Hong Kong Style French Toast Recipe
Crispy, golden-browned slices of bread coated in egg, filled with peanut butter and sweetened condensed milk, served with buttery syrup—a deliciously indulgent treat from Hong Kong.
Ingredients
- 6 pieces milk bread or any square shaped white bread
- 4 tablespoon smooth peanut butter or sub with nutella, condensed milk or any nut butter of your choice
- 2 large eggs beaten
- 1 cup vegetable oil or any neutral oil
- 2 tablespoon butter as needed
- sweetened condensed milk as needed, or sub with honey or maple syrup
Instructions
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Step 1: Assemble the Sandwiches
Take two slices of milk bread and generously spread a smooth layer of peanut butter right up to the edges on each. Leave one slice plain for the top. Stack the peanut buttered slices on top of each other, peanut butter side up, and then crown them with the untouched slice. Give it a gentle press to bring everything together. Repeat this delightful process with the remaining pieces of bread. Trust me, the peanut butter party is just getting started. -
Step 2: Trim and Shape
With a steady hand and a trusty bread knife, carefully slice off the crusts of your sandwiches. You're aiming for neat, square shapes that will fry evenly and look oh-so-inviting. Not only does this give a more traditional Hong Kong style appearance, but it also helps the toast to cook evenly. -
Step 3: Prepare the Egg Coating
Crack the eggs into a shallow bowl and beat them until they're completely smooth, like a sunny day with no clouds in sight. This egg mixture will play a key role in creating that irresistible golden crust, so make sure it's well mixed and ready to go. -
Step 4: Dip the Sandwiches
It's time to get messy! Lightly coat each sandwich in the beaten eggs, ensuring all sides are covered. Don’t overdo it, though—too much egg will turn your sandwiches into a soggy mess that's tough to handle. Aim for just enough so that each side is kissed by the egg mixture. -
Step 5: Prepare to Fry
As you finish coating each sandwich, stand them up vertically on a plate. This little rest gives you a moment to heat up your oil without the sandwiches becoming too egg-soaked. It's all about balance. -
Step 6: Heat the Oil
In a large heavy-bottomed pan, start heating the vegetable oil over a low-medium setting, about a level 4 if your stove dial goes to 10. You're aiming for around 300°F, but no need to stress about perfection here. Just keep it hot enough to fry without burning. -
Step 7: Fry the Sandwiches
Here comes the fun part: frying! Carefully place one sandwich into the hot oil and watch it sizzle to a golden brown. Give each side about 30 seconds and the broader surfaces a good 1-2 minutes. Repeat this with the second sandwich, and soon you'll have two crispy, golden beauties ready to devour. -
Step 8: Serve and Enjoy
Serve these delectable sandwiches hot, with a dab of butter and a generous drizzle of sweetened condensed milk. If you're feeling adventurous, honey or maple syrup works wonders too. Enjoy every bite of this comforting treat, and remember, sharing is optional!
Notes
One common misstep folks often encounter with this delightful recipe is over soaking the bread in the egg mixture. Sure, we all know eggs are delicious, but too much can turn your toast into a soggy mess. To steer clear of this, give those sandwiches a gentle dip, just enough to coat them, rather than a lengthy swim.
Another hiccup is missing the mark on bread choice. Milk bread is wonderfully soft and airy, making it ideal for this dish. If it’s unavailable, try to opt for a similarly fluffy white bread to keep that texture just right.
Lastly, the frying pan can be a tricky beast. If the oil is too hot, you’ll end up with dark, crispy toast before the insides even warm up. A little patience goes a long way. Keep the heat on the lower side and gently fry to golden perfection. Your taste buds will thank you!