The Best Thing to Do with Leftover Hot Dog Buns

Fourth of July barbecues and cookouts have now come and gone, but the aftermath is most likely scattered all over your kitchen. If you're anything like the home cook I am, you have way too many leftover hot dog buns. While too much bread is hardly a complaint to have, a hot dog bun is not a loaf of pillowy sandwich bread or a crusty sourdough boule.

The specificity of hot dog buns makes it a little awkward to eat anything on them that's not hot dog -adjacent. At least that is what I thought until I learned about leftover hot dog bun French toast from old-school food blogger Adam Roberts of The Amateur Gourmet .

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Why You Should Make French Toast with Leftover Hot Dog Buns

Grocery store hot dog buns stay fresh for about 2 to 4 days but after that, they can become very stale. Luckily, Roberts knows that the best French toast starts with stale bread, so stale buns are actually preferred here. When the torpedo-shaped bread is soaked in a French toast custard, pan-fried until golden brown and crisp and drizzled with maple syrup it makes a comforting breakfast and uses up those bonus buns. Win win! Roberts coats his hot dog French toast with slivered almonds, but it's your breakfast, so do what you want. Hot chocolate French toast, anyone?

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How to Make French Toast with Leftover Hot Dog Buns

Making hot dog bun French toast is so simple. Start by separating the two halves of your hot dog buns. Whisk milk, eggs, vanilla extract, sugar and a pinch of salt in a bowl.

Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Dip each hot dog bun half in the custard, then cook, frying the inside of the bun first and pressing down slightly until the bread is golden brown and crisp. Flip over to cook the other side. Serve warm with maple syrup.

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