cookies & cream french toast bites

episode #5 of my french toast series

I love a good series

The best of the best take you on epic adventure that’s not only captivating but provides opportunity for engagement & connection.

this french toast bite series is the first of many that I have up my sleeves. One of my goals as a creator is to tap into my culinary creativity & reimagine the familiar in unique ways. Series, like this one, allow me to take one theme—hopefully recognizable to you, like french toast, and give it new life.

cookies & cream french toast bites, aka oreo-inspired, provide just that: something new but something familiar yet exciting & fresh.

episode five pays homage to one of the most popular cookies whose iconic flavor primarily comes from two ingredients. 

dutch processed cocoa powder & sodium bicarbonate.

dutch processed cocoa powder is key for the dark, almost black hue & partially, the alkaline taste. Sodium bicarbonate acts in a supporting role to add more alkalinity to the french toast batter.

after trying this recipe twice now, I can confidently say that the flavor doesn’t perfectly parallel cookies & cream.

however, looking at those black cubes of bread paired with the sweet cream glaze will set your tastebuds up for a surprisingly tasty knock-off.

Because we do eat with our eyes first, right?

series round up

again, this is episode five – there are four other delectable recipes awaiting your attention here on substack. From the matcha lemonade to the coco-vanilla french toast bites with ube sweetened condensed milk.

oh & there’s a bonus episode exclusively on social media: thai tea coco-anise french toast bites.

recipe!

cookies & cream french toast bites with a cream cheese glaze

3-4 servings 10 mins prep + 15 mins cook | 25 mins total time

ingredients

• 3 eggs

• 2 1/2 cups milk

• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

• 1 tablespoon dutch processed cocoa powder

• 1/2 tablespoon baking soda

• 3 tablespoons butter

• pinch of salt

• 1-12 count package king’s hawaiian sweet rolls

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar

for cream cheese glaze

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened

• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened

• 3/4 cup powdered sugar

• 3-4 tablespoons milk

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

instructions

to prepare cream cheese glaze, in a bowl, beat the cream cheese & butter until smooth. Add the powdered sugar, 3 tablespoons of milk & vanilla extract. Beat just until combined. Do not over mix. Add a pinch of salt. Mix & taste. Add additional milk in 1/2 tablespoon increments until you reach your desired consistency.

to prepare french toast bites, in a bowl, whisk eggs, milk, 2 teaspoons dutch processed cocoa powder, vanilla extract & a pinch of salt. Set aside. In a separate bowl, mix sugar & 1 teaspoon dutch processed cocoa powder. Set aside. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a pan over medium-high heat. While butter is melting, add half of the sweet rolls to the milk-egg mixture; submerge them for 6-8 seconds. Shake off excess mixture or allow to drip off on a wire rack-lined baking sheet. Repeat with remaining rolls. Place rolls in pan ensuring that there is no overcrowding. Brown on all sides. Remove from pan & set aside. Repeat process until all rolls are cooked. Toss rolls in prepared cocoa-sugar mixture, if desired. Serve hot with cream cheese glaze.