Almond French Toast Hearts with Almond Butter
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We are getting closer to Valentine’s Day, so this week, I have all Valentine’s posts planned for you. We are beginning with breakfast. This is a simple almond French toast hearts recipe with a couple of unique touches.
First, you shape the French toast into hearts. I did this with a Wilton Comfort Grip Heart Shaped Cookie Cutter, but any large heart-shaped cookie cutter will do. Or you can always freehand it and cut your own heart shape out using kitchen shears. I did use my shears after the cookie cutter to make a more defined “V” at the top of my hearts. Save the remaining bread scraps to make croutons, bread crumbs, or a French toast casserole.
The second special touch is almond extract.
You add a little to the batter and also make a butter to top the French toast with. I think most people won’t know what you added to the French toast but will say it tastes amazing. The almond just adds another element of flavor but isn’t overpowering or really noticeable. What you will notice is a unique buttery flavor. Who knows, you may want to add it to your French toast from now on.
I used a great loaf of bread that I picked up from Costco- Nature’s Harvest French Bread. It is sliced into nice 1-inch slices. However, I wouldn’t use the regular French bread from the grocery store. The loaf will be too small in diameter to make a nice heart, plus it tends to be really airy. This will be hard to work with once it is cut into the heart shape and the crust is removed. You can use regular sandwich bread, you just won’t have as thick of slices. My other recommendation would be some kind of Texas Toast that you can find at most Walmarts. Several companies make them.
Ingredients for Almond French Toast Hearts
- BREAD (1 INCH SLICES)
- LARGE EGGS
- MILK
- SUGAR
- ALMOND EXTRACT
- BUTTER
- FRESH RASPBERRIES OR FRESH STRAWBERRIES
- SYRUP
- POWDERED SUGAR
Instructions for Almond French Toast Hearts
Create Heart-Shaped Bread: Start by cutting your bread slices into heart shapes. Use a large heart-shaped cookie cutter, or get creative and freehand cut them with kitchen shears. Don’t worry about the bread scraps – use them for breadcrumbs or to make croutons!
Whisk the Custard Mixture: In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, and almond extract until well combined.
Cook the French Toast: Melt 2 tablespoons of butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Dip both sides of each heart-shaped bread slice in the egg mixture, ensuring they are well coated. Place the bread in the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and cooked through.
Make the Almond Butter: While the French toast is cooking, prepare the almond butter. In a small bowl, combine the softened butter, powdered sugar, and almond extract. Beat with an electric mixer or whisk vigorously until smooth and creamy.
Assemble and Serve: Serve the warm French toast with a generous dollop of the almond butter. Garnish with a sprinkling of powdered sugar, fresh raspberries or strawberry slices, and a drizzle of your favorite syrup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of bread should I use for Almond French Toast Hearts?
It’s best to use a thick, sturdy bread such as brioche, challah, or Texas toast. These types of bread soak up the almond milk mixture well and maintain their shape during cooking.
Can I make this French toast recipe dairy-free?
Yes, you can make this recipe dairy-free by using almond milk or another non-dairy milk instead of regular milk. Additionally, you can use a dairy-free butter substitute for cooking.
How do I get the heart shape?
Use a heart-shaped cookie cutter to cut the bread into heart shapes before dipping them in the almond mixture. If you don’t have a cookie cutter, you can carefully cut the shape with a knife or kitchen shears.
What toppings go well with Almond French Toast Hearts?
Almond French Toast Hearts pair well with a variety of toppings, such as fresh fruits like berries and sliced bananas, along with powdered sugar, maple syrup, whipped cream, or a drizzle of almond butter.
How do I prevent the French toast from getting soggy?
To prevent sogginess, make sure not to soak the bread in the almond mixture for too long. A quick dip on each side is sufficient. Also, cook the French toast over medium heat to ensure it gets crispy on the outside.
Almond French Toast Hearts with Almond Butter
Real Mom Kitchen
Equipment
Ingredients
- 10-12 slice bread – 1 inch each (I used Nature's Harvest French Bread from Costco)
- 4 eggs
- ½ cup milk
- 1 Tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 2 Tbsp butter
- fresh raspberries or slices strawberries for garnish
- syrup for serving
For the almond butter:
- ½ cup butter softened
- 1 ½ Tbsp powdered sugar
- ½ tsp almond extract
Instructions
- Cut bread slices into heart shapes. You can use a large, almost 4 inch heart, cookie cutter or cut your own heart shape with kitchen shears. Use trimmings for another purpose.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and 1 tsp almond extract.
- In large skillet, melt 2 Tbsp butter. Dip both sides of each bread heart into the egg mixture and place on the hot skillet. Cook each side for 2-3 minutes until golden brown.
- For the almond butter – in a small bowl, blend together the 1/2 cup butter, 1 1/2 Tbsp powdered sugar and 1/2 tsp almond extract.
- Serve cooked french toast with the almond butter along with a sprinkling of powdered and fresh raspberries or strawberry slices. Drizzle with syrup. Serves 5-6.
Nutrition
Recipe adapted from Taste of Home.
