Honey-Roasted Apple & Brie Stuffed French Toast

 

Apples.  I bet if I peaked in most of your fridges I'd find some, right?  I know I find myself picking them up most shopping trips - they are good to have on hand for crisps and pies and general snacking.  I'm kind of weird (or a lot weird depending on who you ask) in that I only eat apples if I slice them - biting into a whole one is not my thing.  Same with pears.  Maybe in my old age I'm regressing back to kindergarten behavior.  What's next?  Velcro sneakers and drawing with markers that smell like fruit?  So be it.  Some days I wish I could scoot back 35 years and just be a kid, hanging out on the farm with my pet cow Susie and running around in rubber boots.  I'm sure Mom had apples in the fridge back then, too.  And I probably wanted them sliced.

When the kind people from BC Tree Fruits wrote and asked me about contributing a recipe to celebrate February Apple Month, it was a no-brainer.  Apples are obviously healthy snacks, but also super fun to bake with.  My recipe index is full of crisps and tarts and caramelized concoctions - do spend a little time there if you have a sec.  What I love most about the apple is how well it marries with butter and honey, especially when roasted.  Sweet caramelization heaven.  Do sprinkle them with a little nutmeg or cinnamon at the beginning (I found myself with an empty cinnamon jar - the horror!) and just a wee bit of salt.  Roast until the juices reduce - about 30 minutes.  It's tempting to eat them all like this, but try to save some for the French toast.

A recent brunch adventure found me devouring French toast stuffed with apples and brie.  It was an epiphany of sorts.  My poor dining companion was locked out of my little world while I dissected the dish, wondering how to replicate such a triumph at my own breakfast table.  The French toast was crispy and buttery and the middle was full of warm, creamy brie and sweet, roasted apples.  They used raisin bread, but me and the raisin are not friends.  While we are talking bread, it's important to use good, toothsome French bread.  Not the thick slice white wonderbread from the supermarket.  It makes a huge difference on taste and general outcome.  Life is too short to eat crappy bread.

The procedure is fairly standard.  Other recipes call for assembling the stuffed French toast and then dipping it in egg.  This seemed like there would be the possibility of it not being fully cooked in the middle.  So my method is frying the French toast like you normally would, and once you flip it over, lay one side with brie, roasted apples and toasted walnuts - I threw those in for fun and they are spectacular.  (If you don't like walnuts, go with pecans or even sliced almonds.  Just make sure they are toasted first.)  Once you have your stuffing assembled, lay the other side of the French toast on top and press down a little.  Flip over if you like and cook on medium heat until you can tell the brie is melted.  That's the key.  Remove to keep warm in the oven and the repeat with the remaining piece of bread and filling.  That's all there is too it.  It's like a French toast sandwich! 

This has been one of my favourite breakfast creations, like, ever.  The brie is just terribly creamy and melty and the honey-roasted apples are nestled between two perfectly cooked pieces of French toast.  The nuts add a little drama (plus they are good for you!) and the only thing that's needed is a generous pour of good maple syrup.  If you're trying to impress someone, go ahead and add a dollop of whipped cream, but they'll still love you without it.  And lastly, be sure to set a pretty breakfast table, even if it's just you.  Especially if it's just you.

Honey-Roasted Apple & Brie Stuffed French Toast

2 Gala apples, peeled, cored and sliced (you can also use Honeycrisp or Granny Smith)
1 heaping tbsp butter
1 heaping tbsp honey
sprinkle of nutmeg or cinnamon
pinch of salt

4 slices good French bread
2 eggs
1/4 cup milk or cream
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp vanilla
2 tbsp butter
6 slices of brie
1/4 cup roasted walnuts
maple syrup, to serve

Apples:  Preheat oven to 375*F.  In a small baking dish, toss apples with the butter and honey, sprinkle with nutmeg and salt.  Roast for 30 minutes or until golden and soft, stirring around every 10 minutes.  You want most of the liquid reduced.  When done, set aside.

Beat together the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla in a medium bowl.  Heat a skillet over medium high heat and add 1 tbsp butter.  Dip the bread in egg mixture.  Fry two of the slices, flipping over when golden.  Onto one golden side, lay down 3 pieces of brie, some roasted apples and half the walnuts.  Top with other side and continue cooking until brie melted, reducing heat.  Remove to baking dish and keep warm in oven (turned down to 250*F) and repeat with remaining 2 slices of bread and 1 tbsp butter and remaining filling ingredients.  Serve warm with maple syrup.  Serves 2.