This may come as a surprise to some of you…or maybe not at all…but I’m not a rich lady. I mean, I’m rich in a lot of ways – I have a boyfriend who I love, great friends, I’m happy, and I get to create this blog for a living – but I’m not rich in the actual ‘money in the bank’ sense of the word. I’m working on it, but that’s my life, I’m 25 and I’m fine with it. In the meantime, I just keep cooking non-waffle things in a waffle iron, buying food-themed hats, and listening to Hollaback Girl on repeat. It’s not a bad life.
Which brings me to this AWESOME French toast recipe. As I’m sure you all know Panettone is the Italian Christmas bread. What that means is that now, early January, is the absolute perfect time to go and snag yourself one from the local Italian deli at a bargain price! This is the kind of food-scab thinking that I engage in all the time. Before Christmas, and up until the end of December these bad boys are expensive. But they’re delicious. So although I long to get my hands on one, my fingers are too busy pinching pennies.
So I bide my time, thinking of the luscious buttery texture, the juicy dried fruits and candied peel, the fragrant vanilla-citrus scent, and I wait until the stores pile them high and drop the price. And then I swoop in and pick up a deal. And then once I’ve eaten the first one, just by the slice with my coffee in the morning, I start scheming about what to do with the second one.
Now, panettone French toast is not an original idea. But it is a great idea. And cooking it in a waffle iron is an even greater idea, if I do say so myself. First of all, the round slices just fit into my iron so perfectly, it’s very geometrically satisfying. But perhaps more importantly, it makes for very good French toast. The waffle iron maximises the amount of butter-browned edges that you get, and cooks the soaked bread evenly and quickly, making for a browned, but not overcooked, and certainly not under-cooked French toast experience. Is there anything worse than undercooked French Toast? Yes, certainly, but it’s still pretty bad.
I served my waffle-browned beautiful discs of happiness with sliced white peaches and a splash of maple syrup. The mint sprigs look pretty, and add a fresh liveliness to the dish. Breakfast? Dessert? Brunch? Midnight snack? Whenever you eat this, it’s going to be delicious. Nothing tastes sweeter than a maple-soaked bargain!
xx Sarah.
- 4x2cm (1in) thick, round slices of Panettone
- 3 eggs
- 1 cup (250ml) milk
- butter, to cook
- fruit, mint and maple syrup to serve
- To get the round slices of panettone, remove the paper wrapping, and lay it on its side. Using a serrated bread knife, gently slice 2cm/1in thick rounds, being careful not to squash the loaf.
- In a wide, shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs and milk. No sugar is necessary, as the bread is sweet enough.
- Preheat the waffle iron to a medium-high setting (that's 4 out of 6 on my Cuisinart) and brush with a little butter.
- Quickly dunk a slice of panettone into the egg mix, flip and dunk the other side, and then hold up to drain. You need to be quick, as it is SUPER absorbent and will get too soggy very quickly.
- Place the panettone into the waffle machine, and close the lid, but don't press down. Just sit it on top of the waffle, gently - the weight of the lid will be enough.
- Cook until dark golden brown.
- Repeat with the remaining slices, and serve with fruit, mint and maple syrup!
this sounds like a foolproof way to make sure there’s no mushy, grossly gooey french toast, yay! but if you ever find yourself with that problem, try toasting it- the edges get crispy, and the middle cooks through a little more. also, jealous of the peaches- i could go for some summer fruit right about now, sigh.
Totally! No weird, gushy middles here! xx
Love this idea! I’m off to scrounge up another panettone at a local shop tomorrow!
Yasss! That’s what I love to hear!
This is awesome! We still have 1 panettone left and now I know what to do. And you’re definitely rich. especially when you have people that care so much about you.
Couldn’t agree more Linda! <3
This is post-Christmas blues happiness-inducing breakfast! Also “maximises the amount of butter-browned edges” <—- we ALL need more butter-browned edges in our life in 2016. Yes Sarah, yes.
How is it that your comments always totally make my day? xx
This is so true and just like me! I was doing my online supermarket shopping yesterday and spent a lot of time trying to justify buying a jar of mincemeat that had been reduced to 50p in the hope it would still be in date for Christmas 2016!
This is a brilliant idea and makes me even more envious about the fact that I dont have a waffle iron. my already full kitchen cannot cope with more equipment!
Haha, waffle irons are so fun! I feel your pain about having no space…also, on the mincemeat, could you freeze it, maybe? I would totally do that.xx
Girl, you are blowing my mind!
This is such a fabulous way to use up panettone! I always see it at the grocery store in December but haven’t tried it yet. FOR SHAME!
When I was in Baking school we made 100s and 100s of panettone loaves for the holidays. It was delightful. It’s not even my favourite baked treat – it was the smell! Deck ovens packed with fruit scented bread? It doesn’t get any better.
Except for waffles, of course.
It does smell AMAZING, doesn’t it? All the butter and citrus and vanilla….would buy a panettone scented candle fo sho. xx
This makes me want to waffle urrything.
Then my work here is done. xx
This is brilliant I have two panettone that need using up I was going to make a bread pudding but I may try this xxx
One of each! xx
OMG have to make a mad dash to the store and see if there is any of them left, so I can hord one or more up!!!
I need more panettone in my life. And pink on polka dots!!
I’m obsessed with panettone this year! I bought three of them! xx
What waffle iron do you use? I’d love to own one but can’t find one that looks good at a decent price!
Hi George, I use a small, round Cuisinart brand waffle maker, which I paid about $50 for, I think (that’s Aussie dollars). It’s not the most amazing waffle iron, but it does the job and was worth the money I think! xx
WAFFLE FRENCH TOAST?? I must try that immediately. Love the idea of using panettone too :)
Waffle anything and everything, I reckon!x
I will also waffle anything!!! This looks just stunning lady x