Saffron & Cardamom Baked French Toast
Certain flavors and spices just bring you comfort and a sense of home, especially during the holidays. Saffron and cardamom are just those spices for me.
Growing up these spices were what my mom used often not just in her savory dishes like Biryani, but significantly in her desserts. Those flavors are engraved in my taste buds and anytime my palette tastes those flavors I just get taken back to life at home with moms cooking.
This baked French Toast is definitely a crowd pleaser and one by boys enjoy. A spin off the dessert Shahi Tukray but turned millennial of course!
The perfect pop in the oven, Eid morning breakfast, especially if you have carb lovers in the home like mine. And the perfect pairing to the staple Sheer Khurma (vermicelli pudding).
So let’s get started!
Ingredients:
Serves 8
1 Stick Butter (melted)
1/2 cup Brown Sugar
8 Thick Brioche Bread Slices
4 Eggs
1 1/2 cup Milk
1 tsp Vanilla Extract
1/2 tsp Almond Extract (optional)
1/4 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 tsp Ground Cardamom
Pinch of Saffron
Whipped Ricotta Topping (optional):
1/2 cup Ricotta Cheese
Pinch of Saffron
1/4 tsp Ground Cardamom
1/2 tsp Rose Water
1 tsp Lemon Zest (optional)
Optional Garnishes:
Cardamom infused Maple syrup
Crushed Pistachios
Edible Dry Rose Petals
Method:
Brush a 8x8 baking dish with some of your melted butter.
Layer your bread slices in the dish, sprinkling brown sugar between each slice.
Whisk together the rest of the ingredients EXCEPT the butter, really well, then pour over your bread slices.
Now drizzle over your melted butter.
Cover and let it sit overnight or at least 3 to 4 hours to allow the bread slices to absorb the liquid batter.
Now bake it in a 350’F oven for 30 mins or until the top is golden and slightly crisp.
To make the whipped ricotta just whip the ingredients in a bowl and set aside.
Enjoy topped with pistachios, edible dried rose petals cardamom infused maple syrup and whipped rose water infused ricotta.
Notes:
To make cardamom infused maple syrup just heat maple syrup with 3 to 4 cardamom pods in a pot. Once at a boil, turn heat off and allow to sit for 10 mins. (Can he made in advanced and stored in fridge)
I hope you give these delicious Overnight Saffron & Cardamom Baked French Toast a try and love them as much as I do.
Prefer chocolate? Check out my Chocolate Croissant French Toast Casserole!