If you happen to find a brioche loaf, it also would make terrific French toast.

　　Active time: 20 min Start to finish: 30 min

　　

Ingredients

Makes 4 servings

　　

For French toast

3 large eggs

　　1 cup whole milk

　　1 teaspoon sugar

　　1/4 teaspoon salt

　　1 (1-lb) challah loaf, cut crosswise into 12 (1/2-inch-thick) slices (not including end pieces)

　　3 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter

　　

For berry sauce

3 cups mixed berries such as blackberries, raspberries, and blueberries

　　1/3 to 1/2 cup sugar (depending on sweetness of berries)

　　1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

　　Garnish: confectioners sugar for dusting

　　

Prepare French toast:

Step 1

Preheat oven to 350°F.

　　

Step 2

Whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, and salt until blended. Pour into a large baking pan and soak bread slices in 1 layer, turning once, 8 minutes.

　　

Prepare berry sauce while bread is soaking:

Step 3

Purée 1 1/2 cups berries with sugar and lemon juice in a blender. If you want to eliminate seeds, force purée through a very fine sieve into a bowl. Transfer to a serving bowl and fold in remaining berries.

　　

Cook French toast:

Step 4

Heat 1 1/2 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet or griddle over moderately high heat until foam subsides. Transfer 4 soaked bread slices to skillet with a slotted spatula and cook until golden brown, about 1 minute on each side. Cook remaining bread in 2 batches, adding more butter as needed. Transfer slices as cooked to a large shallow baking pan (using a clean spatula) and, when all are browned, bake in middle of oven until hot, about 5 minutes.

　　

Step 5

Serve French toast with berry sauce.