Maple Syrup – The Cozy Cook https://thecozycook.com Easy Recipes for Busy Home Cooks Thu, 28 Sep 2023 00:25:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.3.1 Sweet Potato Casserole With Marshmallows https://thecozycook.com/sweet-potato-casserole/ https://thecozycook.com/sweet-potato-casserole/#comments Mon, 15 Nov 2021 09:00:43 +0000 https://thecozycook.com/?p=41843 This is the BEST Sweet Potato Casserole recipe! It has a sweet and savory filling with a crumbled pecan topping and perfectly toasted mini marshmallows. Bonus: It’s easy to make 1-2 days ahead of time! (more…)

]]> https://thecozycook.com/sweet-potato-casserole/feed/ 19 Alton Brown’s French Toast https://thecozycook.com/alton-browns-french-toast/ https://thecozycook.com/alton-browns-french-toast/#comments Wed, 14 Aug 2019 10:30:03 +0000 https://thecozycook.com/?p=28141 Alton Brown’s French Toast recipe is deliciously crisp and golden on the outside and soft and creamy inside. It’s easy to make and makes the best breakfast or brunch for friends and family!

Love trying new breakfast recipes? Try my Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole (Make-Ahead!) next!A stack of golden french toast on a white plate with blueberries and butter on top.

When it comes to breakfast recipes, it is truly hard to beat classic French Toast. There are so many subtle differences on how you can make French Toast and how it ends up holding up and tasting.

After testing out tons of methods, I have to stay that Alton Brown definitely has the perfect French Toast formula figured out. This is definitely the recipe you’ll want to keep on hand for getting perfect French Toast every time.

Just make sure to read through the tips below, the kind of bread that you use and how you prepare the bread before soaking it makes a major difference in taste, texture, and flavor!

Overhead view of ingredients needed to make Alton Brown's French Toast recipe.

The Best Bread for French Toast

The following breads are ideal for making French Toast, brioche being the top candidate, challah being the second, etc.

It’s always best to purchase a whole, unsliced loaf so that you can cut thick slices at home.

  • Brioche 
  • Challah
  • Pullman Loaf (Sandwich Bread)
  • French Bread

Check out this resource for a visual of each type of bread and for more information on each.

Challah bread slices being dipped into French toast custard on white table next to a bowl of blueberries.

How Thick to Cut French Toast Slices

Bread that is cut into 1-inch slices allows for a crisp, golden-brown outside and a soft and creamy inside. (Which is the ideal consistency for perfect French Toast.)

Syrup being drizzled over a stack of French Toast with blueberries and butter on a white plate.

Use FRESH Bread and BAKE it!

Most recipes call for using stale bread, as it is drier and able to absorb the custard without collapsing and becoming soggy.

While stale bread will work for this reason, the taste will be much better if you use fresh bread and bake it first to dry it out. This will give you the firm consistency you need without compromising taste. (Because what’s better than the taste of freshly baked bread?)

To do this, bake the slices on wire racks at 300°F for 8 minutes on each side to guarantee that it will hold its shape.

A fork cutting into a stack of french toast with blueberries and butter on a white plate.

Make-Ahead Method

This custard can be prepared the night before and refrigerated. 

Instead of baking the bread as mentioned above, you can place the slices of bread on baking sheets in the oven overnight instead. (Without the heat on.) This tends to work well as ovens still give off some residual heat even when they’re off.

A stack of french toast with a fork sitting next to it on a white plate.

Cheers to you, Alton Brown! You make a killer French Toast! (And Guacamole, might I add. 😉)

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Syrup being poured over a stack of Alton Brown's french toast with blueberries.
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Alton Brown's French Toast

Alton Brown's French Toast recipe is deliciously crisp and golden on the outside and soft and creamy inside. It's easy to make and makes the best breakfast or brunch for friends and family!
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 184kcal
Author Stephanie

Ingredients

  • 2 Tablespoons honey
  • ¼ Tsp salt
  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 loaf bread (Brioche, Challah, or Country Loaf)
  • 4 Tablespoons butter
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Before you start:

  • Alton Brown advises to cut your loaf into 8 (1/2 incslices. I much prefer slices 1-inch in size.
  • Your slices are MUCH more likely to hold up well if you bake them on wire racks at 300 degrees F for 8 minutes on each side. If your bread is stale, this isn’t as necessary, but fresh bread has a better taste and can obtain the dry constancy that it needs by baking it.

Making the French Toast:

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Heat the honey for 15 seconds in the microwave. Whisk it in a pie pan with the eggs, salt, and half and half.
  • Place a cooling rack on top of a sheet pan.
  • Dip each side of the bread into the custard, allowing it to absorb for about 10 seconds, (it will hold up well if it’s been baked as noted above.)
  • Place the bread on the cooling rack for 1-2 minutes.
  • Melt 1 Tablespoon of butter in a large pan over low heat.
  • Place 2 slices of bread at a time in the pan and cook each side until golden brown, about 2-3 minutes/side.
  • Remove the bread from the pan and place on the middle rack in the oven for 5 minutes.
  • Repeat for all slices. Serve immediately with syrup, fruit, and/or whipped cream.

Notes

Make-Ahead Method
  • This custard can be prepared the night before and refrigerated.
  • Instead of baking the bread to remove some of the moisture, you can place the slices of bread on baking sheets in the oven overnight instead. (Without the heat on.) This tends to work well as ovens still give off some residual heat even when they're off.

Nutrition

Calories: 184kcal | Carbohydrates: 12g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 153mg | Sodium: 244mg | Potassium: 124mg | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 480IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 82mg | Iron: 1mg

Source: The Food Network

]]> https://thecozycook.com/alton-browns-french-toast/feed/ 6 Copycat IHOP Buttermilk Pancakes https://thecozycook.com/ihop-buttermilk-pancakes/ https://thecozycook.com/ihop-buttermilk-pancakes/#comments Thu, 28 Jun 2018 10:00:06 +0000 https://thecozycook.com/?p=23230 Sweet and fluffy pancakes served with fresh fruit and warm syrup. They taste just like IHOP’s classic buttermilk pancakes, but are even better made at home!

Be sure to try my Copycat Cracker Barrel Hashbrown Casserole recipe next!

A tall stack of buttermilk pancakes topped with diced strawberries with a glass of orange juice in the background.

IHOP’s classic buttermilk pancakes everything that you want a pancake to be.

Light and fluffy, golden on the outside, a little sweet, and easy to make. That’s the whole package right there.

Buttermilk Substitutes

To create a substitute for buttermilk, you’ll need milk and any one of the following: Sour Cream, Plain Yogurt, White Vinegar, or Lemon Juice.

  • 4 tablespoons milk + enough sour cream to make a cup.
  • 2 tablespoons milk + enough plain yogurt to make a cup.
  • 1 tablespoon white vinegar + enough milk to make a cup. Let sit for 5-10 minutes.
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice + enough milk to make a cup. Let sit for 10 minutes. It’ll look curdled. Stir to combine.

A tall stack of pancakes topped with strawberries with syrup being poured on top.

Freezing Pancakes

Pancakes can easily be frozen and enjoyed for breakfast another day!

How To Freeze Pancakes:

  • Place some parchment paper on a baking sheet and line the pancakes on top without touching each other.
  • Place another sheet of parchment on top and freeze for a few hours.
  • Remove them from the freezer and stack them up in a labeled freezer bag.

Reheating Frozen Pancakes

-Oven Method: Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and top with frozen pancakes. Add foil on top of the pancakes and bake at 350 degrees for 10-15 minutes.

-Microwave Method: Heat a stack of frozen pancakes in the microwave for approximately 1 ½- 2 minutes.

How Long are Frozen Pancakes Good for

Frozen pancakes are best if used within 1-2 months.

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Did you make this recipe?! Did the information help you? I would love if you would rate the recipe and leave a comment!

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Copycat IHOP Pancakes

Sweet and fluffy pancakes served with fresh fruit and warm syrup. They taste just like IHOP's classic buttermilk pancakes, but are even better made at home!
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 20 minutes
Servings 4
Calories 290kcal
Author Stephanie

Ingredients

  • 1¼ cups all-purpose flour sifted
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ⅛ teaspoon salt
  • 1 large egg beatened
  • 1¼ cups buttermilk
  • 2 Tablespoons butter melted
  • 3 Tablespoons sugar
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

  • In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until well-combined.
  • In a medium bowl, combine the egg and buttermilk. Pour into the flour mixture and stir. Stir in the melted butter and sugar.
  • Heat a griddle or large, nonstick skillet to medium heat. Coat with butter or nonstick cooking spray. (I prefer butter.)
  • Drop 1/3 cup of batter onto the heated surface. Once the top begins to bubble, wait an additional 30 seconds or so, then flip and cook for an additional 1-2 minutes, until each side is golden brown.
  • Repeat with the remaining batter, reapplying more butter or nonstick spray in between each pancake. You may need to decrease the heat to medium-low about halfway through.
  • Serve with syrup or fresh fruit and enjoy!

Nutrition

Calories: 290kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 64mg | Sodium: 492mg | Potassium: 259mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 360IU | Calcium: 142mg | Iron: 2.1mg

Recipe Source: Life in the Lofthouse

Sweet and fluffy pancakes served with fresh fruit and warm syrup. They taste just like IHOP's classic buttermilk pancakes, but are even better made at home! | The Cozy Cook | #breakfast #brunch #pancakes #ihop #copycat #comfortfood #holidays #butttermilk
]]> https://thecozycook.com/ihop-buttermilk-pancakes/feed/ 2 French Toast Roll-ups with Sausage https://thecozycook.com/french-toast-sausage-roll-ups/ https://thecozycook.com/french-toast-sausage-roll-ups/#comments Thu, 07 Dec 2017 16:50:08 +0000 https://thecozycook.com/?p=21789 These French Toast Roll-ups with sausage are filled with warm, savory sausage that’s in bread, dipped in a classic French toast mixture, and cooked to golden-brown perfection.

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