condensed milk in that small Pyrex, ’cause I can’t use it for coffee now since, you know, Keto and all. So what do I do with it?” You just know that condensed milk goes well with bread. What other stuff goes well with bread? Eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, berries… dammit, we’re making that French toast.

So, here’s to giving in to my weakness 24 hours after thinking of making French toast out of the ingredients from my fridge. I also had leftover strawberries and blueberries, which I normally put in Greek yogurt as a parfait. But I ran out of yogurt, and the berries were slowly fading away, so I needed to do something about them too.

I used sourdough bread for this recipe, which made it extra delicious and actually lighter on the stomach compared to regular white bread or whole grain bread. The good news about sourdough bread is that it’s actually slower to spike sugar levels and is much easier to digest. There’s some scientific explanation for this, which I’ll probably explain in a later post.

But for now, let’s dive into this simple yet indulgent French toast recipe that will make you forget all about that diet—just for today.

French Toast with Sourdough Bread, Nutella, and Sliced Almonds

Ingredients:

• 4 slices of sourdough bread
• 2 large eggs
• 1/2 cup milk (whole milk or your preferred milk)
• 2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
• A pinch of salt
• Butter for frying
• Nutella for topping
• Sliced almonds for topping
• Optional: sliced bananas, strawberries, or powdered sugar

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Egg Mixture:

• In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sweetened condensed milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon (if using), and salt until well combined.

2. Dip the Bread:

• Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and add a bit of butter to coat the surface.
• Dip each slice of sourdough bread into the egg mixture, allowing it to soak for a few seconds on each side. Ensure the bread is well-coated but not overly soaked.

3. Cook the French Toast:

• Place the soaked bread slices onto the hot skillet.
• Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until the bread is golden brown and cooked through. Adjust the heat if necessary to prevent burning.

4. Microwave the Nutella:

• Scoop the desired amount of Nutella into a microwave-safe bowl.
• Microwave for about 10-15 seconds at a time, stirring after each interval, until the Nutella is warm and spreadable.

5. Top with Nutella and Almonds:

• Spread a generous amount of warm Nutella on top of each slice of French toast.
• Sprinkle sliced almonds over the Nutella for a delightful crunch.

Optional Extra Crispiness:

• For an extra crispy texture, place the cooked French toast slices in a preheated small oven or toaster oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 5 minutes.

6. Serve:

• Optionally, top with sliced bananas, strawberries, or a dusting of powdered sugar.
• Serve immediately and enjoy your sweet surrender!

This French toast is the perfect way to use up those leftovers and treat yourself to something truly decadent. Remember, life is too short to resist a little sweetness now and then. Enjoy your culinary adventure and stay tuned for more delicious recipes from felie.io!