Cinnamon Brioche French Toast Skewers | Richard Blais

Preheat the oven 300°F. Place a cooling rack over a baking sheet and set aside.

In a shallow dish, whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla seeds, salt and ras el hanout together.

Cut the crusts from the brioche slices and cut each slice crosswise into 3 strips. Insert a cinnamon stick into one end of each strip. Dip each piece of bread in the egg mixture, letting it soak for at least 5 seconds on each side, and transfer to the cooling rack to drain.

Heat a pancake griddle or electric skillet over medium-low heat. Add the butter, the vanilla pod, the hibiscus and lavender flowers, if using, and cook until the butter is melted and bubbling. Add half of the soaked bread pieces and cook, turning once, until golden, 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer them to the rack-lined baking sheet and keep warm in the oven while you cook the remaining bread.

To serve, stack 3 skewers on each of four plates. Spread a little more butter on them, if desired, drizzle warm syrup over them and serve.