Freezable French Toast Using Challah Bread

If you haven't made french toast using challah bread then you have been missing out in life. I grew up eating french toast made from regular old sliced bread and thought it was fine. Hi mom! But then I grew up and had french toast made out of challah bread and I was blown away. Suddenly french toast wasn't just fine, it was amazing! And then I discovered how easy it was to make a ton of it at once and freeze it so I can just pop a couple pieces in the toaster or even microwave them in the morning and have gourmet french toast on the busiest of mornings. You will make this and wonder where it has been all your life. Even my husband, who was convinced that he didn't even like french toast, gobbles this stuff up and looks forward to eating it day after day. Give it a try, you'll be hooked!

Challah Recipe

Makes 2 Loaves

Ingredients

2 1/2 cups warm water 
1 tablespoon yeast
1/2 cup honey
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 eggs 
1 tablespoon salt
8-9 cups flour
1 egg + 1 T water (egg wash)


Instructions

1. In the bowl of a stand mixer, combine the warm water, yeast, honey, vegetable oil, eggs, and salt. Add in the flour 1 cup at a time, mixing on a low speed in between. Mix until well combined and the dough is smooth and elastic. Add a little more flour if it is still sticking to the side of the bowl. The dough will be slightly sticky (you don't want a stiff dough), but it should be able to form a ball in the mixer. 

***You know how bread recipes call for a range of flour? For instance, this recipe calls for 8-9 cups. How do you know how much to do? And why can't they just tell you exactly what to put it in? Well, the actual amount you need depends on a variety of factors including the weather and humidity in your house. One day I may only need 8 cups while the next I may need 9. Crazy, huh? Always start out on the low end and add a little more if you find your dough to be too sticky so that it can't form a ball.***

2. Place the dough into a bowl that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Let rise for 1 1/2 hours.

3. Divide the dough into two loaves. For each loaf, divide the dough into 4 balls and roll into strands about 12 inches long (or 3 if you want to do a normal braid). Pinch the strands together at one end and braid doing a under 2 over 1 method of braiding. Once you reach the end of the strands pinch them together. Repeat with the other loaf. 

4. Place the braided loaves on a baking sheet covered with nonstick cooking spray. Let rise 1 hour. 

5. In a small bowl whisk together the 1 egg + 1 tablespoon water. Brush it over the loaves. This is called an egg wash. 

6. Bake at 375 degrees for about 25 minutes. Cool before slicing. 

French Toast Recipe

Ingredients

1/2 cup flour
2 1/2 cups milk
1/2 tsp salt
7 eggs
3 tsp cinnamon
2 tsp vanilla extract
4 tablespoons brown sugar
2 Challah loaves, sliced thick


Instructions

1. Measure flour into a large mixing bowl. Slowly whisk in the milk. Whisk in the salt, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla extract and sugar until smooth.

2. Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium high heat.

3. Soak bread slices in mixture until saturated. Cook bread on each side until golden brown. 

How to Freeze French Toast

Now that you've made your French Toast, let the slices cool on a rack for 10 minutes. Lay them in a single layer on a baking tray lined with wax paper. Freeze for a few hours and transfer them to a freezer quality bag. 

Reheat the French Toast by microwaving for 30-60 seconds (watch it carefully) or put it in a toaster.