Caramelized Sourdough French Toast

Ingredients

• 0.5 cup buttermilk 
• 0.5 cup confectioners' sugar 
• 0.5  round loaf crusty sourdough bread 9 inches in diameter
• 4 large eggs 
• 3 tablespoons granulated sugar 
• 0.3 teaspoon ground cinnamon 
• 0.3 cup heavy cream 
• 4 servings maple syrup for topping
• 2 tablespoons butter unsalted plus more if needed
• 1.5 teaspoons vanilla extract 

Equipment

• frying pan
• baking sheet
• oven
• whisk
• sieve
• baking pan

Directions

1. Cut the bread into 8 large wedges.
2. Whisk the eggs, buttermilk, cream, granulated sugar, vanilla and cinnamon in a large baking dish.
3. Add the bread and turn occasionally until soaked through, about 15 minutes. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
4. Put the confectioners' sugar in a fine-mesh sieve. Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat.
5. Add half of the bread and dust generously with the confectioners' sugar; cook, turning and dusting often with more confectioners' sugar, until golden brown and caramelized, 10 to 12 minutes (add more butter to the skillet, if needed).
6. Transfer the French toast to a baking sheet and keep warm in the oven.
7. Add 1 more tablespoon butter to the skillet and repeat with the remaining bread.
8. Serve with maple syrup.
9. Photograph by Andrew Purcell