Description
This delightful French Toast recipe features thick slices of Challah bread soaked in a rich, spiced custard, pan-fried to golden perfection, then finished in the oven for a warm, tender texture. It’s served with a luscious orange marmalade whipped cream that adds a bright, citrusy contrast, making it an elegant and comforting breakfast or brunch treat.
Ingredients
Scale
French Toast
- 8 slices Challah Bread
- 4 Eggs
- 1 cup Half and Half
- 5 tablespoons Granulated Sugar
- 1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon Orange zest
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 teaspoon Almond Extract
- 1 pinch Salt
- 3 tablespoons Butter
- Maple Syrup, to taste
Orange Marmalade Whipped Cream
- 1 cup Heavy Cream
- 1 tablespoon Granulated Sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- 2 tablespoons Orange Marmalade
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Set your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (180 degrees Celsius) to prepare for finishing the French toast.
- Prepare Custard Base: In a blender or using a handheld mixer, beat 4 eggs for 30 seconds until slightly frothy.
- Add Custard Ingredients: To the eggs, add 1 cup half and half, 5 tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, a pinch of salt, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1/4 teaspoon orange zest, and 1/2 teaspoon almond extract. Blend for another 30 seconds until fully combined.
- Soak Bread: Pour the custard mixture into a large baking dish. Arrange the 8 slices of Challah bread in the dish, spooning custard over them. Let the bread soak for 8 minutes to absorb the custard thoroughly.
- Flip and Soak Again: Turn the bread slices over and soak the other side for an additional 8 minutes to ensure even custard absorption.
- Pan-Fry French Toast: Heat a large skillet or griddle over medium heat and melt 3 tablespoons of butter to coat the surface evenly. Cook each slice for 2-3 minutes per side until golden brown. Repeat with all slices.
- Bake Bread: Transfer the cooked bread slices to a baking sheet and bake in the preheated oven for 5-7 minutes to finish cooking and ensure a soft interior.
- Make Whipped Cream: In a large bowl, use a hand-held mixer to beat 1 cup heavy cream until thick, approximately 3 minutes.
- Add Sugar and Flavoring: Add 1 tablespoon granulated sugar and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract to the whipped cream. Continue beating for 2-3 minutes until stiff peaks form.
- Incorporate Orange Marmalade: Gently fold in 2 tablespoons orange marmalade, a little at a time, tasting as you go to achieve the desired balance of sweetness and citrus.
- Serve: Top the French toast with the orange marmalade whipped cream, drizzle with maple syrup to taste, and garnish with fresh fruit if desired.
Notes
- For best results, use Challah bread or another thick, egg-enriched bread for soaking to achieve a custardy interior.
- If you do not have almond extract, you can omit it or substitute with additional vanilla extract.
- The soaking times are important to ensure the bread fully absorbs the custard but is not too soggy to handle.
- You can prepare the whipped cream with orange marmalade ahead of time and keep refrigerated until ready to serve.
- Fresh berries or sliced citrus fruits pair wonderfully as toppings alongside the whipped cream and syrup.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: French Toast, Breakfast, Brunch, Challah Bread, Orange Marmalade, Whipped Cream, Cinnamon, Custard
