This post contains affiliate links.
“Break [slice] fine white bread, crust removed, into rather large pieces which soak in milk [and beaten eggs] fry in oil, cover with honey and serve.”
That recipe comes from the Apicius, a collection of recipes dating back to the Roman Empire, possibly as early as the 1st century CE. It is the earliest reference to something akin to what we refer to today as French toast. Similar recipes would surface throughout Europe in the ensuing centuries, and today French toast remains a popular food, especially as a breakfast item.
During a recent visit to Aldi’s distant cousin, Trader Joes, I spotted some French toast on the shelf. Brioche French toast, even. I decided to put it through the paces.
Trader Joe’s Brioche French Toast can be found in the store’s frozen section. It comes in a box with two pairs of plastic-wrapped slices, for a total of four slices in the box. The toast currently costs $3.99, which comes out to about a dollar a slice.
How you feel about the price will depend on how much you value convenience. Making French toast isn’t too difficult — at a minimum, you just need eggs, bread, and milk — and you can currently get an entire loaf of thick-sliced brioche bread from Walmart for $3.42. From a price perspective, it isn’t even close. However, if you want French toast without the prep, this item checks that box.
Nutritionally, each slice has 170 calories, 5 grams of fat, 2 grams of saturated fat, 70 milligrams of cholesterol, 240 milligrams of sodium, 27 grams of carbohydrates, and 7 grams of added sugars. The toast contains three potential allergens: milk, eggs, and wheat.
Nutrition information and ingredients. (Click to enlarge.)
The instructions offer three ways to make these: oven, microwave, and toaster oven. To cook in the oven, preheat to 400 degrees, arrange desired number of toasts in a single layer on a baking sheet, and heat for 16 to 20 minutes. To microwave, remove from wrapper and place on a microwave-safe dish, heating a single toast on high for 45 to 55 seconds. For a toaster oven, preheat to 350 degrees, then place one or two toasts on a foil sheet and heat for 8 to 10 minutes, or until desired crispiness is achieved.
I figured that since most people are buying these for speed, they’ll use the microwave instructions, so I did, too. I microwaved all four for about two minutes, and I had to additionally heat one of them a little longer to heat it through. These are pre-cooked, though, so heating them is about just making them hot.
These are good French toast slices. They’re thick — we ate just one of them per person — and they have both that signature brioche interior and the egg-ish French toast exterior. For that reason, these are sweet in a couple of ways without being overly sweet, and they pair well with whatever toppings you want, even if it’s just butter and syrup. They probably sacrifice some crispiness for being in the microwave, but they’re still solid just the same.
The Verdict:
From a quality perspective, we think these brioche French toast slices are good. They taste as expected, and despite being frozen, they turn out flavorful, with just the right brioche and French toast notes. You can get them crispy if you want to take the time to bake or toast them, but even out of the microwave they make for a good breakfast. And the toast is thick, too.
The price, though, gave me some pause. A dollar a slice isn’t unfair for a premade, heat-and-eat product, especially one of this quality. But it does feel like a lot given that French toast isn’t hard to make and the ingredients are readily available. I probably would just as soon make it myself. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a quick and convenient brioche French toast fix, this is a good fix.
