If you’ve been looking for the ultimate breakfast or afternoon treat with a twist, you simply have to try Hong Kong-Style French Toast. This dish takes classic French toast and transforms it into a decadent, crispy and creamy delight, usually filled with smooth peanut butter and finished with lashings of sweet condensed milk or syrup. It combines the comfort of childhood with the playful indulgence of a Hong Kong café, promising bites that are golden and crisp on the outside, soft inside, and loaded with flavor. Perfect for impressing friends or pampering yourself!
Ingredients You’ll Need
The beauty of Hong Kong-Style French Toast lies in its simplicity; the ingredients are easy to find, and each one plays a key role in building layers of texture and rich, buttery taste. Here’s what you’ll want on hand to create your new favorite breakfast or snack:
- White bread: Soft, thick-sliced bread is ideal for maximum fluffiness and the right amount of soak — make sure to remove the crusts for authentic café-style presentation.
- Peanut butter (or sweetened condensed milk): The luscious filling that brings creamy richness and a subtle nutty flavor to each bite.
- Eggs: Essential for your custard base; they help create that sumptuous coating when fried.
- Milk: Adds extra creaminess to your egg mixture, making for a beautifully tender texture.
- Vanilla extract: Just a splash elevates the aroma and adds a fragrant sweetness that pairs perfectly with the filling.
- Granulated sugar: Brings a touch of sweetness and aids in caramelization for that signature golden crust.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and amps up the overall flavor of your toast.
- Unsalted butter (for frying): Ensures the toast crisps up beautifully without overpowering the flavors.
- Sweetened condensed milk, maple syrup, or honey: The all-important drizzle over the top, for that glossy finish and sticky sweetness.
- Pat of butter (for serving): A classic finishing touch that melts gloriously over hot toast.
How to Make Hong Kong-Style French Toast
Step 1: Prepare the Sandwiches
Start by spreading a generous, even layer of peanut butter (or your chosen filling) onto two slices of white bread. Top each with the remaining slices to make two simple sandwiches. Press the edges gently to help seal the filling — this little trick keeps all that delicious flavor tucked neatly inside during frying.
Step 2: Whisk the Custard
In a shallow bowl — a pie plate works perfectly — whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, granulated sugar, and salt. Beat the mixture until thoroughly blended for a smooth and slightly sweet custard that clings beautifully to every surface of the sandwiches.
Step 3: Dip the Sandwiches
Dunk each sandwich into the egg mixture, making sure every side (even the edges!) soaks up that flavorful custard. A few seconds on each side will help ensure the bread is moist, but not soggy. This step is truly the key to the rich, signature texture of Hong Kong-Style French Toast.
Step 4: Fry Until Golden
Melt the butter in a nonstick skillet set over medium heat. Once it’s bubbling but not browned, carefully add in your soaked sandwiches. Fry for 2 to 3 minutes per side until the toasts are deeply golden, crisp, and irresistible. If you’re feeling extra indulgent, you can absolutely deep-fry for a truly authentic Hong Kong café experience!
Step 5: Drain and Serve
Once your Hong Kong-Style French Toast is golden and fragrant, transfer it to a paper towel-lined plate to blot any excess butter. Serve immediately — warm is best for maximum melt-in-your-mouth impact — with a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk, syrup, or honey, and finish with a glorious pat of butter on top.
How to Serve Hong Kong-Style French Toast
Garnishes
The classic finishing touch is a heavy hand with sweetened condensed milk or syrup, but don’t stop there; add a pat of salted butter to melt over the top, a light dusting of powdered sugar, or even a scattering of chopped nuts for extra crunch and contrast.
Side Dishes
Pair your Hong Kong-Style French Toast with a cup of strong milk tea or a creamy iced coffee for that true cha chaan teng (Hong Kong café) vibe. For something refreshing, a simple fruit salad works beautifully to balance the richness.
Creative Ways to Present
For a fun twist, cut each toast on the diagonal for triangles or try stacking multiple smaller toasts with a different filling in each layer. You can even cube the finished toast and serve as skewers, drizzled with a variety of sauces for an irresistible party platter.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you’re lucky enough to have leftovers, let them cool completely before storing. Place the cooled Hong Kong-Style French Toast in an airtight container and refrigerate; it’ll stay good for up to two days, though it’s best enjoyed fresh and crispy.
Freezing
For longer keeping, freeze your cooked toast on a parchment-lined tray, then transfer the pieces to a freezer bag once firm. This way, you can pull them out individually whenever the craving hits — just don’t forget to separate layers with parchment to stop them from sticking together!
Reheating
Restore that crispiness by reheating your Hong Kong-Style French Toast in a toaster oven or in a skillet over medium-low heat. Microwave reheating is quick, but it can soften the crust; for best results, a few minutes in the oven will bring back the irresistible outer crunch.
FAQs
Does this recipe work with gluten-free bread?
Absolutely! Substitute your favorite gluten-free white bread and you’ll still get that decadent, creamy texture. Just be sure the bread is sturdy enough to hold the filling and withstand soaking in the egg mixture.
Can I use other fillings besides peanut butter?
Yes! Hong Kong-Style French Toast can be stuffed with kaya, Nutella, sweetened condensed milk, or fruit jams. Mix and match to find your own flavor favorite.
Is there a way to make Hong Kong-Style French Toast less sweet?
If you prefer less sweetness, you can reduce the sugar in the egg mixture and opt for unsweetened nut butter inside. For serving, skip or lightly drizzle the syrup or condensed milk.
Can this be made vegan?
It can! Use plant-based bread, almond or oat milk, a flaxseed egg substitute, and vegan butter. For the filling, pick a vegan nut butter and serve with agave instead of honey or condensed milk.
What’s the difference between Hong Kong-Style French Toast and regular French toast?
The most notable difference is the filling: Hong Kong-Style French Toast is usually a stuffed sandwich, often with peanut butter, and is extra rich from being fried in plenty of butter (sometimes even deep-fried) before being topped with sweet syrup or condensed milk. It’s a unique treat unlike any other!
Final Thoughts
If you’re searching for a new breakfast obsession or a sweet pick-me-up, Hong Kong-Style French Toast is a must-try. Its golden, crispy exterior and creamy filling are total comfort food, ready in minutes and endlessly customizable. Go ahead, treat yourself — you might just find yourself making it again and again!
Print
Hong Kong-Style French Toast Recipe
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 2 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Hong Kong-style French toast recipe offers a delightful twist on the classic breakfast favorite. With a decadent peanut butter filling and a crispy, golden exterior, it’s a perfect combination of sweet and savory flavors.
Ingredients
For the French Toast:
- 4 slices white bread, crusts removed
- 2 tablespoons peanut butter (or sweetened condensed milk)
- 2 large eggs
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter (for frying)
For Serving:
- sweetened condensed milk, maple syrup, or honey for drizzling
- a pat of butter for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Sandwiches: Spread peanut butter on two slices of bread and top with the remaining slices to make two sandwiches.
- Make the Egg Mixture: In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, sugar, and salt.
- Dip and Coat: Dip each sandwich into the egg mixture, coating all sides evenly.
- Fry the French Toast: In a nonstick skillet over medium heat, melt the butter. Fry the sandwiches for 2–3 minutes per side, or until golden brown and crisp.
- Serve: Remove from heat and drain briefly on a paper towel-lined plate. Serve warm with a drizzle of sweetened condensed milk, syrup, or honey, and a pat of butter on top.
Notes
- You can substitute peanut butter with other fillings like Nutella, kaya, or fruit jam.
- For a more indulgent version, deep fry the sandwich instead of pan-frying.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Pan-Fry
- Cuisine: Hong Kong
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 toast
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 13 g
- Sodium: 360 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 155 mg
