A golden brown vanilla French toast coated in powdered sugar. Tastes just like a doughnut, except it only takes an instant to make. 

Everything, everyone has a story. I love going to the city and simply observing.

Observing the woman staring into the distance from her bus window. Observing the man and woman holding hands as they cross the street. Observing the boy riding his skateboard at the park. Observing the man strumming his guitar, his eyes closed, his mind on the song he is playing.

There’s so much we see or hear, but don’t really know. It’s so simple to make assumptions, to call someone ‘boring’ or ‘uninteresting’. But everyone has memories, experiences and personality traits that make separate them from the rest of the world.

National Doughnut Day takes place this year on June 6th. I’m not from the U.S., so I admit I was a little presumptuous- “yet another pointless reason to celebrate,” I thought. I assumed June 6th was a day chosen randomly to honor the fluffy fried pastry that people love so much. But this is what I’m talking about.

National Doughnut Day has a whole story behind it. During World War I, volunteers from the Salvation Army travelled to France, where they set up canteens or social centers near army bases that provided soldiers with writing supplies, baked goods and a clothes-mending service.

When the volunteers realized the difficulties of providing freshly baked goods to a mass of soldiers, they came up with the idea of making doughnuts, which were quick to serve. This idea proved to be a big hit.

Source: Seattlepi

Later, in 1938, National Doughnut Day was established during the first week of June by the Salvation Army to commemorate the volunteers who served doughnuts to soldiers during the war and also as a means of raising money during the Great Depression for those in need. Today, it is still a symbol of the aid the salvation army provides.

Source: Huffington Post

Today I’m sharing a recipe in honor of National Doughnut Day. We’re baking doughnut French toast.

Unlike a traditional doughnut, these aren’t ring-like, thick or deep-fried (I find deep comfort in deep-fried doughnuts, crisply brown and fluffy as they are). But these French toasts are golden in color, subtly sweet and aromatic.

 

 These doughnut French toasts are also doused in powdered sugar, just like a sugar doughnut. The original recipe comes from Nigella Lawson- which almost guarantees decadence (not quite as much than a classic doughnut, of course).

 

I love to serve them with strawberries, which add a slight tartness. These are quite perfect for breakfast and so simple to make, you can enjoy the flavor of a warm doughnut even at midnight- when that is all you are craving.

Don’t judge the doughnut french toast simply on what you see- it doesn’t quite resemble a doughnut. But you must try it to learn its story.

doughnut french toast

Doughnut French Toast

A golden brown vanilla French toast coated in powdered sugar. Tastes just like a doughnut, except it only takes an instant to make. 
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Ingredients

  • 1 large egg
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract*
  • 1 tbsp whole milk or heavy cream
  • 2 slices white bread
  • Knob of butter, around ½ tbsp
  • Drop of vegetable oil
  • Powdered or castor sugar, ½ cup for dousing*

Instructions

  • In a shallow dish, whisk together the egg, vanilla and milk.
  • Cut the bread slices in half and soak in the egg mixture.
  • Melt the butter with the oil in a saucepan and gently place each bread half.
  • Cook for around 45 seconds on each side or until golden brown.
  • Place the sugar in another shallow dish and coat the bread completely.
  • Serve warm with fresh fruit.

Notes

Two important notes for this recipe:
  1. You cannot omit the vanilla as it gives the french toast its doughnut flavor
  2. It is your choice whether or not to use powdered or castor sugar- it just depends on which one you prefer. Powdered sugar has a tendency to dissolve, so you may have to dip double.
Course: Breakfast, Dessert
Cuisine: French
Keyword: Breakfast, Eggs

Enjoy this doughnut French toast recipe – bon appetit!

recipe loosely adapted from Nigella Lawson
 
 

If you would; however, like a traditional doughnut recipe, be sure to check out my Nutella stuffed beignets, which have also been published by Yahoo! You could cut them out in a ring shape if you’d like.