Hot Chocolate French Toast

Instructions

1. Prepare the chocolate custard
   In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, cocoa powder, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth and well combined. Make sure there are no lumps of cocoa powder remaining.
2. Soak the bread
   Place the slices of brioche in a shallow baking dish and pour the chocolate custard over them. Allow the bread to soak for 5 minutes, then flip each slice and soak for another 5 minutes until the bread has absorbed a good amount of the custard.
3. Heat the cooking surface
   Heat a large non-stick skillet or griddle over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter and allow it to melt, swirling to coat the cooking surface evenly.
4. Cook the French toast
   Place 2-3 soaked bread slices onto the hot surface (do not overcrowd). Cook for 3-4 minutes on each side until golden brown and slightly crisp around the edges. The center should be cooked through but still tender. Add more butter as needed between batches.
5. Add chocolate chips
   During the last minute of cooking, sprinkle some mini chocolate chips on top of each slice. They will begin to melt slightly, creating pockets of melted chocolate throughout the toast.
6. Keep warm
   Transfer the cooked French toast to a baking sheet and keep warm in a 200°F (95°C) oven while cooking the remaining slices.
7. Serve
   Arrange the hot chocolate French toast on plates, drizzle with maple syrup, and add a dollop of whipped cream and fresh berries if desired. Serve immediately while still warm.