Honey Butter Toast

Prepare the bread slices

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F / 180°C. Line a half sheet pan with parchment paper and set aside.
2. Cut the brioche bread into thick slices. About 1.5 - 2 inches thick.
3. Next, slice off the crusts to create square or rectangle slices of bread with straight edges and very little crust.
4. Place the bread slices on the parchment paper-lined baking tray.

Honey butter

1. Place the butter in a microwaveable glass bowl. Make sure the butter is softened and spreadable. If it's not, microwave the butter at a low power level, or in short bursts at high level, until till the butter is softened, but NOT melted.
2. Mix the butter with a spatula to ensure that it's creamy and smooth.
3. To the butter, add the salt (adjust amount for salted butter), brown sugar, and honey. Substitute half of the honey with a stronger flavored honey if you prefer (and have access to it).
4. Add in optional ingredients such as cinnamon and vanilla (or other spice mixes).
5. Mix all the ingredients together until you have a smooth and creamy butter mixture that is spreadable.

Prepare the honey butter toast

1. Spread an even, thin layer of the honey butter on all surfaces of all the bread slices. The bottom and top, as well as the sides of each bread slice. The butter layer should be thick enough to cover most of the surface of the bread slice. Avoid scraping off any butter mixture.
2. Return the slices to the baking tray, and evenly space them out. At least 3 inches between slices.

Toast the bread slices

1. Place the baking tray with the bread in the preheated oven. Make sure the tray is placed in the middle of the oven, where baked goods usually evenly bake.
2. The bread slices should be flipped over half way through the baking time to evenly caramelize both sides. In my oven, this takes about 10 - 12 minutes per side, for a total of 20 - 24 minutes of bake time.
3. If you're unsure, check on the slices at around 7 - 8 minutes. Gently lift the bread with an offset spatula to check if the bottom of the bread is turning a golden color. Once the bottom starts to turn golden (not light golden), then the bread can be flipped over.
4. PLEASE DO NOT touch the bread with bare fingers, as the caramel will be VERY HOT and burn your skin. Please be cautious when you do this.
5. The toast is done when the bottom and top of the slices are a deeper golden color.
6. Remove from the oven and carefully remove each slice with a spatula and place it on a wire rack. The bread slices will be very soft and hot at this stage.
7. Allow the bread slices to cool down, so that the caramel layer can cool down and harden and crisp up.
8. When the surface is crisp (about 5 - 10 minutes), it's ready to be served. The bread will still be warm inside. The honey butter toast can also be served completely at room temperature, within an hour of being cooked.
9. Serve with whipped cream or creme fraiche. Top it with confectioner's sugar, or caramel sauce, or a berry coulis. This can also be served with coffee or tea.