Description
Ina Garten’s challah French toast delivers rich, custardy slices perfect for weekend brunches. Crisp exterior and silky center make this breakfast classic a comforting indulgence you’ll savor slowly.
Ingredients
Scale
- 6 extra-large eggs
- 1.5 cups (355 ml) half-and-half or milk
- 1 large loaf of challah or brioche bread
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) good honey
- 1 tsp grated orange zest
- 0.5 tsp pure vanilla extract
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- Unsalted butter
- Vegetable oil
- Pure maple syrup, for serving
- Good raspberry preserves (optional)
- Sifted confectioners’ sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Station: Preheat oven to 250°F (120°C) to maintain toast warmth and crispness during preparation.
- Create Egg Mixture: Whisk eggs, half-and-half, orange zest, honey, vanilla extract, and salt in a shallow dish until thoroughly combined, creating a rich, aromatic base for soaking bread.
- Bread Preparation: Slice challah into uniform ¾-inch thick pieces, ensuring even absorption and consistent cooking texture.
- Soak and Saturate: Immerse bread slices in egg mixture, allowing complete flavor infusion by soaking for 5 minutes and flipping once to guarantee thorough coverage.
- Cooking Surface: Heat large sauté pan over medium heat, adding butter and oil to create a perfect golden-brown cooking environment for the toast.
- Culinary Transformation: Cook soaked bread slices for 2-3 minutes per side, developing a caramelized exterior and creating a crisp, luxurious texture.
- Staging and Serving: Transfer cooked slices to sheet pan in warm oven, continuing to cook remaining pieces and refreshing pan with additional butter and oil as needed.
- Elegant Presentation: Plate French toast with pure maple syrup, raspberry preserves, and a delicate sprinkle of confectioners’ sugar, creating a visually stunning and delectable breakfast experience.
Notes
- Bread Selection Matters: Use day-old challah for optimal absorption and texture, as fresh bread can become too soggy during soaking.
- Precise Soaking Technique: Allow exactly 5 minutes of soaking, flipping once to ensure even flavor penetration and prevent bread from falling apart.
- Temperature Control is Key: Maintain medium heat to achieve a perfect golden-brown crust without burning the exterior or leaving the interior undercooked.
- Staging Hack: Keep cooked French toast warm in a low-temperature oven to maintain crispiness and serve all pieces simultaneously, ensuring everyone enjoys a hot meal together.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 550 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 42 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 380 mg