I got the idea for doing French toast in the slow cooker from my friends Jane and Meg, the brains behind the blog The Zen of Slow Cooking. It's a perfect recipe to pull out when you have bits and bobs of leftover bread that need to find a home. Unless you're up at the crack of dawn, though, make it a day ahead and stow it in the fridge. In the morning, spoon it onto plates and warm in the microwave. A generous spoonful of Greek yogurt and a drizzle of maple syrup are the perfect finishing touches.

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients


  • 1 loaf crusty bread (such as levain or batard, preferably whole grain)
  • 1/3 cup golden raisins
  • 4 eggs
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • Greek yogurt, fresh fruit and/or maple syrup, for serving

    Directions

    Generously grease the inside of your slow cooker with oil.

    Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes, enough to make 5 cups, gently packed. Store leftover bread for another use. Put the cubed bread into the slow cooker. Sprinkle the raisins over top.

    In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla and cinnamon until smooth.

    Pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes. Using a fork, press down firmly on the bread cubes to soak them in the liquid a bit. The bread will bob back to the surface.

    Secure the lid and dial the slow cooker to the high-heat setting. Cook for 2 to 2 1/2 hours, until the egg is firm on the top and the bread is lightly crusty around the edges. Serve with yogurt, fruit and/or maple syrup.

    Boost It: Add 1/3 cup chopped hazelnuts, or other favorite nuts, when you add the raisins.

    Make Ahead: This can be made ahead of time, covered and stored in the refrigerator, where it will keep for up to 3 days. To serve, spoon individual servings onto plates and reheat in the microwave.

    From Rise & Shine by Katie Sullivan Morford, © 2016 by Katie Sullivan Morford. Photographs © 2016 by Erin Scott. Reprinted by arrangement with Roost Books, an imprint of Shambhala Publications, Inc. Boulder, CO. RoostBooks.com.
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