Fluffy French Toast with Whipped Mascarpone

A spoonful of tangy lemon mascarpone and a drizzle of homemade berry syrup will take your fluffy french toast to the next level!  Your family will be begging for this french toast recipe every weekend! 

Nothing says weekend like a delicious breakfast or brunch spread. At the top of any epic brunch menu is fluffy french toast.  I’m taking your basic french toast recipe today a step further by adding homemade berry syrup and some creamy whipped lemon mascarpone cheese! This will quickly become your favorite breakfast dish, I promise! This is the best french toast recipe! Great for entertaining, or just a fancy weekend breakfast!

Why we love this fluffy french toast

This french toast recipe has all the flavor without the sogginess! I learned a little trick after culinary school that changed my french toast game: adding flour to the french toast batter! It creates the fluffiest french toast ever, and the creamy mascarpone cheese and berry syrup takes it up a notch!

Want more breakfast options for a delicious brunch spread?

Try these easy breakfast brunch recipes

Bananas foster nutella crepes are a great option for a crowd!

Apple butter waffles are fluffy and topped with an irresistible cinnamon whipped cream everyone will love!

A bagel breakfast board is a great interactive breakfast options for your guests!

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What do you need to make french toast?

Bread

You can really use any type of bread you’d like for french toast, but if you’re looking for a rich, creamy delicacy for breakfast, the best bread to use is brioche or challah bread.These two types of bread are made with eggs and create the fluffiest french toast ever. French toast soaks up the egg mixture for a creamy texture on the inside and a slightly crunchy texture on the outside. If the bread you choose is too thin, it will be too flimsy to hold together when dipped in the custard. If it’s too thick, it will never cook to the center. The ideal thickness for a slice of French toast is 3/4″ to 1″ thick. Thick slices of brioche bread are perfect because it’s both spongy and sturdy enough not to fall apart during cooking. 

All purpose flour

This is the secret ingredient to the best french toast! Adding flour to the custard makes it a thicker batter rather than just a dipping liquid. This ensures a fluffier french toast. Don’t worry about small lumps of flour in the batter, either. They’ll disappear when you cook it, but if you’d like you can put the custard in a blender to get those lumps out.

Whole milk

Any kind of milk will work (even dairy free), but the the higher fat milk, the creamier the batter will be. 

Eggs

Eggs act as a binder in this fluffy french toast recipe. The proteins in eggs solidify upon heating, firming up the liquids in the bread. Make sure to whisk the egg very well before adding it with the other liquids or you’ll see pieces of cooked egg on the outside of your French toast that haven’t been absorbed well.

Sugar

Adding sugar to the egg mixture will help the french toast caramelize. You can add really any type of sugar you’d like, I’m using white sugar in this recipe.

Spices

Depending on the season and toppings, adding spices to your egg mixture is a way to get creative! I love adding cinnamon and pure vanilla extract to most french toast recipes, but feel free to add allspice or cloves in the winter or fall to celebrate the flavors of the season.

Mascarpone vs. Cream cheese

Mascarpone is American cream cheese’s Italian counterpart. Mascarpone has a looser, velvety texture, and rich mouthfeel similar to a double-crème brie. I love the rich and tangy flavor it brings to a dish and the creamy texture.  It was the perfect addition to this fluffy french toast! You can usually find mascarpone cheese in the gourmet cheese section of your local grocery store.

Lemon Zest

Adding zest to the mascarpone just gives it a burst of flavor and compliments the blueberries so beautifully!

Powdered sugar

Mascarpone isn’t very sweet on its own, so powdered sugar is a way to sweeten without the grainy finish of granulated sugar. Honey works as well

Heavy Cream

How to make fluffy french toast

1. Measure flour in a large mixing bowl.  Whisk in milk, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla and sugar until smooth.
2. Pour egg mixture into a shallow dish.
3. In a large non-stick or cast iron skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of butter over medium heat.  
4. Soak slices of bread in the french toast batter until saturated.  Cook bread on each side until golden brown.  Serve this delicious french toast with homemade blueberry syrup and a spoonful of whipped mascarpone

How do I prevent soggy french toast?

There are a couple reasons why french toast ends up soggy.  First mistake is adding too much dairy and sugar to the custard. If you add too much milk or cream, the egg in the mixture won’t cook.  This translates to wet, soggy, bread. You need the perfect ratio of milk to eggs.

The second mistake people make is not pre-heating the skillet. If the pan isn’t hot enough when you put your first slice in, the custard spreads out, forming a “foot” on the bottom of the French toast. When the pan is hot enough, the batter won’t have time to seep; the custard will start cooking as soon as it hits the pan. Pre-heat the skillet over medium heat for a few minutes before adding butter and the first slice.

Lastly, you want the French toast to be dry on the surface with slightly crisp edges. Because most french toast dishes are doused with maple syrup (or berry in this case), honey, or powdered sugar upon serving, you don’t want the custard to be too sweet either.

Pair this fluffy french toast with a couple slices of bacon for the perfect breakfast!

FAQ and Expert Tips

Feeding a crowd? For the best french toast, you can keep your French toast warm in a 200 degree F oven for up to 30 minutes. Place a wire rack on a large baking sheet and place the French toast slices on the rack. Don’t leave the French toast in the oven for too long or it will dry out. It is best served fresh and hot!

Freezing french toast? Cook and allow to cool on a wire rack. Place a sheet of wax paper between each slice of French toast. Wrap the French toast stack tightly in aluminum foil or place inside a heavy-duty freezer bag and freeze. Use the frozen French toast within 1 to 2 months for best quality.

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