Decadent Lamington French Toast with Raspberry Jam Syrup: An Award-Winning Australian Breakfast Recipe
Prepare your taste buds for an extraordinary culinary journey! We’re thrilled to reintroduce you to the magnificent **Lamington French Toast with Raspberry Jam Syrup** – a recipe that redefined breakfast and proudly won Australia’s Best Recipes Home Cook Hero Classic Australian Competition! This isn’t just any French toast; it’s a symphony of chocolate-iced, finely desiccated coconut-covered perfection, generously drizzled with a vibrant raspberry jam syrup. It’s undeniably the most decadent French toast you’ll ever experience.
You can delve deeper into the exciting win and discover the original article here. For insights into my culinary inspirations and passion, read more about my journey here. This recipe is a testament to Australian home cooking at its finest, transforming a beloved classic into an innovative breakfast sensation.
The Ultimate Australia Day Breakfast: Lamington French Toasts!
Australians, get ready to rejoice! Forget the usual scramble; your Australia Day breakfast is now gloriously covered with a creative twist on our beloved classic Australian Lamington. Imagine the iconic flavours of a Lamington – those beautiful cake squares adorned with sweet chocolate and coconut – transformed into fluffy, golden French toast. It’s a delightful treat that breaks tradition in the most delicious way, perfect for starting any celebratory day, whether it’s Australia Day, a special weekend brunch, or simply when you crave something extraordinary.
What Makes This Lamington French Toast So Special?
Lamingtons are a cornerstone of Australian culinary heritage, cherished as a delightful treat for tea time, breakfast, or after any meal. They embody a simple yet elegant sweetness that resonates with many. This recipe takes that nostalgia and fuses it with the comforting embrace of French toast, creating a dish that is both familiar and excitingly new. While you could stuff these French toasts with cream and jam, following the traditional Lamington style, we’ve elevated the experience with an incredible, vibrant jam syrup that truly sets this recipe apart.
The magic happens as ordinary, day-old bread, often destined for a simple French toast, undergoes a magnificent transformation. Each slice is dipped into a rich egg mixture, fried to golden perfection, then lovingly coated in a decadent chocolate icing and a generous layer of finely desiccated coconut. The final touch, a homemade raspberry jam syrup, adds a burst of tangy sweetness that cuts through the richness, creating a perfectly balanced flavour profile. It’s more than just breakfast; it’s an experience designed to make your day start on an incredibly high note.
Crafting the Perfect Lamington French Toast: Tips for Success
To truly master this Lamington French Toast, attention to a few details will ensure your creation is as picture-perfect and delicious as possible. The foundation of any great French toast lies in the bread. Using day-old bread is key; its slightly stale nature prevents it from becoming soggy when soaked in the egg mixture, allowing it to absorb the flavors beautifully while maintaining its structure during frying. Opt for a sturdy bread like brioche, challah, or even thick-cut white bread for the best results.
The Art of the Dunk: Achieving the Perfect Coating
- For the French Toast Base: Whisk your eggs, milk, and vanilla extract thoroughly in a wide, shallow dish. This ensures even coating of each bread slice. Don’t over-soak; a quick dip on each side is often enough to moisten the bread without making it mushy.
- Frying Technique: Heat your lightly buttered pan to medium heat. Too low, and your toast will be greasy; too high, and it will burn before cooking through. Aim for a beautiful golden-brown crust on both sides.
- Chocolate Icing Perfection: The secret to the Lamington transformation lies in the chocolate icing. Mix icing sugar and cocoa powder with warm water until you achieve a thick, pourable consistency. It should be thick enough to coat the toast but not so thick it clumps.
- Coconut Coverage: Prepare a separate shallow dish with your desiccated coconut. After dipping each piece of French toast in the chocolate icing, immediately transfer it to the coconut. Gently press and turn to ensure an even, generous coating on all sides. Don’t be shy with the coconut – it’s a crucial part of the Lamington experience!
The Raspberry Jam Syrup: A Burst of Freshness
The raspberry jam syrup is a brilliant counterpoint to the rich chocolate and coconut. Its bright, tangy notes elevate the entire dish. While raspberry jam is recommended for its classic pairing with Lamingtons, don’t hesitate to experiment. Strawberry jam or a mixed berry jam could also create a delightful syrup. Simply combine your chosen jam with boiling water and whisk until smooth. The warmth helps the jam dissolve into a silky, pourable syrup.
Dunk it, dip it, drizzle it… however you prefer to enjoy this masterpiece, just make sure you eat it! The combination of textures and flavours – the soft, custardy French toast, the rich chocolate, the chewy coconut, and the sweet-tart jam syrup – creates an unforgettable breakfast experience.
You can thank me later for this incredible recipe. It’s more than just a meal; it’s a celebration of flavour and a nod to Australian culinary heritage, reimagined for modern indulgence.
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Lamington French Toast with Raspberry Jam Syrup
Ingredients
French Toasts:
- 2 large eggs
- 1/2 cup milk of choice
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 4 slices day-old bread of choice
Chocolate Icing:
- 2/3 cups icing/powdered sugar
- 1/4 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup of warm/boiling water
Raspberry/Strawberry Syrup:
- 1/4 cup Raspberry or Strawberry Jam
- 3 tablespoons boiling water
Additional Ingredient:
- 1/2 cup desiccated/finely shredded coconut (you won’t use it all, but it helps to have this quantity to evenly coat the french toasts)
Instructions
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Whisk eggs and milk together in a wide shallow dish. Add one piece of bread at a time to soak in the egg mix.
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Heat a lightly buttered pan over medium heat. Fry each bread until golden on each side and cooked through. Repeat with each slice.
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To Make the Chocolate Icing: In another shallow dish, whisk together the icing sugar and cocoa powder. Add the warm/boiling water and mix until a thick chocolate sauce-like icing forms.
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Prepare a separate shallow dish with the coconut and set aside. Dip each french toast into the chocolate icing until all sides are evenly covered; allow any excess icing to drip off, then place each chocolate covered french toast into the bowl of coconut; turning to evenly cover. (Sprinkle coconut over the top to get a good coating.)
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To Make the Jam Syrup: combine the jam and water in a serving jug, and whisk until a syrup forms.
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Drizzle the jam syrup over the top to serve!
Notes
For a different flavor profile, try using strawberry jam for the syrup.
Ensure your bread is at least a day old for the best texture; fresh bread tends to become too soggy.
To make this ahead, you can prepare the French toast and icing a day in advance, storing them separately. Assemble and make the syrup just before serving for optimal freshness.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.