Tiramisu French Toast
Elevate breakfast or brunch with this decadent Tiramisu French Toast. Indulge in layers of espresso-infused brioche bread, topped with mascarpone whipped cream. With a handful of ingredients and about 20 minutes you can easily bring the flavors of Italy to your breakfast table.
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In our home, weekend breakfast is a celebration and time to cook together as a family - often while sipping on a cold brew martini! Typically, you will find us making stuffed Nutella pancakes, but French toast is always an extra special treat, especially our pumpkin French toast in the fall.
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Why You'll Love this Recipe
Easy to make. Despite its gourmet flair, this tiramisu French toast recipe is surprisingly simple to prepare, requiring basic ingredients and straightforward steps.
Creative. By infusing French toast with the iconic flavors of tiramisu - such as espresso, cocoa, and mascarpone - this recipe offers a creative fusion, resulting in a unique and memorable dish.
Dessert for breakfast. French toast with whipped cream is a luxurious twist on a classic breakfast favorite, combining the rich flavors of tiramisu to create a decadent morning indulgence.
Ingredients
- Milk: Adds richness and moisture to the French toast custard mixture, resulting in a creamy texture.
- Eggs: Act as a binding agent, helping to coat the bread evenly and create a fluffy texture when cooked.
- Espresso: Infuses the French toast with the robust flavor of coffee, reminiscent of traditional tiramisu desserts.
- Brioche bread: Known for its buttery texture and rich flavor, brioche bread lends a decadent and indulgent quality to the French toast. Brioche is also our bread of choice in French toast casserole.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor while balancing the bitterness of the espresso.
- Cocoa powder: Adds a hint of chocolatey flavor and enhances the visual appeal of the French toast, reminiscent of tiramisu's cocoa dusting.
- Sugar: Sweetens the custard mixture and caramelizes when cooked, creating a golden-brown crust on the French toast.
- Butter: Adds richness and helps achieve a crispy exterior when the French toast is cooked in a skillet.
- Mascarpone whipped cream: Provides a creamy and luscious topping, reminiscent of the mascarpone cheese used in traditional tiramisu, adding richness and depth to the dish.
How to Make Tiramisu French Toast
Grab your ingredients and get ready to make the best French toast recipe in about 20 minutes!
Step 1: Make mascarpone whipped cream by whisking heavy cream and milk in a bowl. Add coffee liqueur and mascarpone cheese then whisk using a hand mixer until a whipped cream forms.
Step 2: To a shallow bowl, add eggs, milk, espresso, vanilla extract, cocoa powder, and sugar.
Step 3: Whisk tiramisu French toast ingredients together to form a custard until well combined.
Step 4: Soak slices of brioche bread in the custard mixture for 30 seconds on each side.
Step 5: To a skillet or griddle, add butter or nonstick cooking spray and bring to medium high heat. Add a slice of soaked bread and cook about 2 minutes.
Step 6: Flip bread and cook an additional 2 minutes until golden brown. Serve French toast immediately with a mascarpone whipped cream.
To serve, top French toast with mascarpone or stuff it in between each slice of bread. I prefer to add a drizzle of pure maple syrup on top, but my husband likes it as is. For more breakfast side dish ideas, browse of collection of what to eat with French toast.
This French toast recipe is special enough to make for celebrations such as, Mother's Day brunch or Christmas morning. And, when we aren't making funfetti pancakes for a birthday breakfast, tiramisu toast is what we are devouring!
Expert Tips
To prevent French toast from being soggy, use stale bread or day old bread as the custard will absorb better without getting too saturated.
For a bold coffee flavor, we suggest using espresso or espresso power when making the custard mixture for this espresso French toast. You can use strong black coffee in a pinch, but the flavor may be more watered down.
We incorporate mascarpone cheese into this whipped cream for two primary reasons: Firstly, mascarpone is a classic component of tiramisu, lending authenticity to the recipe. Secondly, its thick and creamy consistency acts as a stabilizer for the whipped cream, ensuring it retains its shape and doesn't melt as quickly as regular whipped cream will.
Recipe FAQs
Select a bread that is thick and dense, capable of absorbing the egg and milk mixture without becoming overly soggy. Personally, I favor brioche bread for making French toast, although options such as challah, ciabatta, and baguettes also work well for this dish.
When making French toast, you should soak the bread in the custard mixture for 30 seconds on each side to absorb the most flavor.
Yes, the mascarpone whipped cream can be prepared in advance and stored in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours. Simply give it a quick whisk before serving to restore its creamy texture.
Yes, while espresso provides a richer flavor, strong black coffee can be used as a substitute if needed. However, be aware that the coffee flavor may be slightly less intense.
Breakfast & Brunch Recipes
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Tiramisu French Toast
Save this Recipe!
I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!
Equipment
- Skillet or Griddle
Ingredients
Mascarpone Whipped Cream
- ½ cup heavy cream cold
- 2 Tablespoons sugar
- ½ cup mascarpone cheese
- 1 Tablespoon coffee liqueur such as Kahlua
Tiramisu French Toast
- 8 slices Brioche bread
- 1 cup milk
- 3 eggs
- ¼ cup espresso
- 1 Tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon cocoa powder
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 Tablespoons butter or nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Mascarpone whipped cream: Whisk heavy cream and sugar in a bowl until combined. To the bowl, add coffee liqueur and mascarpone cheese. Using a hand mixer, blend until a whipped cream forms. About 2 minutes. Set aside until ready to serve.
- In a shallow bowl, add milk, eggs, espresso, sugar, cocoa powder, and vanilla extract. Whisk custard until well combined.
- Soak slices of brioche bread in the custard mixture for 30 seconds on each side to absorb the flavors.
- To a skillet or griddle, add butter or nonstick cooking spray and bring to medium high heat. Add a slice of soaked bread and cook about 2 minutes. Flip bread and cook an additional 2 minutes or until desired color is reached.
- Serve French toast with mascarpone on top or stuffed between layers of bread. You can also sprinkle extra cocoa powder on top. Drizzle with maple syrup, if desired.
Notes
- To avoid soggy French toast, opt for stale or day-old bread as it allows the custard to absorb more effectively without becoming overly saturated.
- For a robust coffee taste, add espresso or ½ teaspoon of espresso powder into the custard mixture. While strong black coffee can be used as a substitute, be mindful that the flavor may be slightly diluted.
- Storage: Place leftover French toast in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator for up to 2-3 days in the fridge. When ready to eat, reheat individual slices in a toaster or oven until warmed through.
These are AMAZING
Thank you for letting me know. I'm happy you enjoy this recipe as much as I do!
I’m impressed! The coffee flavor is subtle and fun, what a creative twist on French toast!
I'm so happy you liked the coffee flavor in the brioche. It really does taste like tiramisu!