Chocolate French Toast is the ultimate dessert for breakfast! With just the right amount of sweetness, richness, and those irresistible slightly crisp caramelized edges, it’s a perfect treat for any chocoholic, any day of the week. This recipe transforms a classic into something truly special.
❤️ Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Chocoholic’s Dream – Just enough chocolate to satisfy your cravings without being overly sweet, making it perfect for a decadent weekend breakfast.
- Perfect Texture – Using extra thick slices of brioche bread results in French toast that’s wonderfully crisp on the outside and light, almost custardy, on the inside. YUM!
- Surprisingly Easy – Like any French toast recipe, it’s straightforward, with a few clever tricks to ensure perfection.
- Visually Appealing – Who could resist the beautiful contrast of dark chocolate toast dusted with powdered sugar and vibrant red strawberries? It’s a feast for the eyes!
- Versatile & Customizable – Easily adaptable to your preferred bread type and thickness, making it a flexible recipe for any kitchen.
🛠 Tools You’ll Need
- Large bowl (for egg mixture) 🥣
- Large baking dish (for soaking bread)
- Very large nonstick skillet or griddle 🍳
- Spatula or tongs
- Baking pan (for keeping warm)
- Whisk
- Measuring cups & spoons 📏
🥄 Key Ingredients
- Granulated sugar – For sweetness in the egg mixture.
- Unsweetened cocoa powder – The star for that rich chocolate flavor. 🍫
- Fine sea salt – Balances the sweetness.
- Milk – Forms the base of the custard.
- Large eggs – Binds the custard and creates a rich texture. 🥚
- Pure vanilla extract – Enhances all the flavors. 🌿
- Challah or brioche bread – Best when cut into thick slices for optimal texture. 🍞
- Unsalted butter – For cooking, adds richness. 🧈
- Vegetable oil – The secret ingredient for crisp, caramelized edges. 🌻
- Confectioners’ sugar (optional) – For dusting and a beautiful finish. ✨
- Fresh strawberries, sliced (optional) – For garnish and a burst of freshness. 🍓
- Maple syrup (optional) – For serving, if desired. 🍁
🍪 How to Make Chocolate French Toast
- Prepare Custard 🥣
In a large bowl, whisk together granulated sugar, unsweetened cocoa powder, sea salt, and about half of the milk until a lump-free paste forms. Add the remaining milk, eggs, and vanilla extract, and beat until well combined. - Soak Bread 🍞
Transfer the custard mixture to a large baking dish. Add the thick slices of challah or brioche bread, turning to coat completely. Let the bread soak for 5 minutes to absorb the rich chocolate custard. - Cook French Toast 🔥
Heat 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter and 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a very large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Add as many soaked bread pieces as will fit without crowding the pan. Cook for about 3 minutes per side, or until browned and lightly crisp. Be careful, as the chocolate and sugar can cause it to burn quickly! - Keep Warm & Repeat ⏱️
Transfer the cooked French toast to a baking pan and keep warm in a 200°F (93°C) oven while you repeat the cooking process with the remaining bread slices. - Serve 🍓🍁
Dust with confectioners’ sugar, if desired, and serve immediately with fresh strawberry slices and a drizzle of maple syrup.
💡 Tips for Success
- The Butter & Oil Trick – The secret to perfectly crisp and caramelized French toast is using both butter AND vegetable oil for cooking.
- Watch Carefully – Due to the sugar and chocolate in the custard, this French toast can go from perfect to burnt very quickly.
- Thick Slices are Best – For the best texture – crisp outside and custardy inside – use really thick slices of rich, eggy bread like challah or brioche.
- Keep Warm – If making a large batch, keep the cooked French toast warm in a 200°F oven until ready to serve.
🆘 French Toast Troubleshooting Guide
Problem: My French toast is burnt on the outside, raw on the inside.
- Likely Cause: Heat is too high, or not enough fat in the pan.
- Solution: Reduce the heat to medium or medium-low. Ensure you have enough butter and oil in the pan. The goal is a gentle sizzle, not a rapid fry. Cook longer at a lower temperature.
Problem: My French toast is soggy.
- Likely Cause: Bread soaked too long, or not enough heat in the pan.
- Solution: Ensure you only soak the bread for 5 minutes. Preheat the pan properly so the bread crisps instead of absorbing fat.
Problem: The chocolate flavor isn’t strong enough.
- Likely Cause: Not enough cocoa powder, or quality of cocoa powder.
- Solution: Use unsweetened cocoa powder, try dark cocoa powder, or add a pinch of espresso powder to boost chocolate flavor.
👩🍳 Pro Chef Tips
- Overnight Soak – For an even more custardy interior, prepare the custard and soak the bread overnight in the refrigerator.
- Flavor Boost – Add a pinch of cinnamon or a dash of orange zest in the custard to complement the chocolate.
- Serving Suggestions – Try toppings like whipped cream, chocolate shavings, or vanilla ice cream for extra indulgence.
☕ Perfect Pairings
- Coffee – A strong cup of coffee or a creamy latte balances sweetness.
- Milk – A cold glass of milk is classic and comforting.
- Hot Chocolate – For ultimate chocoholics, pair with rich hot chocolate.
- Fresh Fruit Juice – Orange juice or berry smoothie adds refreshing contrast.
📦 How to Store
- Best Fresh – French toast is best enjoyed immediately after cooking.
- Reheating – Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2–3 days. Reheat in toaster, oven, or skillet to regain crispness.
📌 More Recipes You’ll Love
- Snickerdoodle Cheesecake Bars: The Ultimate Triple Threat Dessert 🎉🍪🍰
- Quick & Moist 4 Ingredient Banana Bread: So Tender and Delicious
- Banana Bread Brownies with Brown Butter Frosting
- Fluffy Banana Pancakes: The Irresistible Breakfast Treat You Can’t Miss
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🍫🍞 Chocolate French Toast: The Ultimate Dessert for Breakfast!
Description
Chocolate French Toast is the ultimate dessert for breakfast, offering a perfect balance of sweetness and richness with slightly crisp, caramelized edges. Ideal for chocoholics, it’s an easy-to-make, fun, and sinful twist on classic French toast.
Ingredients
Instructions
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In a large bowl, whisk together sugar, cocoa powder, salt, and half the milk until lump-free. Add remaining milk, eggs, and vanilla; beat until combined. Transfer to baking dish, add bread slices, and soak 5 minutes.
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Heat 1 tbsp butter + 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook soaked bread 3 minutes per side until browned and crisp. Transfer to baking pan, keep warm in 90 °C oven, and repeat.
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Dust with confectioners’ sugar, add strawberries, and drizzle maple syrup before serving.
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