Serves a Crowd

Brioche French Toast w/ Cream Cheese and (Sour) Cherry Compote

by:
May 17, 2010
3.5
2 Ratings
Brioche French Toast w/ Cream Cheese and (Sour) Cherry Compote
  • Serves 4
Author Notes

Last night as I was out to dinner with friends, the subject of compotes came up and as you would have it, out of the blue -- one of my friends began describing the most amazing cherry compote she had tasted which was mixed with cream cheese. Of course, this got me to thinking and this morning I woke up (obsessive-food-maniac-that-I-am) with this recipe swirling in my head...=) Afternote: Per Bon Apetite's "French Toast Tips" featured this week on Food52 -- you can also "soak the bread overnight in the fridge so it can sop up the egg and milk mixture. Arrange the bread slices in a shallow baking dish in a single layer, and be sure to turn the bread at least once."

Read More http://www.bonappetit.com... - coffeefoodwritergirl
—coffeefoodwrite

Test Kitchen Notes

This rich, eggy French toast is very decadent. The little bit of cream cheese and cherry compote are great toppings with well-balanced sweet and tart flavors. I'd make it for a special weekend breakfast. - Stephanie —The Editors

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • for the French toast:
  • 2 Brioche buns – sliced about 1 inch thick
  • 6 eggs
  • a capful of vanilla extract
  • seeds from 1/2 a vanilla bean - scraped out (optional)
  • 1/2 teaspoon sugar
  • splash of heavy cream
  • Butter for sautéing.
  • for the cream cheese mixture:
  • 8 ounces cream cheese
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • zest from one-half a lemon
  • for the (sour) cherries:
  • 1 pound sour or regular cherries – pitted
  • ¼ cup sugar (1/2 cup if using sour cherries)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice (omit if using sour cherries)
  • 1 cup water
Directions
  1. Place (sour) cherries in saucepan with sugar, water and lemon juice. Cook down for 45 minutes until cherries are softened – adding more water if necessary – you should have a nice reduced cherry compote, with sauce that is thickened around it.
  2. Whip cream cheese w/ honey and lemon zest until light and fluffy. Set aside.
  3. Whisk together eggs, vanilla, vanilla bean seeds (if using), sugar and heavy cream in medium bowl. Pour into shallow dish. Dip brioche slices into egg until well coated. Heat butter in skillet or griddle until drop of water splashed in immediately sizzles and then disappears. When griddle/pan is ready, place brioche French toast in pan and sauté until golden brown. Flip and griddle other side as well.
  4. Remove to plate and place a dollop of cream cheese and a spoonful of compote on each brioche. Enjoy!
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8 Reviews

testkitchenette
testkitchenette May 18, 2010
I love the sweet and sour profiles coming together in this along with the hot and cold...sort of like cold gelato on a hot brioche bun. I dream of food too and have to keep a pen with paper by the bed to write stuff down and yes, normal.
 
coffeefoodwrite
coffeefoodwrite May 18, 2010
I do the same, pen and pencil by the bed....I think my favorite meal is breakfast -- croissant and espresso -- though lunch is an exciting time to experiment with salads...and well, there is dinner...ha!
 
ShowFoodChef
ShowFoodChef May 17, 2010
I'm new to this, but I already LOVE how we all leave cool comments on each other's. Cherries are my fav and your pic looks so delish, I almost feel the warmth!
 
coffeefoodwrite
coffeefoodwrite May 17, 2010
Thanks ShowFoodChef, I took it while it was still steaming (and had to eat some before dinner -- we are having it for dessert!)
 
dymnyno
dymnyno May 17, 2010
This sounds soooo good !!! and the pic is not half bad either! I wish I could reach out and grab it now.
 
coffeefoodwrite
coffeefoodwrite May 17, 2010
Glad you liked it!
 
mrslarkin
mrslarkin May 17, 2010
This sounds yummy! I'm glad I'm not the only one who wakes up thinking about food. (and goes to bed thinking about food - and dreams about food - that's not weird, right?)
 
coffeefoodwrite
coffeefoodwrite May 17, 2010
No....perfectly normal!