This Nutella French Toast is the ultimate decadent breakfast treat, featuring thick slices of buttery brioche stuffed with rich chocolate hazelnut spread. It takes the classic weekend staple to a new level by turning it into a warm, gooey sandwich soaked in a vanilla custard.
With a golden-brown exterior and a melting chocolate center, this dish is perfect for a special brunch or a sweet start to your day.
Recipe Details
- Flavor Profile: This dish is sweet and indulgent, combining the nutty richness of Nutella with the vanilla-scented custard and buttery brioche.
- Texture: You get a slightly crisp, golden exterior giving way to a pillowy soft interior with a warm, creamy chocolate filling.
- Time: 5 minutes prep, 5 minutes cook time.
- Difficulty: Easy. It is as simple as making a sandwich and frying it.
What You’ll Need
To make this recipe, you will need a large skillet for frying and a shallow bowl wide enough to fit the bread slices for dipping. The ingredients are simple but high-quality: thick-cut bakery bread, eggs, milk, and a jar of your favorite hazelnut spread are the key players.
Ingredient Notes
- Brioche Bread – You need 4 slices, about 3/4″ to 1″ thick. Brioche is ideal because its high butter and egg content makes it incredibly fluffy and rich.
- Nutella – The star of the show. A generous tablespoon per slice ensures a gooey center.
- Milk or Half and Half – Using whole milk or half and half creates a richer custard than skim milk.
- Vanilla Extract – Essential for that classic French toast aroma.
- Butter – Used for frying, butter adds flavor and helps create that signature golden-brown crust.
- Berries – Fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, or blueberries) add a tart freshness that cuts through the sweetness of the chocolate.
Add-ins and Substitutions
- Bread Options – If you cannot find brioche, Challah bread or Texas Toast are excellent substitutes that are thick enough to hold the filling.
- Fruit Filling – For an extra twist, add thin slices of banana or strawberries inside the sandwich along with the Nutella before dipping.
- Spice – Whisk a pinch of ground cinnamon into the egg mixture for a warmer flavor profile.
How to Make Nutella French Toast
- Assemble Sandwiches: Spread Nutella on each of the 4 pieces of bread. Join them together, 2 by 2, to form sandwiches (Nutella sides facing in).
- Make Custard: In a shallow bowl, whisk the egg, whole milk (or half and half), sugar, and vanilla extract until well combined.
- Dip: Dip each sandwich into the custard mixture, letting it saturate on both sides. Do not soak it for too long, or the bread may fall apart, but ensure it is coated.
- Heat Pan: Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Spray with cooking spray and add the butter, swirling the pan to coat the bottom evenly.
- Cook: Once the butter is melted and bubbling, add the French toast sandwiches to the pan. Cook each side until golden brown, which should take about 1-2 minutes per side.
- Serve: Dust the hot Nutella French toasts with powdered sugar, top with fresh berries, and serve immediately.
Pro Tip: Make sure your skillet is fully preheated before adding the bread. If the pan is too cool, the bread will absorb the butter and become greasy instead of developing a nice crisp crust.
Recipe Tips
- Stale Bread is Best: Slightly stale bread works best for French toast as it absorbs the custard better without becoming mushy. If your brioche is very fresh, you can leave the slices out on the counter for an hour before starting.
- Wipe the Pan: If making multiple batches, wipe the skillet carefully with a paper towel and add fresh butter between batches to prevent burning.
- Watch the Heat: Nutella can get very hot. Let the French toast sit for a minute after cooking so the filling doesn’t burn your mouth.
FAQs
- Can I freeze this? Yes, you can freeze the cooked French toast. Let it cool completely, freeze in a single layer, then transfer to a freezer bag. Reheat in a toaster or oven.
- Why is my French toast soggy? This usually happens if the bread was soaked in the custard for too long or if the heat was too low, preventing the egg from cooking through before the outside browned.
- Can I use other spreads? Absolutely. This method works perfectly with cookie butter, peanut butter, or almond butter.
Serving Suggestions
- Whipped Cream: A dollop of homemade whipped cream creates a dessert-like breakfast.
- Syrup: While the Nutella is sweet, a drizzle of maple syrup is traditional and delicious.
- Savory Side: Serve with crispy bacon or sausage to balance the sweetness.
Make This Recipe in Advance
- Prep: You can whisk the custard mixture (eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla) the night before and store it in the fridge.
- Sandwich Assembly: You can assemble the Nutella sandwiches ahead of time, but do not dip them into the liquid until you are ready to cook.
Nutella French Toast
- Total Time: 10 minutes
- Yield: 2 Sandwiches 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Nutella French Toast is the ultimate decadent breakfast treat, featuring thick slices of buttery brioche stuffed with rich chocolate hazelnut spread. It takes the classic weekend staple to a new level by turning it into a warm, gooey sandwich soaked in a vanilla custard. With a golden-brown exterior and a melting chocolate center, this dish is perfect for a special brunch or a sweet start to your day.
Ingredients
The Sandwich
- 4 slices thick-cut brioche bread (about 3/4″ to 1″ thick)
- 4 tablespoons Nutella (hazelnut spread)
- 1 tablespoon butter (for frying)
The Custard
- 1 large egg
- 1/2 cup whole milk (or half-and-half)
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For Serving
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
- Fresh berries (strawberries, raspberries, blueberries)
Instructions
Assemble Sandwiches
Spread a generous tablespoon of Nutella on one side of each bread slice. Join the slices together to form two sandwiches, ensuring the chocolate filling is on the inside.
Make Custard
In a shallow bowl or pie dish, whisk together the egg, milk, sugar, and vanilla extract until completely combined and smooth.
Heat Pan
Preheat a large skillet or griddle over medium-high heat. Add the butter and let it melt, swirling to coat the bottom of the pan evenly.
Dip
Quickly dip each sandwich into the custard mixture. Let it soak for a few seconds on each side to absorb the liquid, but do not soak too long or the bread will fall apart. Lift and let excess drip off.
Cook
Place the sandwiches in the hot skillet. Cook for 1-2 minutes per side, or until the bread is golden brown and crispy and the Nutella inside is warmed through.
Serve
Remove from heat. Cut diagonally if desired. Dust generously with powdered sugar and top with fresh berries. Serve immediately.
Notes
Stale is Better: Slightly stale bread works best for French toast. It absorbs the custard better without becoming soggy. If your brioche is fresh, let the slices sit on the counter for an hour before starting.
Pan Temperature: Make sure your skillet is fully preheated before adding the bread. If the pan is too cool, the bread will absorb the butter and become greasy instead of developing a crisp, golden crust.
Fruit Filling: For a texture twist, add thin slices of banana or strawberries inside the sandwich along with the Nutella before dipping.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop / Frying
- Cuisine: French-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Sandwich
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 380mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 62g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 145mg
Keywords: nutella french toast, stuffed french toast, brioche french toast, chocolate breakfast recipes, decadent brunch, easy french toast, hazelnut spread recipes
