Bourbon Brioche French Toast

It’s no secret that I have an absolute love for all things bourbon. Whenever possible, I work bourbon into the treats I make - just to experience that amazing warmth and comfort bourbon flavors bring to mind. My love affair with bourbon began in 2017, when Matt and I made our first trip to Bardstown, Kentucky - the heart of Bourbon Country. From the amazing hospitality to the gorgeous scenery, I think I a little piece of my heart permanently resides in the great state of Kentucky.

Beyond the bourbon, another amazing aspect of Kentucky is the food. And today’s recipe definitely hits that home-cooked, comfort food, with that comforting splash of bourbon. Today I bring you bourbon brioche French toast!

Using Neurotic Baker’s Bourbon Brioche French Toast recipe as an ingredient guide, I adapted our ratios to fit our needs. The base of our recipe was an amazing cream cheese brioche by St. Pierre’s Bakery that I found at my local Kroger. The cream cheese added a richness of flavor that enhanced the dish overall. But, you can substitute for any brioche or thick bread.

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Bourbon Brioche French Toast

Yields 8 pieces (from 8” loaf)

Ingredients

• 5 eggs

• 1/2 cup heavy cream

• 1/4 cup milk (I used 1%, but any milk will do)

• 1/4 cup sugar

• 1 tsp bourbon spice

  • bourbon spice = 4 part cinnamon, 2 part cloves, 1 part cardamom, 1 part black pepper

• 2 tbsp bourbon (I used Maker’s Mark)

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1 loaf St. Pierre’s Cream Cheese Brioche loaf (or any brioche or thick loaf) - cut into 1” slices

• Butter for pan

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Instructions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the egg, heavy cream, milk, sugar, spice, bourbon, vanilla and salt. Mixture should be completely homogeneous.

2. On the stove, pre-heat a large skillet over medium heat. Once the pan is warm, add a small amount of butter to grease the pan.

3. As the pan is heating, take slice of bread and soak in egg mixture, until both sides are saturated, but not soggy.

4. Place slices into warmed skilled and cook 2-3 minutes, until lightly browned. Flip to other side and cook for another 2-3 minutes. Once cooked, move to plate for serving or place on a lined baking sheet and put in oven at 200 degrees to keep warm.

5. Repeat process with any additional slices of bread - make sure to add a small amount of butter between slices.

6. Serve warm with pure maple syrup or powdered sugar.

Recipe adapted from Neurotic Baker.