Cashew Crusted French Toast with Cherry Compote
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Do you ever feel compelled to ask someone to join you at dinner if you see them sitting at a restaurant eating by themselves? Do they look sad, or is that your guilt talking? I’m just curious, because I think I’m one of the only weirdos that actually enjoys eating alone at restaurants. Seriously. I actually throughly enjoy it. The first time I ate alone in a restaurant was in Georgetown at Pizza Paradiso after hours of meandering through all of the best tourist spots in DC, and devouring at Georgetown cupcake right at the counter much to the surprise of the poor kid behind the register. A box? Please kid, give it to me straight. Who do you think you’re talking to? But I needed more. And then I needed pizza. So for two hours I sat right at the open window with the whole restaurant to myself, with a pizza, a beer, a book and Georgetown walking by. Bliss! Ben says “Wow, that’s awkward”. Not at all! And I did it again after I came home from my latest trip to Portland on Mother’s Day weekend. The rest of the troupe was having an obligatory Mother’s Day breakfast and I was released from my duties of Celebrate The Mom’s to explore Portland on my own and did I ever! Stumbling into a new restaurant, Irving St. Kitchen, I grabbed a paper, ordered a mimosa and read away the morning learning far too much about Liberace and Sandra Lee’s waredrobe from the NYT Style section and ravenously devoured the most divinely caramelized french toast with cherry compote on top. And tasso bacon on the side. Who do you think I am? And I think that this absolutely needs to happen in your life too, because well, look at it it’s cashews crusted french toast with cherry compote. Duh. Right?
No joke, this was last night’s dinner. It has been on my mind for all these weeks, so I got home from work, threw down everything, didn’t unpack my gym bag, barely kissed the dog and petted the husband and then threw this together – with bacon, natch – for a super early still-able-to-photograph dinner. Then we became lions over a dead carb zebra to devour this in three minutes. No foolin’. It was sick, in the most ridiculously sinful of ways.
You will adore the crushed cashews that are sprinkled on top of this and toasted to a golden brown. The cherries are sweet and a bit tart, with just a little gleek factor. Don’t even get me started on the challah. Can we start a dance? Call it the Challah Hollah? No? Dang, I thought I was onto something.
Well, the Challah Hollah might not be the next big thing, but at least I know this french toast like, totally is.
Ingredients for Cashew Crusted French Toast with Cherry Compote
- Challah
- Eggs
- Milk
- Vanilla
- Cinnamon
- Nutmeg
- Sugar
- Cherries
- Agave Syrup or Sugar
- Crushed Cashews
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Cashew Crusted French Toast with Cherry Compote
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 8 slices 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Description
Golden challah bread french toast coated with crunchy crushed cashews, and punctuated with a sweet tart cherry compote on top.
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Challah, sliced into 1 1/2″ slices
- 5–6 Eggs, whisked
- 1/3 cup Milk
- 1 tsp Vanilla
- 1 tsp Cinnamon, divided
- 1/8 tsp Nutmeg
- 2 Tbsp Sugar
- 2 cups Cherries, pitted
- 3 Tbsp Agave Syrup or Sugar
- 1/3 cup Crushed Cashews
Instructions
- In a food processor, add cherries, agave or sugar and ½ of the cinnamon. Pulse to combine, until cherries have become small pieces. Set aside for topping.
- Heat skillet or griddle over medium heat until hot. Spray with non stick cooking spray.
- In a shallow baking dish or pie pan, whisk together eggs, milk vanilla, ½ of cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar. Whisk together until sugar dissolves.
- Dredge sliced challah bread, completely coating in the egg wash. Lay onto griddle and fry until dark golden brown.
- Just before flipping, sprinkle and lightly press crushed cashews into the top of the uncooked french toast. Gently flip the french toast and continue to cook until the toast cooks through and turns golden brown.
- Remove from griddle and plate. Top with cherry compote and serve immediately.
Notes
Inspired by Irving Street Kitchen French Toast
Cashews are my favorite nut, and this sounds like such a fabulous breakfast!
Cashews have to be one of my favorite nuts, so I am obviously loving these! Must make these soon, granted I will probably do it for dinner since I can never seem to make breakfast food in the morning! LOL
Oh my heavens, this looks to die for!! I don’t blame you for eating it up in a few minutes – I would inhale this!!
I’ve never crusted my french toast with anything before, and now I’m totally ready to try it! Especially with this yummy compote.
The first thing I thought of was yum-diggity… so I’m going with it! PS I think using challah for french toast is the only way to go… great recipe Megan! 🙂
Never in my life, until having kids, did I truly enjoy alone time. I’d happily eat alone these days. Peaceful and lovely. People don’t always get that though. And helloooo baby. I want a giant plate of this for every meal today 😉
I’ve done nut crusted chicken but never french toast, love it!
dead-carb-zebra! loved it! and this french toast looks amazing! My favorite french toast taste like churros, but this one has nuts and that maybe means this could be my new favorite! totally saving this one for later!
I love any kind of french bread, but this crusted version looks so fantastic! Bookmarking this one!
That is serious business right there. You had me at cashew crusted.
Oh wow you’ve got a winner with this french toast. Love that you crusted it!
You had me at cherry, but that bacon in the background didn’t hurt sell it, Megan. I need this in my life. Pronto.
I love french toast, never had it crusted though! This ones a winner
I have never tried nuts with my french toast! Love this idea! Plus I am completely obsessed with compotes lately so I know what I am making for breakfast this weekend 🙂
Oh I hope you like it!! The nuts were a totally last minute decision, but oh so worth it! Just sprinkling them on top totally took them up another notch.
Oh have mercy.
I can’t hear those words without thinking of Uncle Jesse from Full House. I wonder if it’s streaming on Netflix, I think I have a hip 80’s classic to start watching!
I would so totally do the Challah Holla with you! I believe that Challah bread makes THE BEST french toast. It’s eggy and sweet which makes it perfect. I laughed so hard when you said “kissed your dog and petted your husband”…love it!
Thank goodness, I was worried I was gonna be the only one doing the Challah Holla!! Whew!
LOOOOOOOOVE breakfast for dinner! I am diggin the cashews too! Awesome! 😀
Thanks Carla! Isn’t breakfast for dinner the best? Especially because bacon should be apart of every meal.
I used to hate eating at restaurants alone that was until my boyfriend and I broke up, forcing me to adventure out on my own. Now I love it! Reading a trashy rag sheet while devouring delicious food, nothing better. Speaking of delicious food, this french toast looks marvelous.
Thanks Nicole! My mom used to tell me you have to learn how to date yourself and have fun on your own, then you can really have fun when you have someone else to date. Probably some of the best relationship advice she ever gave me 🙂
Cashew crusted? This is the stuff dreams are made from. Also, I totally love going places solo! On the first day in Austin I took myself to lunch and shopping. It was awesome!
Going places solo is so much fun! I think of it as taking myself out on a date!
oh snap. this looks AMAZING. wow, that cashew crust is genius. i want this for both breakfast AND dinner!
I sitll have Challah bread leftover – I might just have to make it for dinner again!!
Haha I’m totally that self conscious person that eats alone and feels like a dork! I always wonder if someone is feeling sorry for me. I don’t really mind it I’m just worried others think I’m a loser! I love Brinner! And cashew crusted? AWESOME!
Ohhh don’t feel like a dork when you dine alone! I think of it as taking myself on a date! 🙂
Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaang
I made french toast for breakfast and I thought about this post, but I didn’t have any cashews on hand. WOE IS ME! I bet the salty sweet combination is perfect!
I love french toast. This recipe is too good, I can’t wait to try 🙂
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