Orange zest and juice help to make this French Toast recipe absolutely delicious. Using a torch to brûlée, will make an unforgettable breakfast! French Toast happens to hold a special place in my heart. I tend to serve it one special days, and when I’m in the mood to make breakfast on a weekend. (Each time I told my husband I was pregnant, I did so while serving him french toast.) So let’s see about making this super-simple, and next-level recipe that tastes amazing, with or without a torch.
Scroll down for the details and recipe.
Several years have passed since I originally posted my recipe here (you can tell by my baby-boy’s face). It was time for an updated. I must have subconsciously thought to treat my family to this recipe this Saturday morning because the first time I had something like this, I was in Manhattan, and yesterday, I finished booking our trip to go as a family.
I can’t wait for my kids to finally be in NYC! I’ve been dreaming about it for a long, long time. I love the city so much, and would travel there very often by myself for work. At that time, this happened to be one of the “the best things I’ve ever eaten.” I was staying at the Soho Grand and across the street was this quaint Argentinian cafe called Novecento. I stopped for breakfast and ordered their french toast and I’d never make french toast the same again!
It was full of flavor and topped with beautiful fruit. Their version was not torched, but it really inspired me to always use fruit juice as the main component for the dipping batter and for the topping. (When I first posted this on the blog, they were still open! I just checked this morning, and they closed their doors in 2017, after 25 years at this location in Soho.) Anyway, I ordered the french toast and it blew my mind! It was so good, that I still remember it to this day, and it’s been 20-something years.
There are so many more ways to switch up this recipe, but since with oranges is my typical and favorite way, that’s what I’m sharing here. In the recipe, I share how to make this vegan. If you’d like another flavor idea, I love to make this recipes with peaches.
Let’s just get a close up on those brûléed slices!
Orange-Zest French Toast (with Brûlée) – plus vegan switch-outs
Ingredients
for French Toast
- up to 8 slices bread of your choice I tend to use sourdough because I like the way it holds up.
- 3 large eggs for vegan: it is not necessary to use eggs or an egg substitute. I like to add them for texture when not cooking vegan.
- 1 orange zest of one orange
- 1 cup orange juice I chose either orange or peaches for my examples.
- 1/3 cup milk for vegan: use a vegan-alternative milk.
- 2 tablespoons dark brown sugar If you’re trying for a free of refined sugar alternative, try organic, local honey or maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon optional
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract optional
- 1 tablespoon pat of butter for the skillet when cooking for vegan: use a vegan-alternative butter.
for Brûlée topping
- granulated sugar
- kitchen torch
Instructions
Orange Zest French Toast
- For the Classic recipe: Get a bowl to combine the ingredients to soak the bread to include: eggs, orange zest, orange juice, sugar, milk, and optional cinnamon and vanilla.For the Vegan-version of this recipe, you'll combine the following ingredients: orange zest, orange juice, sugar, milk-alternative, optional cinnamon and vanilla.
- Whisk your ingredients together in a bowl.
- Take out your sliced bread, or slice to 1/2" width if necessary. In the past, I have personally used Sourdough, Ciabatta, artisan loaves, and sliced wheat. It really does not matter what bread you use, as long as you have enough and are happy with it.Take a skillet or pan and heat to medium. I use about a tablespoon of salted butter to melt at the bottom of a large skillet. For vegan cooking, there are many great vegan alternative butters you can use.
- Dip each side of the sliced bread, into the dipping-batter. Once the pan is hot, add all slices that will fit at one time. When you see golden crust around the bottom, flip.
- Once both sides are golden and cooked-through, you'll place them onto a plate. If you are torching to add the brûlée, you'll place them onto a heat-safe surface, like a baking sheet or pan.
Brûlée the French Toast
- It's about time to have fun with your kitchen torch. Depending on the size of each slice, spread between one teaspoon and one tablespoon of granulated sugar, to cover each piece of French Toast. Torch each piece quickly and evenly, to burn the sugar on top. Plate alone, or with fresh fruit, berries and syrup.
Need a kitchen torch? I offer recommendations for cooking, baking, and other kitchen essentials via my Amazon Associates program.
