Journalists love to make grand claims. This is partly because people love to click on stories with definitive-sounding headlines – nobody is going to read a story entitled ‘One or two people are serving French toast on their pudding menu; let’s see if we can find one more example and make it a trend’ – and partly because it makes us feel important.

But I was initially annoyed to see Felicity Specter’s article proclaiming French toast as the pudding of 2015 in the UK and the USA. Personally, I was gunning for ice cream and chocolate sauce. It seemed appropriate, given the explosion of artisan ice cream. Plus I still really like Ice Cap, and it would be great if they would start serving it in restaurants. Or even just the hot chocolate sauce. (Remember how it used to be served hot in an itty bitty silver jug?) Or a proper nineties Bar One sauce! (Surely one of the most pivotal inventions of the decade?)

But bow to the pressures of the west I must, so let us examine French toast as a possible pudding for the year in this country.

The pros:

1. French toast, like burgers and pizza, offers a blank canvas upon which to experiment with zany flavours. Like Oreo, for example.

I think I developed diabetes from just looking at it * | Oreo Cookie French Toast: served with crumbled Oreo cookies and whipped cream from @johnogroatsla | Photo Creds: @jayspiel #thedailybite #johnogroatsla #foodporn

A photo posted by The Daily Bite (@the_daily_bite_) on Mar 8, 2015 at 6:38pm PDT

2. Or Nutella. (And I am always in search of more reasons to eat Nutella.)

French toast for breakfast on a school day * #Nutella #frenchtoast #breakfast #yum

A photo posted by Karen Saito (@chocoholicmonster) on May 11, 2015 at 5:17pm PDT

3. Or strawberry s’mores.

最近想肥死自己✌*️✌*✌* #strawberry #smores #brioche #FrenchToast #LovelyBreakfast

A photo posted by Габриэль (@gabriellepai) on May 11, 2015 at 6:10pm PDT

4. Or pecan vanilla.

Must try these #Pecan #Vanilla #FrenchToast w #Eggs and #** #Toast *. #SquareOneDining brunch in the old hood #EastHollywood #LosFeliz

A photo posted by Steven Viz (@gohomesteve) on May 11, 2015 at 12:10pm PDT

5. You can cut it thick.

French Toast with blueberry & strawberry at #anna’s #breakfast #frenchtoast #sogood #food #sweet #berry #fruit #음식 #아침식사 #달달 #딸기 #토스트

A photo posted by Jayden Park – 박주용 (@parkj0828) on May 11, 2015 at 11:01am PDT

6. Or into little cubes.

I don’t usually post food pictures but this French toast take at #alicesteacup was absolutely delicious! * #latergram #todiefor #delicious #sogood #foodafterraces #foreverfat #frenchtoast #amazing #nyc #musttry #citylife #brunch

A photo posted by Orinda** (@ori519) on May 11, 2015 at 1:26pm PDT

7. Or slice it into soldiers.

#rebekahskitchen #frenchtoaststicks #frenchtoast #breakfast #kidapproved #cookingforkids #loveforcooking #cooking #homemade #homecooked #homechef #homecooking #foodiesunite #foodart #foodiesofinstagram #foodstagram #foodsofinstagram #breakfasteats #breakfastanytime #brekky #breakfastideas #strawberries

A photo posted by Rebekah’s Kitchen (@_mykitchen_toyours) on May 5, 2015 at 5:30am PDT

8. Or roll it up like a Swiss roll.

#goodevening my Dear* Still in Search for #Foodinspiration for tomorrow Morning?* Well, then look at these absolutely delicious French Toast Roll Ups made by @noraschi* I mean that’s Perfection all over!*** But believe me, my Dear does not only post the greatest Breakfast Pictures, she also shares lots of other mouthwatering and healthy Recipes for Main Dishes and absolutely worth reading Blogposts about Nutrition on her Account and gorgeous Blog.******✨ Moreover, Nora’s such a strong and determined Person. A real Sweetheart in personal*❤️ So, head over to @noraschi and convince yourself. I’m sure you won’t regret it, as this lovely Girl is one of the Bloggers I check out daily by myself and stay in Contact with.✅* #foodporn #delicious #healthyFood #foodblogger #fitgirl

A photo posted by Stefanie*Blogger✌️ (@stefaniegoldmarie) on May 11, 2015 at 9:02am PDT

9. You can deep fry it.

Stuffed deep fried french toast! Thanks for a great brunch! @kayyyayyytee @mposa #foodporn #frenchtoast #kitchenstory #nomnom

A photo posted by @b_cardel on May 11, 2015 at 2:01pm PDT

10. Or cook it in a waffle maker.

Who wouldn’t love to wake up to some Waffled Churro French Toast Sticks? #waffle #churro #frenchtoaststicks #frenchtoast #breakfast #recipeoftheday Recipe credit: Savory Nothings. Direct link to recipe in profile or cut and paste: http://www.myrecipemagic.com/recipe/recipedetail/waffled-churro-french-toast-sticks

A photo posted by My Recipe Magic (@myrecipemagic) on May 5, 2015 at 8:04am PDT

11. Or bake it. (With chocolate chunks.)

Today’s Breakfast #BakedFrenchToast topped with and some #Cadbury #chocolate and #MapleSyrup * 7/F 54/C 26/P #flexibledieting #flexbowl #food #fitness #iifym #beltsanderbrownie #foodporn #oats #Proats #proatbowl #3dmj #instafood #oatporn #proatporn #instafitness #ifitfitsyourmacros #frenchtoast #poptart #dieting

A photo posted by Aaron Cort (@aaronrichardcort) on May 11, 2015 at 1:14pm PDT

12. You can bake it en masse, in a casserole. (Is this basically bread-and-butter pudding, or is it just me?)

French Toast Casserole with in house made Peanut butter syrup. Come and get it!! @koolbeanzbuzz #koolbeanzcafe #koolbeanz #granitecity #frenchtoast #casserole #frenchtoastcasserole #delicious #food #foodie #sweet #sweettooth #baking #peanutbutter #breakfast

A photo posted by Nolan Rogers (@nolantr) on Apr 30, 2015 at 7:23am PDT

13. You can experiment with the bread, too. For instance, you could use a doughnut.

Donut French Toast @ Norma’s

A photo posted by fiofei (@fiofeimlll) on May 11, 2015 at 1:25pm PDT

14. Or a croissant.

Starting my Sunday with a decadent French-toast croissant topped with blueberry compote and honey!

A photo posted by David Lum (@davidlumto) on Feb 1, 2015 at 7:01am PST

15. Or a bagel.

Bcuz we gon party like its ur birthday * #birthdaycakecreamcheese #frenchtoastbagel #tompkinssquarebagels @tompkinssquarebagels #seohungry #fabfoodfiesta #foodporndaily #foodpornshare #foodporn #bagelporn #creamcheese #newforkcity #whatisadiet #tryitordiet

A photo posted by #seohungry (@seohungry) on May 2, 2015 at 1:48pm PDT

16. Or churros.

Cafe 72’s Churro French toast special #yum #instafood #yummy #amazing #instagood #photooftheday #sweet #brunch #breakfast #tasty #food #carmel #delicious #eating #foodpic #foodtography #sugar #hungry #hot #churro #frenchtoast #nj

A photo posted by Amanda ** (@aphotosynthesis) on May 11, 2015 at 1:39pm PDT

The cons:

1. People are prone to putting bananas with French toast. There is also a danger that people might also use banana bread to make the French toast. (Here’s some more literature on why bananas are the worst, in case this objection puzzles you.)

When you work overnights so your day starts later and everybody clowning cause you want #Breakfast…… Until you cook breakfast then it’s just silence and*** #BananaFoster #FrenchToast #BananaFosterFrenchToast #PaperPlateChronicles #IfYouCanHuhYouCanHearMe

A photo posted by Juan Juan (@the_black_patriot) on May 11, 2015 at 12:44pm PDT

2. Wheat-free breads tend not to work so well in absorbing the eggy mixture. Rye is particularly horrible at this – although I have had more success with that sweet potato bread they sell at Wellness Warehouse, which behaves more like white bread.

3. I suspect the banting folk may have similar objections. Low-carb bread does not strike me as being particularly absorptive.

4. Those are all of the cons I can think of.