Description

This Vanilla Honey Butter Toast recipe transforms thick brioche slices into a golden, crispy, and subtly sweet breakfast or snack treat. The toast is coated with a luscious blend of butter, honey, brown sugar, vanilla, and a hint of black pepper, then baked to a perfect crisp. Topped with a creamy ricotta and cream cheese mixture, drizzled with honey, fleur de sel, and fresh rosemary, it creates a delightful combination of textures and flavors that elevate simple toast into a gourmet experience.

Ingredients

Scale

Bread

4 thick slices of brioche (2½ inches thick, edges trimmed and each slice cut into 2 rectangles)

Vanilla Honey Butter

7 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
3 ½ tbsp honey (+ more for topping)
4 tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
¼ tsp black pepper
Pinch of salt

Cheese Topping

5 oz ricotta cheese
3 oz cream cheese

Garnish

Fleur de sel (or flaky salt, to taste)
Fresh rosemary (to taste)

Instructions

Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 380°F (193°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent sticking.
Prepare the Brioche: Trim off the edges of the brioche slices, then cut each slice into two rectangles. Arrange these on the lined baking sheet and bake for 2 minutes. Flip the pieces over and bake for another 2 minutes to slightly dry them out, which helps in achieving a crispier toast later.
Make the Vanilla Honey Butter: In a bowl, thoroughly mix together softened butter, honey, brown sugar, pure vanilla extract, black pepper, and a pinch of salt until smooth and well combined.
Apply Butter Mixture: Spread a thin layer of the prepared vanilla honey butter on every side of each brioche piece, including the end caps, ensuring even coverage for maximum flavor and caramelization.
Bake Until Golden: Place the buttered brioche pieces back on the baking sheet and bake for 8 to 11 minutes on the first side, checking at 8 minutes to avoid burning. Flip each piece and bake for an additional 6 to 7 minutes or until the toast is deeply golden and crisp.
Cool the Toast: Remove the toasts from the oven and let them rest on a cooling rack for 20 minutes. This resting time helps the toast to set and crisp up perfectly.
Prepare the Cheese Topping: Using a food processor, whip together the ricotta and cream cheese until smooth and creamy, perfect for piping.
Assemble and Garnish: Pipe the whipped cheese mixture generously onto the cooled toasts. Drizzle with additional honey, sprinkle with fleur de sel to enhance flavor, and garnish with fresh rosemary to add a fragrant herbal note.

Notes

Using thick brioche slices helps the toast hold up to the butter and cheese without becoming soggy.
The initial 2-minute bake on each side dries the bread slightly, ensuring crispiness after applying the butter.
Adjust the amount of black pepper based on your taste preference for a subtle warmth.
If you don’t have a food processor, you can whisk the ricotta and cream cheese vigorously by hand until smooth.
Fleur de sel enhances the sweetness beautifully; if unavailable, use flaky sea salt as a substitute.
The rosemary garnish is optional but adds a lovely aromatic touch that complements the sweetness.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Breakfast/Brunch
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: vanilla honey butter toast, brioche toast, ricotta cream cheese topping, sweet toast recipe, breakfast toast, honey butter toast, baked toast with cheese