Description
Classic Spanish torrijas are delicious slices of day-old bread soaked in cinnamon-infused sweet milk, dipped in egg, and fried until perfectly golden. Finished with a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar, this traditional dessert resembles French toast and is a beloved treat during Easter and year-round.
Ingredients
Bread
- 1 large day-old baguette or brioche loaf, sliced into 1-inch pieces
Milk Mixture
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 cinnamon stick
- 1 strip lemon peel
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
Egg Coating
- 2 large eggs
For Frying and Coating
- Vegetable oil, for frying (about 1/2 inch depth in skillet)
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar, for coating
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon, for coating
Instructions
- Prepare the infused milk: Combine the milk, 1/2 cup sugar, cinnamon stick, and lemon peel in a saucepan over medium heat. Warm the mixture until it’s steaming but not boiling, then remove from heat and stir in the vanilla extract. Allow it to cool slightly to avoid breaking the bread during soaking.
- Soak the bread: Arrange the sliced bread in a shallow dish and pour the warm cinnamon milk over them. Let the slices soak for 5 to 10 minutes, turning once midway to ensure even absorption. The bread should be softened yet still hold its shape.
- Coat with egg: Whisk the eggs in a shallow bowl. Carefully dip each soaked bread slice into the beaten eggs, coating both sides thoroughly but gently to keep the bread intact.
- Heat the oil: Pour vegetable oil into a skillet to about 1/2 inch depth and heat over medium heat until shimmering but not smoking, suitable for frying.
- Fry the torrijas: In batches, fry each egg-coated bread slice for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until golden brown and crisp on the outside. Avoid overcrowding the pan to maintain oil temperature.
- Drain excess oil: Transfer the fried torrijas to a plate lined with paper towels to absorb excess oil and keep them crisp.
- Coat with cinnamon sugar: Mix the remaining 1/3 cup granulated sugar with 1 tsp ground cinnamon. While the torrijas are still warm, coat them evenly with the cinnamon sugar mixture before serving for a sweet and aromatic finish.
Notes
- Day-old bread is ideal as it absorbs the milk mixture well without becoming soggy.
- For a richer taste, substitute part of the milk with heavy cream.
- Instead of cinnamon sugar, drizzle torrijas with honey for a different but equally delicious twist.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Spanish
