French toast with whipped honey butter

Name: French toast with whipped honey butter
Cook time: 2 h 30 min
Yield: 4-6
Cuisine: Modern Australian
Ingredients: 5 eggs; 300ml full-cream milk; 1 tsp vanilla extract; 40g caster sugar; 6 x 4cm-thick slices of brioche; 80g unsalted butter; 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

Julia Busuttil Nishimura

February 6, 2026

Serve the French toast with the whipped butter, fresh raspberries and figs, pistachios, plus an extra drizzle of honey.William Meppem

easyTime:2 hours +Serves:4-6

I initially fell in love with French toast in Japan, of all places, where very thick slices of crustless shokupan (Japanese milk bread) are soaked overnight, then fried until light-golden. Often served with a square of butter, some whipped cream and fresh fruit, it felt nostalgic and the contrast of the crisp exterior with the custardy centre was a revelation.

At home, this makes for a very impressive breakfast, especially on Valentine’s Day. Here, I’ve used brioche, although shokupan or challah would work equally well. The eggy bread is topped with a whipped honey butter, pistachios, raspberries and figs, although any fruit of your choice would be lovely.

Ingredients

For the French toast

5 eggs
300ml full-cream milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
40g caster sugar
6 x 4cm-thick slices of brioche
80g unsalted butter
2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

FOR THE WHIPPED HONEY BUTTER

100g unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 tbsp honey
flaky sea salt

To serve

figs, halved
raspberries
unsalted, shelled pistachios, roughly chopped
extra honey (optional)

Method

Soak the French toast

Step 1
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla and caster sugar.
Step 2
Arrange the bread slices in a deep tray where they fit snugly, then pour the egg mixture over the top. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours, flipping halfway.

Make the whipped honey butter

Step 1
Place the 100g butter in the bowl and whisk until slightly aerated. You can do this easily with a hand whisk, but an electric mixer or a stand mixer can also be used.
Step 2
Add the honey and continue to whisk until light and aerated.
Step 3
Fold in a good pinch of salt and set aside.

to assemble

Step 1
Heat one third of the 80g butter and one third of the olive oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. When the butter is foaming, place two of the slices in the pan and cook for about 3 minutes on each side, until golden. Keep warm and repeat with the remaining butter, oil and soaked bread.
Step 2
Serve the French toast with the whipped honey butter, figs, raspberries, chopped pistachios and extra honey, if desired.

The best recipes from Australia's leading chefs straight to your inbox.