The Traditional Italian Sweet Bread That Makes French Toast Twice As Good

Sometimes a classic favorite can become even better with a quick ingredient swap. Such is the case with one French toast recipe you'll want again and again: panettone French toast. The sweet Italian bread puts a sweet spin on breakfast and brunch. It's often associated with the holidays and usually comes packed with raisins and candied fruits. The buttery dough is baked into a soft and airy form, making it a perfect canvas to soak up eggy custard. When cooked, the golden, caramelized exterior tastes more like dessert than a regular meal.

You can use panettone the same way you would use brioche for French toast: by cutting and dipping it into a shallow dish of whisked milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Once soaked and pan-fried in butter, these browned pieces can be topped with honey butter for a mouthwatering presentation. Handfuls of toasted pecans and a finishing drizzle of maple syrup make this a dish you can serve with pride to brunch guests.

Since panettone is speckled with fruit, each bite can be a treat for the taste buds, but you'll want to make sure you don't leave pieces soaking in the batter for too long. A quick dip can coat the slices without making them soggy. Add cinnamon extract and cinnamon powder to the custard for an extra dimension of flavor, and experiment with toppings to create a plate that suits your preferences.

While you can use store-bought panettone as a shortcut, baking the panettone bread from scratch can add a pleasing dimension to the recipe. Dollops of mascarpone or swipes of chocolate hazelnut spread can step on the pedal of decadence, while toasted almonds and orange zest can bring a bright, earthy balance to the sweet dish. Serve pieces of panettone French toast with crispy bacon and black coffee to contrast the sweetness of the recipe, or pair them with grilled pears and homemade crème fraîche for a showstopper. A splash of amaretto in coffee mugs can help get an impressive brunch party started as guests prepare to dig into one of the best French toast recipes they have tried.