Hot Chocolate French Toast

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful New Year's Eve and are planning for an enjoyable day off work today. This french toast recipe is pretty decadent and a wonderful way to start 2016 before you embark on your new year's health journey. 

Recipe adapted from Half Baked Harvest.

Ingredients:
-3/4 cup canned coconut milk
-3 tablespoons of your favorite hot cocoa mix
-3 large eggs
-2 tablespoons vanilla extract
-1/4 teaspoon salt
-4 tablespoons butter
-8 thick slices of bread

Hot Cocoa Ganache
-3/4 cup canned coconut milk
-5 ounces semi-sweet chocolate, chopped

For topping
-whipped cream
-toasted coconut

In a microwave safe bowl, heat 3/4 cup of coconut milk and 5 ounces of semi-sweet chocolate for one minute and then stir. If the chocolate is not fully melted, heat at 30 second intervals until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth.

In a 9x13 pan combine the other 3/4 cup of coconut milk, hot cocoa mix, eggs, vanilla extract and salt. Soak each piece of bread for five minutes on each side.

Melt the butter in a large skillet and heat the bread until crisp on both sides. Repeat this process with any remaining pieces of bread if they won't all fit in your skillet.

To serve add one piece of french toast to a plate, top with ganache, top with another piece of french toast. Add whipped cream, toasted coconut, and another drizzle of ganache before serving.

Dave admitted that he was skeptical about this recipe, but he ended up being impressed with it. The chocolate flavor is light and not overwhelming and the french toast isn't overly sweet, although this would be better for brunch than for breakfast. I think the whipped cream and toasted coconut help add additional layers of flavor and texture to this, although you could choose to serve this without them.