Lucky for me the show on at the time was all about the best foods featured chefs had ever made. The recipe that immediately caught my eye and got my mind spinning was Paine Perdu – the most decadent, mind-blowing take on french toast ever. It, was, on. I immediately ran upstairs and told John I had a recipe idea. The original recipe was LOADED with dairy in the form of half and half and butter – things I really can’t handle. So I wanted to make version that was just as decadent yet dairy-free. That fastest way to get decadence without dairy fat? COCONUT MILK. Plus, it just so happens that my favorite pie is coconut cream pie, so that flavor application was kind of a given. This french toast starts at night – a step that’s not entirely necessary but recommended. The batter includes: Coconut milkAlmond milkEggsVanillaAgave nectar& Raw sugar Whisk it all together then toss in your crusty bread (gluten free even!). Get some zzz’s and in the morning you’re ready to bake. Because the slices of french toast are so thick, we first fry them up on both sides to get some color, and then finish them off in the oven to make sure they get cooked all the way through. After 10 or so minutes in the oven they’re just begging to be served and smothered with coconut cream pie toppings. For starters, coconut whipped cream. Ooh, baby. Next? MAPLE SYRUP. Last but not least? Toasted coconut flake. All right, seriously. Now we’re talkin’. This french toast is INSANE. It’s: Slightly crisp on the outsideTender and custard-like in the middleSweet and decadentLoaded with coconut cream pie flavor& Perfect for feeding a crowd (1 slice per person is plenty) After cooking mine up, I devoured a slice, John had one as well, and the rest went down to some very happy staff at our apartment who received the dish with big eyes and hungry bellies. The verdict? Some of the best french toast EVER, especially if you’re a coconut cream pie fan like me. Enjoy!
