Cinnamon Roasted Apple French Toast

Is there anything better than French toast to start the day off on the right foot? Homemade French toast is one of those classics that never goes out of style, and the best thing is that you can customize it with whatever you like. Today I bring you a version with roasted apple and cinnamon , perfect for those days when you want to treat yourself without complicating your life... And you'll see how the whole house will smell like home! (I don't know about you, but the smell of toast and cinnamon takes me back to my childhood, back to my mom's house).

French toast is a simple recipe that consists of slices of bread dipped in a mixture of egg and milk , then browned in a pan until crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside . The beauty of this toast is that you can serve it with almost anything: fresh fruit, maple syrup, chocolate... whatever you fancy! But today I decided to make it with an autumnal touch, taking advantage of the sweet and spicy flavour of roasted apples with cinnamon. I promise it won't take you long and you'll love the result.

Get your apron ready and pick out some apples and bread because... Let's go with much love for this recipe that I adore! I hope you enjoy it.

Ingredients:

For the French toast:

• 4 slices of brioche bread (or baguette, French bread or your choice)
• 2 eggs
• 200 ml of milk
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp sugar (optional)
• A pinch of salt
• Butter

For the baked apples:

• 2 apples (your choice, unpeeled for more texture, or peeled if you want them to fall apart)
• 1 tbsp brown sugar
• 1 generous teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1 tbsp butter
• Star anise (optional)

Preparation:

1. In a bowl, beat the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, sugar and a pinch of salt until well combined.
2. Dip the bread slices into the egg mixture on both sides, making sure they are well coated.
3. Heat a large frying pan over medium heat (you can't go wrong with the Affinity stainless steel frying pan ), and add a knob of butter. Cook the bread slices for 2-3 minutes on each side, until golden and crispy.
4. While the toast is cooking, cut the apples into small cubes. In a saucepan (you can use a copper one for these preparations or a stainless steel one), melt the butter and add the apple cubes, brown sugar and cinnamon. Cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until the apples are golden and tender but not completely broken down, about 5 minutes.
5. Serve the French toast on a plate and scatter the roasted apples on top.
6. You can decorate with a little cinnamon or a drizzle of honey, if you like.

Grades

• If you prefer soft apples instead of chunks, you can cook the apples longer and puree them, make compote, or use very soft apples (if that's how you like it, I recommend peeling the apples so they fall apart more easily).
• You can add nuts, raisins or a touch of whipped cream. Since it's a day when we get a sweet tooth... When in doubt, do it!
• Personally, I like to use red apples when I want them to be firm and appreciate a more acidic contrast, and yellow Golden apples when I want them to fall apart or make compote, but it is totally up to you to use one variety or the other.

The recipe in quick version!

In your daily life, you can also prepare an express and delicious version of these toasts, simply by preparing "normal" toasts (not French) and serving them with the cinnamon-flavored apple. To do this, toast your favorite bread and, meanwhile, put the diced apple in a saucepan with a tablespoon of butter (or water, if you want to poach it a little). Add the cinnamon and a little brown sugar and poach everything for a few minutes. Remove from the saucepan and serve on top of the bread. You have super delicious toasts in just a few minutes!

I hope you enjoy these baked apple toasts!