It’s World Egg Month and Egg Farmers of Ontario are celebrating across the province sunny side up! Bloggers around the province were issued with the “French Toast Challenge” by the kind folks at Trillium Corporate Communications to get creative with the queen of breakfasts and brunches – French toast!
I have to be honest here and say that whilst I love the IDEA of French toast, I rarely order it mainly because it’s always so huge that I never finish a portion. When I am out to brunch, I tend to stick to savoury items but always want a little something sweet at the end of the meal. Sadly, it’s hard to order a “small” portion of French toast unless you are under 12 and qualify for the children’s menu. So I got to thinking what would I like to order on a menu and came up with the idea of individual French toast puddings with a sweet surprise of maple-caramelized apples tucked in there amongst the custard and bread.
This recipe is actually just an adaptation of the recipe provided with the blogger challenge kit – a simple French toast topped with the maple-caramelized apples, developed by Dianne McComb, an egg farmer in Lucan, Ontario.
The ingredients are the exact same as you would find in French toast, only it’s baked in small ramekins – no frying involved! That must make it healthy, right? đ
Individual French toast puddings - for when you can't finish a whole plate of French toast!Individual cinnamon spice French toast puddings with maple-caramelized apples
Ingredients
Instructions
Result?
Gorgeous puffy little ramekins with just enough sweetness. These don’t leave you feeling weighed down like regular French toast does!
The maple-caramelized apples are a lovely surprise to find in amongst the bread and custard and I imagine you could do this with pretty much any fruit for a different flavour. If you happen to have different flavoured compotes or jams about, you could use those as well. Or even fresh bananas – the possibilities are endless!
Disclosure: I was provided with a basket of ingredients necessary for preparing French toast. I was not compensated for writing this post and all opinions are 100% my own.
These look fab Mardi. It’s bed time here and now I’m going to dream about these. I’m not sure I’ve ever had French toast, but I am going to have to try this for sure. The sound of maple caramelised apples alone makes me want to head into the kitchen rather than off to sleep!
They are pretty good – you should try them đ
Like you Mardi I’m not a ‘carb’ breakfast food eater. Given the chance I’d always eat savory or protein. This however looks delicious! I love the twist on the French Toast in its traditional form to these darling little dishes and the flavors sound perfect. Think I could even make it gluten free. Really yummy. Tweeted it too! Enjoy your Sunday. Toni
I just need a *little* sweet to end my savoury meal, you know?
Hah..agree w/your <12 y/o & French toast comment.
What maple syrup do you use? I recently ordered a dark amber from dragonfly sugarworks.com in Vermont..
I’m not sure the brand I used this time – it was provided for me in a plain jar. We usually just buy the best quality we can find – it lasts so long in our house! A maple syrup from Vermont sounds wonderful!
I think any Grade A from Quebec or Vermont would be splendid…and Ontario, to a lesser degree.
Thanks for both of your responses, I appreciate it đ
These look quite delectable and good enough to have as dessert! I love how you have them in individual ramekins. A great idea for serving guests or even at a brunch.
Breakfast, dessert or anytime!
This looks amazing although I think I could just eat the maple caramelized apples! What a wonderful fall dish!
Yes the apples are a little addictive.
Wow…I so want one of these. đ
They are pretty good đ
Oh, my! How great would these be at a holiday brunch buffet?
This would make any brunch wonderful and decadent!
Oh wow. I’ve been dying for good french toast, and frankly, I get lazy about frying it up. I love that you can just pop these cuties in the oven!
Yes they save a lot of washing up too!
How amusing _ was away this weekend, and in fact on the breakfast buffet table there was French toast. Which of course, I had.
Love it – but Mardi’s right, the “North American portion” issue is a tough one to deal with… đ
We’ll make them again!
I love the idea of these individual french toast servings and the addition of the apple is wonderful. We just had guests for brunch on Saturday and if I this was posted earlier, I’m pretty sure I would have made some of these. Saving for next time we have guests or the next time the grand-kids are here as they have my cinnamon french toast at least one day over the weekends. They’d get a kick out of having their own little ramekins.
I love having my own little serves of things đ
I love the idea these came from. Thinking about a plate full of paperback sized French toast is definitely daunting, but a more modest bite along with a few other items is definitely more my style too!
These will be perfect in the middle of winter when have got plenty of time to make breakfast and the rest of the fam isn’t even up yet.
Jason
Yes they are the perfect lazy morning breakfast!
These sound amazing, I think I’m going to have to try these.
Mardi, I made them! They are excellent, I love them!
That is awesome Lisa – so glad you enjoyed!
YUM, Mardi! These look fabulous! Congrats on the Top 9 today~
Thanks!
These look so pretty, and sound *so* delicious. Amusingly, the first time I encountered French toast was when I moved to the United States from Europe, but I think it’s a grand invention. đ
It’s a pretty dangerous invention!
These look fantastic! Can I have mine with a serving of crispy bacon? I don’t order french toast much either, although my reason isn’t that I can’t finish the order. It’s just a calorie thing, mainly, that and the fact that I’d want the bacon with it, which would mean even more insanity. But I would love to try this recipe. And yes, it could be the dessert to my savory breakfast.
See – this ISN’T fried so it’s less calorific. And yes, you could have a side of bacon. That’s exactly how I would serve it!
Ok… This is just brilliant. Suddenly the small yogurt I had for breakfast just doesn’t seem adequate. I can’t wait to try this recipe, Mardi… Really lovely!
I was pretty pleased they worked out!
This would make me a very happy girl in the morning! These are cute and they sound delicious.
Yes I could eat these most mornings too!
what a cute little idea. and no frying is even better
I know, right?