This recipe for Black Sesame French Toast features a black sesame and tahini mixture stuffed in between two slices of bread, dipped in custard and pan-fried until golden brown.
What is French toast?
French toast is a breakfast dish of sliced of bread soaked in a custard mixture comprising of beaten eggs and milk.
It has the flexibility to be either sweet or savory.
With sweet versions, additional flavors like cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar are introduced into the egg and milk mixture.
Subsequently, the bread slices coated with egg are gently pan-fried using a small amount of butter or oil.
What is black sesame?
Black sesame is a small tiny seed that is used regularly in Asian cuisine.
It can be savored in its original form or made into a paste, which serves as a filling for glutinous rice dumplings (tang yuan) or used in black sesame dessert soup.
Black sesame seeds can also be ground into a powder, which is a versatile way to add into ice cream, coffee, cake, mochi and waffles.
Why you'll love this recipe
This Black Sesame French Toast recipe is:
Unique: it's a fun and different spin on regular French toast, with a delicious filling inside.
Not too sweet: combining the black sesame with tahini adds a nutty, earthy flavor and tempers the overall sweetness.
Easy to make: with only a handful of ingredients, it's quick to whip up.
Ingredients you'll need
- sliced bread: preferably thick-sliced; you can use any sweet enriched bread such as brioche, milk bread, or challah
- sesame paste: you can use tahini or toasted Chinese white sesame paste; should only contain ground sesame
- black sesame powder: a powder made from griding black sesame seeds; you can make your own by grinding whole black sesame seeds in a coffee grinder
- honey: or any sweetener, such as maple syrup, or granulated sugar
- eggs: for the custard
- whole milk: or any milk or non-dairy alternative of your choice
- vanilla extract: for flavor
- granulated sugar: to sweeten the egg mixture slightly
- melted butter: unsalted; for cooking the French toast
For serving:
- condensed milk: thick sweetened milk; usually comes in a can
- black sesame seeds: whole
You can find these ingredients at Asian grocery stores or supermarkets.
How to make it
Have 4 slices of bread ready on a clean work surface.
In a small bowl, add tahini sesame paste, black sesame powder and honey and stir until combined (Step 1 below).
Spread half of the black sesame mixture onto one slice of bread and top with the other slice of bread (Step 2 and 3 below).
Repeat with the remaining bread.
In a shallow bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla extract, sugar, and melted butter.
Soak one sandwich into the egg mixture and flip to soak on the second side (Step 4 below).
Heat up a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat.
Add 1 teaspoon of butter to the pan.
Place the custard-soaked sandwich into the pan and cover with a lid (Step 5 below).
Turn down the heat to medium-low and cook for 2-3 minutes, and flip to cook on the other side for another 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown (Step 6 below).
Remove French toast from the pan and repeat with the remaining sandwich.
Drizzle with condensed milk and sprinkle black sesame seeds before serving.
How to serve
Serve the Black Sesame French Toast slightly warm or at room temperature.
Try it with iced coffee, Hong Kong milk tea, yuenyueng (coffee tea).
How to store
Store any leftover French toast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
How to reheat
Reheat the Black Sesame French Toast in the microwave for about 1 minute, or until warmed through.
Other breakfast recipes you may like
Be sure to check out these recipes:
Vietnamese Coffee French Toast
Easy Double-Baked Almond Croissants
Let me know if you try out this recipe -- tag me on Instagram @siftandsimmer or leave me a comment/rating below!
Black Sesame French Toast
For accuracy and precision in baking recipes, use weight (metric) measurements when available.
Ingredients
- 4 slices bread
- 60 ml tahini sesame paste
- 32 g black sesame powder
- 14 ml honey
- 2 large eggs
- 90 ml whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 5 g granulated sugar
- 15 ml melted butter plus extra for the pan
For serving:
- condensed milk
- black sesame seeds
Instructions
- Have 4 slices of bread ready on a clean work surface.
- In a small bowl, add tahini sesame paste, black sesame powder and honey and stir until combined.
- Spread half of the black sesame mixture onto one slice of bread and top with the other slice of bread.
- Repeat with the remaining bread.
- In a shallow bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla extract, sugar, and melted butter.
- Soak one sandwich into the egg mixture and flip to soak on the second side.
- Heat up a large skillet or frying pan over medium heat.
- Add 1 teaspoon of butter to the pan.
- Place the custard-soaked sandwich into the pan and cover with a lid.
- Turn down the heat to medium-low and cook for 2-3 minutes, and flip to cook on the other side for another 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown.
- Remove French toast from the pan and repeat with the remaining sandwich.
- Drizzle with condensed milk and sprinkle black sesame seeds before serving.
Nutrition
The nutritional information provided should be considered as approximate and is not guaranteed. Please use your best judgment to ensure food is safely prepared and/or a good fit for your diet.
David @ Spiced
What a fun idea! I do love french toast, but I can definitely say that I've never had anything quite like this. I'm intrigued by the black sesame - a good nutty flavor would pair well with french toast!
Dawn
What a deliciously fun way to mix up brunch! I just love the flavour of sesame so I know this would be a hit. And who doesn't love French toast? I already know this will be a hit!
Raymund | angsarap.net
The use of black sesame paste and black sesame powder adds a rich depth of flavor that's quite different from traditional sweet fillings. Plus, the drizzle of condensed milk and the sprinkle of whole black sesame seeds on top add an extra layer of indulgence and texture.