Ice Cream French Toast (Printable)

Rich custardy French toast with caramelized edges featuring melted ice cream in the custard base.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 8 slices thick-cut bread, such as brioche or challah, slightly stale

→ Custard

02 - 2 cups premium ice cream (vanilla or preferred flavor), melted
03 - 2 large eggs
04 - 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
05 - 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (optional)
06 - Pinch of salt

→ For Cooking

07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

→ To Serve (optional)

08 - Maple syrup
09 - Fresh berries
10 - Powdered sugar

# Directions:

01 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together melted ice cream, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and fully combined.
02 - Preheat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat and melt 1 tablespoon of butter.
03 - Dip each slice of bread into the custard mixture, soaking for 10 to 15 seconds on each side, then allow excess to drip off.
04 - Place soaked bread slices onto the skillet and cook for 2 to 3 minutes per side until golden brown and caramelized, adding more butter as necessary for remaining batches.
05 - Transfer cooked slices to a wire rack or serving plate to maintain crispness. Repeat soaking and cooking with remaining bread.
06 - Serve warm, topped with maple syrup, fresh berries, and a light dusting of powdered sugar as desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The melted ice cream creates a richer, creamier custard than eggs alone ever could.
  • Your kitchen smells like a dessert café while breakfast cooks.
  • It feels fancy enough to impress guests but takes less than 30 minutes.
02 -
  • Slightly stale bread is non-negotiable—fresh, soft bread will absorb too much custard and turn into pudding instead of staying structured.
  • Don't skimp on the butter in the pan; it's what creates those caramelized edges that make this better than regular French toast.
03 -
  • Let the melted ice cream cool slightly before whisking it with eggs, or you risk scrambling them.
  • If your ice cream is too soft or melted, chill the custard mixture for 5 minutes before dipping—it'll coat the bread better.
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