This recipe is for french toast with a berry compote that is made with cooked blueberries and strawberries. French toast is a dish that is normally served as breakfast, though I love to eat it anytime of day. I especially enjoy having it for brunch if I don’t get time to prepare breakfast. The dish consists of bread dipped in egg and milk which is then pan fried. It is sometimes referred to as eggy bread but what differs French toast from eggy bread is that eggy bread is usually but not always served with savoury foods such as sausages and bacon whereas French toast, again not always but is usually served with sweet foods such as fruit or syrup.
When preparing French toast, vanilla extract and cinnamon is usually added to the milk and egg which is not the case with eggy bread which instead uses salt and black pepper.
French toast is one of my favourite recipes to make. It is such a simple dish but so delicious. This recipe includes includes a blueberry and strawberry compote which makes the French toast a little more special. The blueberries and strawberries are gently heated so their juices are released and forms a rich sweet sauce that complements the French toast. I usually serve the French toast and berry compote with a dash of cream but it is equally delicious without. You can even serve it with a dash of yoghurt or ice-cream.
Bread Options for French Toast with Berry Com
I use brioche bread when making French toast but other breads can be used including:
- French bread
- Sourdough bread
- Ciabatta bread
- Challah bread
- Thick sliced white bread
- Whole-grain bread
- Thick sliced wholemeal bread
Other variations of fruit to serve with French toast
I used blueberries and strawberries to make a compote which complements the French toast and adds sweetness to it but you can top it with any berries of your liking. Other compotes you can make with berries include:
- Raspberries
- Strawberries
- Blackberries
- Cherries
- Mixed berries
Ingredients for French Toast with Berry Compote
For the compote
- 50g blueberries
- 65g strawberries
- 1 whole lemon (squeezed)
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar
For the French toast
- 1 medium egg
- 30ml milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 slices brioche bread
- 15g butter (for cooking)
How to Make French Toast with Berry Compote
1. To make the berry compote, add the blueberries, strawberries, lemon juice and caster sugar to a saucepan and heat gently until the blueberries start to release their juices then simmer for 5 minutes or until the mixture becomes slightly thicker. Remove the compote from the heat and set aside.
2. In a bowl large, whisk together the egg and milk. Add the vanilla extract and ground cinnamon and continue to whisk.
3. Heat a large non-stick frying pan on a low heat and add the butter. While the butter is melting, dip a slice of the bread in the wet mixture, turning to coat both sides. Place the bread in the frying pan and then repeat the process with the other slice of bread.
4. Cook the bread until golden brown on both sides then serve with the prepared berry compote.
Recipe Tips
- You can enjoy French toast without the compote and just add fruits such as bananas, kiwis or sliced peaches. You can also add any berries without making them into a compote and pour a small amount of golden syrup, maple syrup or honey over the fruit.
- I use butter to cook French Toast but you can use any other oil such as olive oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil or any vegetable oil.
- This recipe will work better when the bread is slightly dried out, if the bread is too fresh then it may collapse after it is soaked in the milk and egg batter. If the bread you are using is very fresh, cut the bread slices or remove the bread slices you’re using from the packaging around 1 hour in advance and leave to air dry on a plate.
Nutrition
| Calories | Fat | Saturates | Carbs |
| 467kcal | 23.9g | 11.8g | 50.8g |
| Sugars | Fibre | Protein | Salt |
| 25.9g | 4.8g | 12.8 | 1.06g |
Storage
French toast is best consumed immediately after preparation though you can store prepared french toast in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours and warmed it up in the microwave when ready to serve. It can also be frozen for up to 1 month but I wouldn’t recommend it as the quality will definitely diminish.
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French Toast with Berry Compote
Ingredients
French Toast with Berry Compote
- 50g blueberries
- 65g strawberries
- 1 lemon squeezed
- 1 teaspoon caster sugar
For the French toast
- 1 medium eggs
- 30ml milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 slices brioche bread
- 15g butter for cooking
Instructions
- To make the berry compote, add the blueberries, strawberries, lemon juice and caster sugar to a saucepan and heat gently until the blueberries start to release their juices then simmer for 5 minutes or until the mixture becomes slightly thicker. Remove the compote from the heat and set aside.
- In a bowl large, whisk together the egg and milk. Add the vanilla extract and ground cinnamon and continue to whisk.
- Heat a large non-stick frying pan on a low heat and add the butter. While the butter is melting, dip a slice of the bread in the wet mixture, turning to coat both sides. Place the bread in the frying pan and then repeat the process with the other slice of bread.
- Cook the bread until golden brown on both sides then serve with the prepared berry compote.
Julia
I made this recipe but used raspberries instead. Very nice.