French toast is a popular breakfast dish that is enjoyed by people of all ages. It is a simple yet delicious recipe that can be made at home with just a few ingredients. If you’ve ever been to Cracker Barrel, you know that they serve some of the best French toast around. But did you know that you can easily recreate their delicious recipe in the comfort of your own kitchen? In this article, we will show you how to make French toast like Cracker Barrel with a homemade recipe that is sure to impress your family and friends.
Gather the ingredients
The first step in making French toast like Cracker Barrel is to gather all the necessary ingredients. You will need:
1. Bread: Cracker Barrel uses thick slices of Texas toast for their French toast. You can find this type of bread in most grocery stores, or you can use any thick-sliced bread of your choice.
2. Eggs: You will need eggs to make the custard mixture that the bread will be dipped into. Use fresh eggs for the best results.
3. Milk: Milk will be added to the custard mixture to give the French toast a rich and creamy texture. Whole milk or 2% milk works best for this recipe.
4. Vanilla extract: Vanilla extract adds a hint of sweetness and enhances the flavor of the French toast. Use pure vanilla extract for the best results.
5. Cinnamon: Cinnamon is a key ingredient in Cracker Barrel’s French toast recipe. It adds warmth and a delicious aroma to the dish.
6. Salt: A pinch of salt will balance out the sweetness and enhance the flavors of the other ingredients.
Prepare the custard mixture
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until well combined. Make sure to beat the eggs well to ensure a smooth and creamy custard mixture. Set the mixture aside while you prepare the bread.
Dip the bread
Heat a non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat. While the pan is heating, dip each slice of bread into the custard mixture. Make sure to coat both sides of the bread evenly, allowing it to soak up the mixture for a few seconds on each side.
Cook the French toast
Once the bread is coated with the custard mixture, place it onto the preheated skillet or griddle. Cook the French toast for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until golden brown and crispy. Make sure to flip the bread carefully to prevent it from tearing.
Add a touch of butter
To add extra flavor and richness to the French toast, you can melt a small pat of butter on the skillet or griddle before cooking each slice. This will give the French toast a delicious, buttery crust.
Serve and enjoy
Once all the slices of French toast are cooked to perfection, remove them from the skillet or griddle and transfer them to a serving plate. You can serve the French toast with a drizzle of maple syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, or a dollop of whipped cream. Cracker Barrel also serves their French toast with a side of fresh berries, so feel free to add some berries for an extra burst of fruity flavor.
Tips and variations
Here are a few tips and variations to make your French toast like Cracker Barrel even more delicious:
1. Use stale bread: If your bread is too fresh and soft, it may become soggy when soaked in the custard mixture. To prevent this, use slightly stale bread or leave the bread slices out overnight to dry them out.
2. Add a splash of cream: For an extra indulgent French toast, substitute some of the milk with heavy cream. This will give the French toast a rich and decadent flavor.
3. Try different spices: While cinnamon is the classic spice used in French toast, you can experiment with other spices such as nutmeg or cardamom to add a unique twist to the dish.
4. Make it ahead of time: If you want to save time in the morning, you can prepare the custard mixture the night before and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, simply dip the bread in the custard mixture and cook as usual.
Conclusion
Making French toast like Cracker Barrel is a simple and delicious way to start your morning. With just a few ingredients and some basic cooking techniques, you can recreate the taste of Cracker Barrel’s delicious French toast in the comfort of your own kitchen. So why not give this homemade recipe a try? Your family and friends are sure to be impressed with your culinary skills, and your taste buds will thank you for the delicious breakfast treat.