Superbly tender and flavorful cornbread battered and cooked french toast style, topped with freshly sliced apples, toasted pecans, vanilla bean mascarpone and a caramel drizzle.
Have you ever fallen in love with a food? Gone to a restaurant multiple times with the intentions of ordering something different and still went back to your one true love?
This is how I feel about cornbread french toast. Which was also an interesting find since I had previously fallen madly in love with their “Full Monty”, a lighter version of a Monte Cristo sandwich. The strawberry reduction sauce they serve with it for dipping...to die for. But anyway, back to the cornbread.
As you may know, I’ll always choose a sweet breakfast over a savory one. Almost every time. Unless I’m having a severe craving for a toasted everything bagel with cream cheese. However, being the sweet-breakfast-aholic that I am, this cornbread french toast immediately caught my eye. Also a bonus, it had no bananas, which is on almost every other breakfast item. This beautiful plate of cornbread was piled high with freshly sliced apples, pecans, a caramel sauce, and this wonderful whipped vanilla bean mascarpone.
To start my copycat off right, I grabbed our favorite boxed cornbread mix, a delicious honey cornbread mix. Fun fact: I love to bake and cook but I’ve never made cornbread from scratch. This cornbread is so moist and slightly sweet from the honey. I knew it would make a perfect base for this at-home version of a restaurant meal.
A thinly sliced apple is so necessary for this dish. It keeps it from being just a warm plate of carbs 🙂 which I’m totally not opposed to, but I sometimes like to pretend that I like fruits and vegetables.
Toasted pecans are up next. Toasting is totally optional and I’m not even sure they toast them at the Turning Point. I prefer toasted nuts because it really brings out their flavor.
Before we get to the mascarpone, it’s definitely worth mentioning the caramel sauce. You can go the lazy girl’s route (no shame here!) but this time around I chose to make this recipe for --> homemade salted caramel sauce. It’s also pretty delicious to have over ice cream. You’re welcome.
The vanilla bean mascarpone is a mixture of (hold onto your hats, people)...vanilla and mascarpone. And a dash of powdered sugar for sweetness. You can find mascarpone in the Italian section of your grocery store. I’ve heard people describe it as the “Italian cream cheese”. I don’t know exactly how it’s made, but boy oh boy is it good. Especially perched atop a warm slice of cornbread.
After your cornbread is prepared, definitely allow it to cool before cutting out a square to be dipped into your egg batter. Not that I would know what happens when you try to cut a baked good before it has properly cooled or anything…
A simple French toast batter of egg, milk and a splash of vanilla come together for the cornbread to be dipped into. Fry the cornbread squares up to your liking, slice up an apple, scoop some vanilla bean mascarpone, sprinkle with pecans and powdered sugar and finish the whole thing off with a generous drizzle of caramel sauce.
What a great day it is to be alive.
What’s your favorite brunch food? Do you make it at home or always order it when you’re out?
Cornbread French Toast
Superbly tender and flavorful cornbread battered and cooked french toast style, topped with freshly sliced apples, toasted pecans, vanilla bean mascarpone and a caramel drizzle.
Ingredients
- 1 package of prepared cornbread mix
- 1 egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup milk
- 2 tablespoon granulated sugar
- ½ cup mascarpone
- 1 ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
- powdered sugar to taste and for plating
- Caramel sauce
- ¼ cup pecans, toasted
- ½ medium apple, sliced
Instructions
- Combine egg, vanilla, milk and sugar in a bowl.
- Dip both sides of a square of cornbread in the bowl of wet ingredients.
- Over a medium high flame, cook each side until the egg has cooked and the crust is golden brown.
- In a separate small bowl, combine mascarpone, vanilla and powdered sugar and stir until combined.
- Slice apple and sprinkle over cornbread french toast. Sprinkle pecans over french toast.
- Drizzle caramel sauce over the entire dish.
- Using a cookie scoop for that rounded shape, scoop mascarpone mixture onto cornbread french toast.
- Finish with a sprinkling of powdered sugar & enjoy!
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1 gramsAmount Per Serving: Calories: 228Unsaturated Fat: 0g
Still hungry? Check out my breakfast archives!!
allie
This looks so delicious!!
xo
Allie
https://alliesfashionalley.com/2016/07/the-limited-premium-denim/
Krysten
Oh my god.
This looks too sinful.
Which means, I am going to have to make it asap! 😛
I love it!
Jessica
Haha, thanks Krysten!! Let me know if you decide to make it 🙂 it's fairly simple to put together and so darn delicious.
Cassie Lopez
This looks amazing! I can't wait o try it.
Tracy
This looks so good! I would have never thought about making cornbread french toast. I can't wait to try it!
Jessica
Those were my exact thoughts as I ordered it off of my favorite brunch place's menu for the first time. "This sounds kinda weird...but also good? I'll try it." So glad I did! Have an awesome week, Tracy!
Crafty Cooking Mama
Cornbread French Toast topped with caramel and vanilla mascarpone - I'm loving the sound of it! I'd be happy with this as a breakfast or a dessert!
I've had my fair share of food loves! I'm still recovering from a broken heart from my last food love & loss. We found a restaurant & micro-brewery that was perfect in every way. I had my go to soup, appetizer & dinner there. Then the chef left and everything went downhill. After so many dining disappointments - I rarely go out for anything but sushi & seafood. Still searching though 🙂
Jessica
Oh my gosh, that's terrible! It's so crazy how one person's cooking can make or break an entire restaurant. I agree with the sushi and seafood - that's something I always leave to the pros 🙂
Shreya
This is so awesome! I'm already drooling just looking at the picture. Cant wait to try this tomorrow!
Jessica
Thanks, Shreya! It's one of my favorite dishes to order at my favorite brunch place so I knew I had to make it on my own 🙂 have a fabulous weekend!
Zoom
So I clicked on this because I was like "Cornbread and french toast...aren't those two textures rather...different"? Well it seems you've found a way to make it work! 😀 I've never worked with Mascarpone before but maybe this is the perfect excuse to try! My normal go to is what I call a "brunch ring" or some baked eggs! I could certainly use a little variety lol
Currently traveling but will have to try this when I get home! Also, your pictures are beautiful!
Jessica
Haha I'm so glad you clicked on over! Mascarpone is fun - I've made makeshift cannoli "filling" for cannoli dip by mixing it with ricotta, vanilla and powdered sugar. Brunch rings and baked eggs sound great too!! Thank you for the kind words 🙂
candy
Sometimes we just need a sweet breakfast and this is perfect.
Jess @ What Jessica Baked Next
I cannot wait to try this! Such a creative idea and recipe, Jessica! I've never thought of transforming cornbread into French toast! Love the vanilla mascarpone cream and all the caramel sauce. SO yummy! 🙂
mira
Love this combination! So creative and looks awesome!
Helen Fern
I never would have thought of using cornbread for french toast, but yours looks fantastic!! Thanks for sharing on the What's for Dinner link up!
Jessica
Thanks so much! Thank you for hosting an awesome link up as well!!
Lauren
This looks ridiculously good! And this is perfect timing because I have leftover corn bread sitting on my counter right now! Meant to be? I think so!
cakespy
I'm a cornbread FIEND so basically this is the breakfast of my dreams.
Jessica
Finally, someone who gets me!! It's hard to not eat half the pan of regular cornbread before it gets turned into French toast...
Nellwyn
Looks delicious! I would never have thought to make french toast with cornbread.
Nellwyn | http://www.thecardinalpress.com
Manali@CookWithManali
What a lovely french toast, looks delicious!
Jessica
Thanks, Manali!!
Eloise
Now here's something new for me to try! I love french toast and corn bread, so this ought to be good... thanks for sharing : )
Michelle
OMG!!! This looks so amazing and I'm sure it tasted so good. I never have seen or tried cornbread before, but after seeing this, I wanna go home and make it. I'm bookmarking this for future use. Thank you for sharing.
Michelle
http://twenty7bymichelle.com
karrie @ Tasty Ever After
Never had cornbread french toast before but I'm making it this weekend! Funny thing is I just toldd my Hubby that I needed to make pancakes or french toast this weekend because we haven't had it in forever. Then I come across your recipe. That's delicious fate right there 😉
Eva @ Eva Bakes
Cornbread as French toast? What an awesome idea! I would gladly NOT share this! 🙂
Jessica
I know! Literally nobody gets even a taste of this when I order it out - it's all gone before they even get a chance, haha!
cara
Corn bread french toast, say what?! This sounds heavenly!
Keri @ Fashionable Foods
Wow! This looks incredible. I LOVE cornbread and never thought to use it for French toast! What an awesome idea! I love the addition of caramel and apples, too. Oh and the mascarpone to top it off sounds just heavenly!
Jessica
Thanks, Keri! Yeah, that restaurant really knows how to top a breakfast dish. They have a regular French toast that has chopped bacon, pecans, and a whipped pumpkin mascarpone...I love getting it in the fall. I believe they call it the 'OMG French toast'. It's worthy of the name 🙂
Elizabeth @ Confessions of a Baking Queen
What a fun twist on french toast, I think my sister would die for this cornbread version!
Jessica
Thanks, Elizabeth! Let me know if she ever tries it! It's just so darn good.
heather (delicious not gorgeous)
i love the trader joe's cornbread mix; i'll try this out with that mix (or gasp, even make my own; but yeah, i've never made homemade cornbread either!). (:
Jessica
Trader Joe's is the best. I might make my own homemade cornbread - but today is not that day, lol. Have a lovely weekend, Heather!
Demeter | Beaming Baker
I have definitely fallen in love with food, Jess! Over and over again... Lol. This cornbread french toast most certainly looks like the stuff of instant love. 🙂 I so enjoyed reading about how you broke down your favorite dish to make your own version at home. And, I'm not afraid to say that I also drooled a little (okay, A LOT) while reading about the stages. Just, coulda come over and whip up a big batch? 😉 The cornbread, the pecans, the caramel sauce... oh wow. Pinning, of course!
Hope you have an awesome week, friend. 🙂
Yum In Your Tum | Amanda
Oh my...I'm drooling!! Looks so delicious. This is the first time I am seeing/hearing about cornbread french toast, and it sounds mouthwatering. French toast is one of my favorite brunch foods, and I would of never thought to make cornbread into french toast. Yes, what a great day to be alive it is!! Cant wait to try this. 🙂
Jessica
Thanks, Amanda! I always get French toast when we go out for breakfast and I was actually a little leery about getting cornbread French toast because it sounded so odd and I wasn't sure it would be good. I'm glad I tried it 🙂
Kathryn @ Family Food on the Table
I can see why you needed to do a copycat of this - sounds like a great combination! It has been far too long since I've had French toast and now I won't be able to get it out of my head until I whip up a batch! A nice problem and you've already given me the solution 🙂
Jessica
Perfect!! And yes, I happened to try this dish and I haven't looked back since!
Leigh
Wow, this sounds right up my alley! Pinned and can't wait to try it.
Piper Ellice
So different, but looks so delicious! I will definitely try it soon!
Candace
OMG....that looks delish! Going to be trying that this weekend, or make the hubby do it 😉