Hong Kong Style French Toast

If you love French toast, you will love Hong Kong Style French Toast. Loaded with peanut butter (or your favourite spread!), fried to golden crispy perfection and finished with a drizzle of condensed milk, it makes for the most epic brunch dish.

Table of Contents

• Introducing Hong Kong Style French Toast
• Key Ingredients
• French Toast: A Millennia-Old Treat
• Hong Kong Style French Toast
• Choose Your Spread
• Best Bread for French Toast
• Hong Kong Style French Toast Serving Suggestions
• More Brunch Inspo
• Final Thoughts

Introducing Hong Kong Style French Toast

Hong Kong Style French Toast is a popular dish in Hong Kong’s cha chaan teng (tea restaurants). Unlike traditional French toast, this version is a delicious three-tiered sandwich stuffed with peanut butter, shallow-fried to golden perfection, and topped with salted butter and condensed milk. It’s a rich, indulgent treat that’s perfect for brunch or a sweet breakfast. Let’s explore the ingredients and steps to create this delightful dish.

Key Ingredients

• Thick White Bread: Forms the base of the toast, providing a soft and fluffy texture – thick slices are important!
• Peanut Butter (or your favourite spread): Adds a creamy, nutty flavour and richness.
• Large Eggs: Essential for the batter, helping to create a crispy exterior.
• Whole Milk: Combines with the eggs to create a smooth batter.
• Vegetable Oil: Used for shallow frying, giving the toast a golden, crispy finish.
• Salted Butter: Adds a rich, savoury contrast to the sweetness of the condensed milk.
• Condensed Milk: Provides a sweet, creamy drizzle to finish the toast.

French Toast: A Millennia-Old Treat

French toast has a long and varied history, with versions of the dish found in many cultures around the world. The origins of French toast can be traced back to ancient Rome, where a similar dish called “pan dulcis” was made by soaking bread in milk and egg before frying it. In France, it is known as “pain perdu,” meaning “lost bread,” as it was a way to use up stale bread. In the United States, French toast is a beloved breakfast staple, often served with syrup, powdered sugar, and fresh fruit.

Hong Kong Style French Toast stands out with its unique preparation and indulgent toppings. It offers a delightful contrast to the more common breakfast options and brings a touch of Eastern culinary flair to the table.

Hong Kong Style French Toast

Hong Kong Style French Toast is more than just a breakfast dish; it’s a cultural icon. Found in cha chaan tengs across Hong Kong, it represents the fusion of Western and Eastern culinary traditions. These tea restaurants have their roots in the British colonial era, blending Western-style dishes with local flavours and ingredients. This fusion is evident in the use of peanut butter, a Western favourite, and condensed milk, a staple in many Asian desserts.

In Hong Kong, you typically enjoy this French toast as a decadent breakfast or sweet snack. You often pair it with a cup of Hong Kong-style milk tea, creating a perfect balance of rich and sweet flavours. The dish’s popularity has spread beyond Hong Kong, becoming a beloved treat in many parts of the world.

Choose Your Spread

I’m not the biggest fan of peanut butter (love the taste, hate the texture). However, it is amazing in this recipe. Just a thin layer is enough to inject a delicious peanut flavour. Peanut butter is a classic choice for Hong Kong-style French toast, adding a rich, nutty flavour that pairs beautifully with the sweet condensed milk. However, you can get creative with your choice of spread. Try using Nutella, almond butter, or even a fruit jam to switch up the flavours. Each variation brings its own unique twist to the dish, making it versatile and customizable to your preferences.

Best Bread for French Toast

The key to perfect Hong Kong Style French Toast lies in the bread. Thick slices of white bread are ideal as they soak up the egg mixture without becoming too soggy. The bread should be soft yet sturdy enough to hold the peanut butter filling. Avoid using thin pre-sliced sandwich bread, as it’s often too thin and lacks the right texture for this recipe. Opt for a bakery-style loaf that you can slice yourself to ensure the perfect thickness. French toast is also a great opportunity to use old or stale bread that is a day past fresh.

The Role of Condensed Milk

Condensed milk provides a sweet and creamy finish that complements the crispy toast and rich peanut butter. It is made by removing most of the water from milk and adding sugar, and has a thick consistency and a caramel-like flavour. Drizzling it over the hot toast allows it to melt slightly, creating a luscious, indulgent topping. If you prefer a less sweet option, you can drizzle the toast with honey or maple syrup as an alternative.

Beyond Hong Kong Style French toast, condensed milk has lots of uses in many Asian desserts and beverages. In Thailand, it’s a key ingredient in Thai iced tea. In Vietnam, it sweetens the iconic Vietnamese iced coffee (cà phê sữa đá). Condensed milk is also used in Filipino leche flan, a rich, custardy dessert similar to crème caramel. In India, it’s used to make various sweets like barfi and kheer. Its versatility and intense sweetness make it a beloved ingredient in many Asian kitchens, perfect for adding a touch of indulgence to both drinks and desserts.

Hong Kong Style French Toast Serving Suggestions

To serve this Hong Kong Style French Toast, top each piece with a pat of salted butter and a generous drizzle of condensed milk. The combination of the warm, crispy toast with the melting butter and sweet milk creates a heavenly bite. Fresh fruit, such as sliced bananas or berries, can also provide a refreshing contrast to the rich flavours.

More Brunch Inspo

If you’re looking for more brunch inspiration, why not try one of these recipes?

• Kimchi Potato Rosti: Golden, crispy and loaded with flavour, this Kimchi Potato Rosti takes a classic dish and gives it a vibrant twist. The addition of kimchi introduces a tangy and spicy kick. Topped with poached eggs and avocado, it makes for the perfect brunch dish.
• New York-Style Bagels: They’re crunchy on the outside and perfectly chewy in the middle – infinitely better than anything you’d buy in a supermarket!
• Açai Bowl: The perfect summertime breakfast! Why pay a fortune for an açai bowl when you can make one at home for a fraction of the cost?

Final Thoughts

This Hong Kong Style French Toast is a delightful and indulgent twist on a classic breakfast dish. Enjoy this dish as a special brunch or a decadent breakfast that’s sure to impress!