Take your brunch to the next level with this quick and tasty Cranberry Walnut French Toast. The occasional bite of tart cranberry and crunch of earthy walnuts drizzled in sweet maple syrup… it's a pretty perfect combination. I mean, is there anything more enjoyable than a large and delicious breakfast that is enjoyed with good company and a cup of coffee? I love it.
Why I Love This
- Fancy without the Fuss: You can have that amazing looking and tasting breakfast right in your own kitchen! Because all the amazing flavors are in the bread, there's no fussy prep work or extensive amounts of ingredients to make this a "special" breakfast. Just grab your amazing bread and get cooking!
- Prep Ahead of Time: You can make the bread ahead of time which enables you to get right to cooking first thing in the morning.
- Perfectly Balanced: Sometimes french toast can just be sweet and more sweet. But this Cranberry Walnut French Toast is perfectly balanced with the tangy craisins and earthy walnuts against the warm maple syrup.
This was inspired by my cranberry walnut bread recipe on this site. Need another breakfast option? Try my Pumpkin Cottage Cheese Pancakes!
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Ingredients
- Cranberry Walnut Bread: This is what makes this french toast so special and the convenience of being able to make the bread ahead of time makes this a delicious meal that is quick and easy to prep.
- Eggs: This is what makes french toast what it is. Some people like to mix a little milk or cream with their eggs, but I like to keep it purely eggs to give the best coating on the bread.
- Cinnamon: The bread already has cinnamon in it but I add a little extra to the egg mixture for that extra flavor.
- Nutmeg: This adds a touch of depth and warmth to the french toast making it that much more a comfort food.
- Butter or canola oil (something like Pam works too): Oil is used for frying the bread in the skillet so that it doesn't stick. I would avoid oils like olive, peanut or sesame that either can't handle high heat and/or have a strong flavor. I recommend butter, canola or vegetable oil.
See recipe card for quantities.
Suggested toppings: This is a list of ideas for toppings you could use for the Cranberry Walnut French Toast. I don't suggest fruity or really sugary syrups as they can take away from the flavor of the bread. More subtle and natural toppings allow the flavors of the bread to really shine. These are my suggestions:
- Butter
- Maple Syrup
- Whipped Cream
- Canned or fresh peaches
- Fresh raspberries and blueberries
Instructions
Step 1: Slice the bread in ¼ inch slices.
In a flat-bottom dish, like a pie plate, whisk together the eggs and spices until the eggs are thoroughly beaten.
Heat skillet over medium-low heat and grease with a small amount of butter or desired cooking oil.
Step 2: Place a slice of bread in the egg mixture and allow it to sit for about 15 seconds. Flip it over and repeat.
Quickly place the slice of bread in the hot skillet. Let it cook for 2-3 minutes or until the egg mixture is slightly browned.* (See hint at the bottom)
Step 3: Spoon a little extra egg mixture and spread it out onto the top of the slice of bread and then flip over. This allows you to have a nice egg coating on both sides. Cook it for about 2 minutes or until the egg mixture slightly browns.
Repeat with all bread slices
Step 4: Serve hot with butter and maple syrup, whipped cream and fresh berries or your choice of toppings.
Hint: Use your ladle to lift the corner of the bread and check how brown it is to see if your French toast is cooked. Doing so won't disturb the cooking process. If it seems too white still, give it a little more time. I love a long thin ladle as it has a little bend in it making it great for flipping eggs, bread or pancakes in a skillet.
Substitutions
- Gluten Free - see the substitutions portion of the Cranberry Walnut Bread recipe for how to make this bread and therefore the french toast, gluten free.
- Dairy Free - the bread has no dairy in it so the only thing you need to worry about is the cooking oil you use and the butter alternative for topping the Cranberry Walnut French Toast should you choose to use one. You can also find dairy free whipped creams if you still desire that luxurious touch.
Variations
The variations for the Cranberry Walnut French Toast really come in the toppings. Let me give you a few of my favorite combinations.
- Classic - There is just nothing quite like butter and maple syrup. It's warm, delicious and soothing to the soul. I recommend using real maple syrup, not pancake syrup.
- Berries and Whipped Cream - Depending on the time of year you can do fresh or frozen berries. I love raspberries, blueberries and strawberries. I would recommend whipping your own whipped cream to keep it from getting too sweet which can take away from the flavors in the bread. For an extra touch, drizzle (just a bit!) of maple syrup over the whipped cream and berries.
- Nutella and Bananas - This one is on the sweeter side but the nutty flavor of the chocolate spread goes so well with the earthy flavors already present in the bread and the bananas. It's a natural match in my mind!
See this Pumpkin Cottage Cheese Pancake recipe on my website for another great brunch idea!
Equipment
As always, I recommend using a cast iron skillet for this recipe. I love a raw cast iron as it adds more flavor to whatever you are cooking and is easy to clean afterwards. An enameled cast iron skillet can work as well, although you may find you need a little extra cooking oil to avoid sticking. A non-stick or other skillet can work fine as well.
Storage
The first few days: Store leftover Cranberry Walnut French Toast slices in an airtight container or bag in the fridge for up to three days. See reheating instructions below.
Freezing: You can freeze leftovers in an airtight container for up to a month. To thaw simply leave on the counter for an hour or two. See reheating instructions below.
Reheating: My favorite way to reheat this Cranberry Walnut French Toast is in the toaster. It keeps it from getting soggy and makes it feel like it's fresh from the skillet again. Toast for a minute or two until you achieve the desired crispness.
Top Tips
- Slice the bread thin, about ¼" thick to avoid dry and stiff french toast.
- Allow the bread to sit in the egg mixture for about 15 seconds per side so that it can soak up some of the egg mixture. This helps to soften the bread. But, don't allow it to soak too much longer otherwise you cross the threshold of having nice soft bread to having soggy, wet bread.
- Keep the temperature of the skillet on medium-low to medium heat. Having your skillet too hot will cause the outside to cook too quickly and not give the center time to warm and soften.
FAQ
No you do not. Any skillet will do. I prefer raw cast iron for this recipe because it adds flavor and crisps the edges of the french toast in a way no other skillet can.
No you do not! You can follow this method using any bread you choose - it just won't be cranberry walnut but will still be a delicious breakfast!
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Print
Cranberry Walnut French Toast
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 pieces 1x
Description
Is there anything more enjoyable than a large and delicious brunch that is enjoyed with good company and a cup of coffee? I love it. This Cranberry Walnut French Toast is the perfect way to elevate your breakfast experience. The occasional bite of tart cranberry and crunch of earthy walnuts drizzled in sweet maple syrup... it's a pretty perfect combination.
Ingredients
4 slices Cranberry Walnut Bread
3 eggs
½ teaspoon cinnamon
⅛ teaspoon nutmeg
3 tablespoons unsalted butter (or desired frying oil)
Desired toppings: maple syrup, whipped cream, jarred peaches, fresh raspberries and blueberries
Instructions
- Slice the bread in ¼ inch slices.
- In a flat bottom pan, like a pie plate, whisk together the eggs and spices until eggs are thoroughly beaten.
- Heat skillet over medium-low heat and grease with a small amount of butter or desired cooking oil.*
- Place a slice of bread in the egg mixture and allow it to sit for about 15 seconds. Flip it over and repeat.
- Quickly place the slice of bread in the hot skillet. Allow it to cook for 2-3 minutes or until the egg mixture is slightly browned.*
- Spoon a little extra egg mixture and spread it out onto the top of the slice of bread and then flip it over. This allows you to have a nice egg coating on both sides. Allow it to cook for about 2 minutes or until the egg mixture is slightly browned. Repeat with all bread slices.
- Serve hot with butter and maple syrup or your choice of toppings.
*All nutritional information is an estimation only. Exact nutritional value depends on exact amounts and ingredients used.
Notes
Keep the temperature of the skillet on medium-low to medium heat. Having your skillet too hot will cause the outside to cook too quickly and not give the center time to warm and soften.
You can check if your french toast is cooked by using your ladle to lift the corner of the bread to see how brown it is. Doing so won't disturb the cooking process. If it seems too white still, give it a little more time.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10-15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Jenice Wallace says
Such an easy way to elevate your breakfast and use up leftover bread! It makes brunch special with no extra effort and is the perfect dish for a holiday breakfast!