Description
Classic Barefoot Contessa challah French toast blends rich Jewish bread traditions with indulgent breakfast comfort. Ina Garten’s signature recipe elevates morning meals with luxurious egg-soaked challah, creating golden-brown slices that melt in your palate and bring weekend brunch magic to the table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 6 extra-large eggs
- 1½ cups (355 ml) half-and-half or milk
- 1 large loaf of challah or brioche bread
Flavoring Ingredients:
- 1 teaspoon grated orange zest
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) good honey
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
Cooking and Serving Ingredients:
- Unsalted butter
- Vegetable oil
- Pure maple syrup, for serving
- Good raspberry preserves (optional)
- Sifted confectioners’ sugar (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 250°F (120°C), creating a warm staging area for the French toast as it cooks.
- Craft the luxurious egg mixture by whisking together eggs, half-and-half, vibrant orange zest, golden honey, pure vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt in a spacious shallow dish.
- Transform the challah bread into thick ¾-inch (2 cm) slices, ensuring uniform thickness for consistent cooking.
- Immerse each bread slice into the egg mixture, allowing it to absorb the flavors for precisely 5 minutes, carefully flipping once to ensure complete saturation.
- Warm a large sauté pan over medium heat, introducing a harmonious blend of butter and oil to create a perfect golden-brown surface.
- Gently place the soaked bread slices into the pan, cooking for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until achieving a rich, caramelized exterior.
- Transfer each perfectly cooked slice to a sheet pan in the preheated oven, maintaining optimal temperature and texture.
- Continue the cooking process, replenishing butter and oil as needed, until all bread slices are transformed into golden, crispy French toast.
- Present the French toast with an elegant flourish, accompanying it with pure maple syrup, vibrant raspberry preserves, and a delicate dusting of confectioners’ sugar.
Notes
- Let bread slices soak up the egg mixture thoroughly, allowing at least 5 minutes for maximum flavor absorption and creamy texture.
- Opt for a spacious sauté pan to cook multiple slices simultaneously, ensuring efficient and uniform browning.
- Sprinkle a hint of cinnamon into the egg mixture for an unexpected flavor boost that elevates the entire dish.
- Prevent soggy results by cooking in small batches, maintaining pan temperature and achieving perfect golden-brown edges.
- Preserve the warmth and crispness of cooked slices by placing them in a low-heated oven while preparing the remaining batch.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 15g
- Sodium: 230mg
- Fat: 15g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Fiber: 1g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 140mg