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Chef John's Monte Cristo Brunch

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PREP TIME
20 min
COOKING TIME
30 min
TOTAL TIME
60 min
SERVINGS
4 servings
Breakfast
Chef John's Monte Cristo Brunch
Ingredients
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1/4 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 tablespoon white sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper
  • 4 thick slices day-old French bread
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 8 thin slices cooked ham
  • 4 slices Cheddar cheese
  • 4 slices Havarti cheese
  • 8 poached eggs
  • 2 teaspoons chopped fresh chives, or to taste
  • 1 pinch kosher salt, or to taste
  • 1 pinch cayenne pepper, or to taste
Instructions
1
Preheat the oven to a high heat setting of 375 degrees Fahrenheit (190 degrees Celsius).
2
In a bowl, blend together two eggs, heavy cream, granulated sugar, ground cinnamon, ground allspice, a small amount of salt, and a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper until fully incorporated.
3
One slice of bread at a time, dip the bread into the egg mixture and allow it to absorb the liquid. Flip the bread slice and repeat the process until almost all of the egg mixture has been absorbed, approximately ten minutes.
4
Over medium heat, melt butter in a large skillet. Add the bread slices and cook until they are golden brown on both sides, two to three minutes per side. Transfer the French toast slices to a baking sheet.
5
In the same skillet, add sliced ham and cook until it starts to brown, about one minute per side.
6
Place a slice of Cheddar cheese on top of a slice of French toast, followed by two slices of ham and finally a slice of Havarti cheese.
7
Place the sandwiches in the preheated oven and bake until the French toast slices are no longer damp, the egg mixture has set, and the cheeses have melted and started to brown, approximately twenty minutes.
8
Arrange the sandwiches on serving plates and top each with two poached eggs and chopped chives. Season with a small amount of salt and a tiny pinch of cayenne pepper.