Panettone French Toast - Christmas in July treat

Panettone is a wonderful Christmas treat - a rich buttery Italian fruity bread loaf.  I love buying an extra one and storing away for July when the Queensland weather has a lovely cool crispness and we can really enjoy a winter indulgence.
Serve with a warmed bowl of berries and some vanilla speckled cream to really make your breakfast or brunch really feel special.  Enjoy!!    Colleen

Ingredients      (these are measurements for 2 serves)

Toast
1 thick (1 1/2 inch at least) slice of Panettone per person

2 large eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon brown sugar (or you could use castor sugar)
Shake each of - cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg.
1 tablespoon butter
splash of Light Olive Oil  - this has a very mild flavour.  Or splash of sunflower oil.  
TIPS & HINTS combining the light oil with the butter slows the butter burning too quickly

Berries
mixture of sliced strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, blackberries.
I like to add a couple of teaspoons of Sutton's Apple Syrup from Stanthorpe (see below)

Cream
1/4 cup cream
teaspoon icing sugar 
tiny dab of Pure Vanilla Bean Paste - preferably organic

Method

Lightly whisk the eggs, milk, sugar and spices in a bowl and then pour into a dish where you can lay the panettone flat for it to soak up the eggy mix. I used a pyrex baking dish approx 33cm x 20cm x 5cm deep
Soak the bread for approx 15 min or more - turning to ensure it is well soaked.

While the bread is soaking
Warm serving plates 
Gently heat the sliced berries with the apple syrup - until warm, not soggy. Transfer to a warm bowl 

Whisk some sifted icing sugar into the cream with the dab of vanilla paste until just combined - you want pouring consistency

Warm a wide pan on the stove and melt the butter/oil until begins to foam.

Transfer the bread slices to the pan using a wide slide.
Cook approx 2 mins per side until golden - keep an eye on these - burn quickly.

Serve on warmed plates with the berries and cream. Yuuuuuum!!

From the Granite Belt, Stanthorpe area - we like (and paid for our own) Sutton's Apple Syrup suttonsfarm.com.au  also if you are in the area be sure to stop at Pyramids Road Winery and say Hi to Warren and Sue - Stanthorpe is a great spot to visit in Queensland!
      
Enjoy!     Colleen