Cabelleros Pobres (Mexican French Toast)

Cabelleros Pobres (Mexican French Toast)

Cabelleros Pobres (Mexican French Toast)

While you usually eat French toast for breakfast, this Mexican version called caballeros pobres(“poor knights”) is eaten as a dessert. Popular in the Yucatán, this French toast is served with a homemade syrup consisting of piloncillo sugar simmered with a whole cinnamon stick, cloves, anise seeds, and raisins. Since I’m not a huge fan of raisins, I chose to leave them out.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time10 minutes
Course: Breakfast, Dessert, Main Course
Cuisine: Mexican
Keyword: breakfast, dessert, Latin American, main course, Mexican
Servings: 2
Author: Alex Gorgos

Equipment

  • electric hand mixer

Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup milk
  • 1 tbsp sugar
  • 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 2 large eggs whites and yolks separated
  • 4 slices bread thick sliced
  • 1/4 cup vegetable oil

Syrup

  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup piloncillo, panela, or brown sugar
  • 1/2 small cinnamon stick
  • 1 clove
  • 1/8 tsp anise seeds

Instructions

  • Simmer all of the syrup ingredients in a small pot over medium heat for 6-8 minutes until reduced and thick. Strain the whole spices and keep warm.
    Mexican, breakfast
  • Using an electric hand mixer, beat the egg whites until they peak.
    Mexican, breakfast
  • Beat in the egg yolks. Then whisk in the milk, sugar, and vanilla.
    Mexican, breakfast
  • Dip thick slices of bread in the egg batter on both sides. Let each slice absorb the batter.
    Mexican, breakfast
  • Heat up the cooking oil on a griddle over medium heat. Place the battered bread on the griddle.
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  • Cook the French toast for 5 minutes a side until browned. If your bread is 1” or more, press it down with a spatula to flatten it. You will want the inside cooked all the way through.
    Mexican, breakfast
Mexican, breakfast
Drizzle the syrup over the French toast.