Black Walnut French Toast Recipes

BLACK WALNUT COOKIES

Steps:

• In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; gradually add to creamed mixture. Stir in 1-1/4 cups walnuts. Finely chop the remaining nuts. , Shape dough into two 15-in. rolls. Roll in chopped nuts, pressing gently. Wrap each in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 2 hours or until firm. , Unwrap dough; cut into 1/4-in. slices. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 300° for 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Remove to wire racks.

BANANA-NUT FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350°F. Place the walnuts on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast until lightly browned and fragrant, about 10 minutes. Set aside. When cool, chop the walnuts coarsely.
• Whisk together the eggs, cream, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl, and set aside. Combine the bananas, dark brown sugar, and walnuts in another bowl; set aside. Lay out 6 slices of bread on the work surface. Top each slice with 1/3 cup banana mixture. Top with the remaining bread slices; press gently to seal the sandwiches.
• Place the sandwiches in a shallow baking dish (or 2 dishes) large enough to hold them in a single layer. Pour the egg mixture over the bread, and soak 10 minutes. Carefully turn the sandwiches over, and soak 10 minutes more, or until the bread is soaked through.
• Reduce the oven temperature to 250°F. Place a wire rack on a baking sheet; set aside. Heat the remaining banana mixture in a small skillet over medium-low heat until the sugar is melted and the bananas are soft and slightly translucent, about 3 minutes. Add 4 tablespoons butter, and stir to combine; keep warm.
• Heat 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Fry half of the sandwiches until golden brown, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Transfer to the wire rack, and place in the oven while cooking the remaining sandwiches. Wipe out the skillet, and repeat with the remaining butter, oil, and bread. Keep in the oven until ready to serve. Cut into triangles, and serve with warm banana mixture and maple syrup, if desired.

FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE WITH BROWN SUGAR-WALNUT CRUMBLE

Steps:

• For the casserole: Generously butter a 3-quart casserole dish. Arrange the bread slices over the bottom of the dish in three rows of 6 slices, shingling slightly.
• Whisk the eggs, granulated sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon salt in large bowl until combined and smooth. Whisk in the milk and heavy cream. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread slices, making sure that all slices have been coated. Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 12.
• Position an oven rack in the center of the oven, and preheat to 350 degrees F.
• For the crumble: Toss the brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon salt together in a medium bowl. Add the butter and work it in with your fingers until the mixture is crumbly with pea-sized bits of butter. Mix in the walnuts.
• To assemble: Give the bread slices in the casserole dish a gentle push into the custard. Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the top.
• Bake the casserole until the top is puffed and browned and a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, about 45 minutes (it will still be a little wiggly but will continue to cook a bit out of the oven); check halfway through the baking time and tent with foil if the topping is browning too quickly. Serve hot.