Crunchy French Toast Sandwiches

My post originally appeared on The Daily Meal on April 17, 2011.

Crunchy French Toast Sandwiches

French toast. Enough said, right? Aside from doing something crazy like smothering it in chocolate sauce (hmmmm….) what could possibly make French toast any better?

I came upon this recipe and decided I had to try it. With almonds as breading and creamy cheese and jam stuffed between two slices of the bread, this definitely sounded like a treat — and it was! This recipe is great for a special breakfast or brunch, and you can use your favorite jam or marmalade (or whatever you have in the fridge).

Note: The original recipe called for a combination of cream cheese and sour cream. I used mascarpone cheese instead. I think the next time I make it I’ll try the cream cheese-sour cream-mixture for an even sweeter taste.

Good Idea: These sandwiches can be assembled ahead of time and stored in freezer bags in the freezer for up to about a month. Then all you have to do to impress someone is pull them out of the freezer and bake.

Recipe for Crunchy French Toast Sandwiches:

Makes 4 sandwiches

INGREDIENTS

8 slices Ciabatta bread
2 eggs
¼ cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
4-6 ounces mascarpone cheese
3 ounces your favorite jam or orange marmalade
2-3 ounces finely chopped almonds
Syrup or butter for topping

INSTRUCTIONS

Place the mascarpone cheese in a small bowl and set aside.
To make the sandwiches, spread half the bread slices (on one side only) with the mascarpone and half with the jam or marmalade. Sandwich the slices together and set aside.
Line a baking sheet with waxed paper or a baking mat.
In a shallow bowl, beat the eggs, milk and vanilla. In a different shallow bowl, add the chopped almonds.
Dip both sides of the sandwiches (and ensure the crusts are dipped, too) in the egg mixture and let the excess drip off. Then, coat both sides of the sandwich into the chopped almonds. Add more almonds as needed.
Place the coated sandwiches onto your baking sheet and freeze for about 3 hours. When the sandwiches are firm, preheat your oven to 370 degrees F.
Bake for 15 minutes, or until golden, turning once. Make sure each sandwich is heated through. Serve topped with syrup or butter.