Zucchini Bread French Toast with Maple-Bourbon Butter

• Recipe by Ashley Christensen

You can also use store-bought zucchini bread to make this extravagant dessert, topped with ice cream and a sweet bourbon-spiked butter sauce.

Ingredients

1. 1 cup heavy cream
2. 1/2 cup milk
3. 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
4. 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
5. 1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
6. Zucchini Bread, ends trimmed, cut into 8 slices
7. 1 stick plus 2 tablespoons (5 ounces) unsalted butter
8. 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
9. 1/4 cup bourbon
10. Pinch of salt
11. Vanilla ice cream for serving

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk the cream, milk, eggs, vanilla extract and confectioners' sugar until blended. Transfer to a 9-by-13-inch glass or ceramic baking dish. Add the zucchini bread slices and let soak, turning once, until saturated, about 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a medium saucepan, combine 1 stick of the butter with the maple syrup, bourbon and salt and bring to a simmer, whisking constantly. Simmer until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes.
3. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in each of 2 large nonstick skillets. Drain the zucchini bread. Add the slices to the skillets and cook over moderate heat, turning once, until golden and firm to the touch, about 15 minutes.
4. Arrange the zucchini French toast on 8 plates. Top with a scoop of ice cream and spoon the hot maple-bourbon butter on top.