Orange-Rum Challah French Toast With Whipped Cream Recipe

By
Daniel Gritzer
Daniel Gritzer
Daniel Gritzer
Senior Culinary Director
Daniel joined the Serious Eats culinary team in 2014 and writes recipes, equipment reviews, articles on cooking techniques. Prior to that he was a food editor at Food & Wine magazine, and the staff writer for Time Out New York's restaurant and bars section.
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Updated May. 07, 2020
20160201-challah-french-toast-vicky-wasik-015.jpg
An indulgent special-occasion breakfast. Vicky Wasik

Why It Works

  • Using three eggs per cup of milk produced the ideal custard in our tests, rich but not heavy or overly eggy.
  • Sprinkling with sugar adds a light caramel crust to each slice.
  • Drying the fresh bread in the oven helps it hold up to being soaked.

Thick, tender, custardy slices of challah or brioche, perfectly browned and flavored with orange zest, rum, and a trio of spices. This is special-occasion French toast.

Recipe Facts

4.5

(2)

Active: 30 mins
Total: 60 mins
Serves: 4 servings

Rate & Comment

Ingredients

  • 8 (1-inch-thick) slices challah or brioche

  • 6 large eggs

  • 4 tablespoons (50g) sugar, plus more for sprinkling (see notes)

  • 1 tablespoon (15ml) rum

  • 1/2 loosely packed teaspoon (2g) grated zest from 1/2 medium orange

  • 1/4 teaspoon (1ml) vanilla extract

  • Pinch kosher salt

  • Pinch ground cinnamon

  • Pinch freshly grated nutmeg

  • Pinch freshly grated star anise (optional)

  • 2 cups (480ml) whole milk

  • 4 tablespoons (56g) unsalted butter for the pan, plus more as needed

  • 1/2 cup (120ml) creme fraiche

  • Maple syrup, for serving

Directions

  1. Set a wire rack on a rimmed baking sheet in the oven and preheat to 250°F. If using fresh bread, arrange slices in a single layer on rack and cook in oven, turning once, until lightly toasted, about 20 minutes. (If the bread is stale, you can skip this toasting step.)

  2. Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, sugar, rum, orange zest, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and star anise (if using) until thoroughly combined. Add milk and whisk to blend.

  3. In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, or in a medium bowl with either an electric mixer or a whisk, beat crème fraîche until soft peaks form. Set aside.

  4. Heat 2 tablespoons butter in a large nonstick or cast iron skillet over medium heat, swirling skillet, until foaming subsides. Meanwhile, soak 2 to 3 slices of bread in egg bath, turning, until saturated. Add soaked bread to skillet and cook, swirling occasionally, until browned on bottom side, about 3 minutes. Sprinkle top side of bread with sugar, flip, and continue to cook, swirling occasionally, until browned on second side, about 3 minutes longer. Transfer French toast to rack in oven in a single layer to keep warm and repeat with remaining slices of bread and egg bath. Allow each batch of French toast to heat in oven for at least 10 minutes (but not more than 30) to ensure it is fully cooked through.

  5. Serve French toast with whipped cream and maple syrup.

Special equipment

Wire rack, rimmed baking sheet

Notes

You can also sprinkle the French toast with Demerara or muscovado sugar for a more molasses-y flavor.

This Recipe Appears In

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
1107 Calories
20g Fat
234g Carbs
6g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 1107
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 20g 25%
Saturated Fat 11g 56%
Cholesterol 144mg 48%
Sodium 178mg 8%
Total Carbohydrate 234g 85%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 210g
Protein 6g
Vitamin C 0mg 2%
Calcium 423mg 33%
Iron 1mg 6%
Potassium 825mg 18%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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