Sheet Pan

PB&J French Toast

May 19, 2011
4
2 Ratings
  • Serves 2
Author Notes

This recipe originally came from a kid's cookbook I had when I was young. It's the only thing I remember making from the cookbook, but I've made it several times a year since I learned how. I don't have any idea where that cookbook is, and the recipe has been tweaked over the years. I think I finally have it perfected! —hardlikearmour

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • 4 slices good quality sandwich bread or challah, cut ½-inch thick
  • ¾ cup whole milk, warmed to 90-ish degrees
  • 2 large egg yolks, room temperature
  • 1 tablespoon sugar
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, melted
  • ¼ teaspoon table salt
  • 2 t vanilla extract
  • 3 to 4 tablespoons peanut butter
  • 1 tablespoon unsalted butter (for skillet)
  • jam or jelly for serving
Directions
  1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 250 degrees. Place bread on wire rack set on baking sheet. Bake bread until almost dry (the bread should still have a little “give” when pressed lightly), about 20 minutes, flipping slices after 10 minutes. Remove bread from rack and let cool 5 to 10 minutes.
  2. Combine milk, yolks, sugar, melted butter, salt, and vanilla in large bowl and whisk until well blended. Transfer mixture to a pie plate or other flat-bottomed dish.
  3. Make peanut butter sandwiches by spreading 1 ½ to 2 tablespoons peanut butter per sandwich. Do not use jam or jelly at this point as it tends to make the final dish too soggy.
  4. Soak first sandwich in milk mixture until saturated about 30 to 35 seconds per side. Using slotted spatula, pick up sandwich and allow excess milk mixture to drain; repeat with second sandwich. Set sandwiches aside on a clean pan or plate.
  5. Heat 1 tablespoon butter in 12-inch skillet over medium-low heat. When foaming subsides, use slotted spatula to transfer sandwiches to skillet and cook until golden brown, 6 to 7 minutes per side. (If sandwiches are cooking too quickly, reduce temperature slightly.) Serve immediately with a large dollop of jam or jelly on top.
  6. Cooks Note: If you want to double or triple the recipe, either cook the french toast on a griddle pan or electric griddle or keep warm on a cooling rack set over a sheet pan in a 200º oven if cooked in batches.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

  • Niknud
    Niknud
  • boulangere
    boulangere
  • lapadia
    lapadia
  • aargersi
    aargersi
  • AntoniaJames
    AntoniaJames
I am an amateur baker and cake decorator. I enjoy cooking, as well as eating and feeding others. I live in the beautiful Pacific Northwest with my husband and our menagerie. I enjoy outdoor activities including hiking, mushroom hunting, tide pooling, beach combing, and snowboarding.

13 Reviews

Niknud May 26, 2015
I will totally pull ahead in the race for Most Favorite Parent when I make these!
 
boulangere November 20, 2011
My daughter could live on pasta and French toast. I'm sending this to her right now.
 
hardlikearmour November 21, 2011
Thanks, boulangere! It's a pretty yummy version of French toast.
 
LydiaPW November 21, 2011
I actually do live off of pasta and French toast. This sounds fantastic.
 
hardlikearmour November 22, 2011
It's a fun dish for me - very nostalgic! The peanut butter really makes it keep me full a long time, too.
 
lapadia November 20, 2011
"O" !!!
 
hardlikearmour November 20, 2011
LOL!
 
boulangere November 20, 2011
Ditto!
 
lapadia November 20, 2011
:) !!!
 
aargersi November 19, 2011
Yum! PB&J and French Toast both - sounds fabulous
 
hardlikearmour November 19, 2011
Thanks, aargersi! My husband probably eats 3 or more PB&J sandwiches a week, and I love French toast, so it's perfect for us.
 
AntoniaJames May 23, 2011
Yummm. I'd eat this for dinner! Love it. ;o)
 
hardlikearmour May 23, 2011
Thanks, AJ! I'm a big fan of breakfast for dinner.