Torrijas (Spanish Style French Toast)

Torrijas

Cooks soaking bread to make torrijas
during Semana Santa.

Torrijas are eaten all over Spain during Semana Santa (Holy Week). Similar to French toast, this simple dessert is made with thick bread dipped in honey, spices, milk or wine, and egg. The bread is then fried in olive oil. For the best results, use a dense (not crumbly or flaky) bread that has gotten stale. Torrijas may be topped with sugar and cinnamon or eaten plain.

Prep Time

15 minutes
+ 1 hour resting

Cook Time

25 minutes

Total Time

1 hour 40 minutes

Vegetarian

Vegan

Gluten Free

Dairy Free

Kosher

Halal

Ingredients

1 loaf of stale, dense bread
4 cups (1 liter) whole milk
3 Tbsp (45 ml) sugar or honey
1 stick cinnamon
3 to 4 eggs
Olive oil, for frying
Sugar, for sprinkling
Cinnamon, for sprinkling

Directions

Cut the bread, on a slight diagonal, into 1-in (2.5-cm) slices.
Arrange them in a shallow dish.
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, combine milk, sugar, and cinnamon stick, bringing to a boil.
Once mixture boils, immediately turn off heat and allow to rest for 5 minutes. Remove the cinnamon stick.
Pour the milk mixture over the bread and allow it to soak in for about 1 hour.
Beat the eggs in a shallow bowl large enough to hold a bread slice.
In a large skillet, heat oil.
Carefully place soaked bread into the egg mixture and coat on all sides.
Place the bread into the skillet and fry until brown, a few minutes on each side.
Cool torrijas on paper towels.
Sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon before serving.