Corn Flake-Crusted French Toast

Corn flake-crusted French toast has very crusty outside but is still very soft and moist inside. Just one extra step, covering the toast with corn flakes, makes this delicious French toast.

To make this French toast even better, I made strawberry-banana compote. It is strawberry season, with plenty of sweet and flavorful strawberry at the market. Mix it up with banana and maple syrup to make perfect compote for the French toast. If you have any leftover strawberry-banana compote, make strawberry-banana smoothie by blending with some milk!


Corn Flake-Crusted French Toast with Strawberry-Banana Compote
(Yield: 2 servings / Cooking time: 15 minutes)

Ingredients:
+ 4 slices of challah bread (or brioche) in 1-1.5" thickness
+ 1-2 cups unfrosted corn flakes*
+ one egg
+ 1/2 cup half & half (or 1/4 cup milk + 1/4 cup heavy cream)
+ 1/8 tsp cinnamon powder
+ 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
+ 2 tsp light brown sugar (or 2 sugar cubes)
+ a pinch of salt
+ unsalted butter to grease skillet

* Please make sure to use unfrosted corn flakes. If you use frosted corn flakes, the crust will burn easily.

Strawberry-Banana Compote
+ 1 cup strawberry (halved, if large)
+ 1 cup banana (sliced into 1/2" thickness)
+ 1.5 Tbsp maple syrup
+ 2 Tbsp unsalted butter



Procedures:
1. In a small pot, melt butter over medium heat. When butter starts bubbling, add sliced banana and strawberries and mix well. Finally, add maple syrup and lower the heat to medium-low. Simmer for about 5-10 minutes until the fruits are softened but still maintain their shapes.


2. Mix well egg, half & half, cinnamon powder, vanilla extract, light brown sugar and a pinch of salt all together. Gently crush corn flakes with palm - not too much, just a little bit to adhere the corn flakes easily on the toast.


3-1. Soak a slice of bread into the egg-milk mixture (both sides).
3-2. Cover the soaked bread with corn flakes (both sides).
3-2. Butter the skillet over medium heat.
3-3. Toast the corn flake-crusted bread until it becomes golden brown, but not burnt (both sides).


4. Place two slices of toast on each plate, and spoon strawberry-banana compote over the toast.


Enjoy~