Vanilla Bean and Cinnamon French Toast

Source: http://carnaldish.com/recipes/breakfast/sugar-crusted-vanilla-bean-cinnamon-french-toast/

Ingredients

• 4 thick slices of bread
• 3 large egg yolks
• 1 cup heavy cream (you can use milk or half & half)
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• ½ tsp cinnamon
• ½ tsp granulated sugar
• 1 vanilla bean
• 3 tbsp butter
• extra granulated sugar for sprinkling on top later

Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.

2. In a shallow dish, whisk together egg yolks, heavy cream, vanilla extract, cinnamon, sugar, and vanilla bean until smooth. Mixture should be creamy and luscious.

3. Dry your bread out in a 300 degree oven for 15 to 20 minutes; it shouldn't be "toasted" or have any significant amount of color, but it should feel dehydrated. Place dried out bread into the mixture and allow to soak for about 20 seconds per side. You just want it saturated but not falling apart. Use your best judgement here.

4. Meanwhile, place 2 tablespoons of butter into a cold skillet and turn the heat up to medium or medium-low. Don't put the butter into a hot pan, or it will burn immediately. Once the butter starts to sizzle and get happy, gently place your french toast slices into the pan, about two to three slices at a time, and let cook for for about 3 minutes per side, or until golden brown.

5. With the remaining tablespoon of butter, lightly grease a baking dish or cookie sheet large enough to fit your french toast slices in one layer and bake for an additional 10 to 15 minutes in the oven, on the middle rack. This just ensures the egg mixture in the toast is fully cooked thru.

6. Remove the french toast and turn on the broiler to your oven.

7. Sprinkle a very thin layer of sugar over the entire surface of each slice..don’t get all diabetic with this.

8. Place under your broiler on the second to highest oven-rack, until sugar starts to get happy and crystallize somewhat. Do not take your eyes off this, because depending on your oven, this could take several seconds or several minutes.

9. Remove from oven and arrange on a plate served with fresh berries (optional) and warm maple syrup.

10. Serve immediately and enjoy!