Serving the French toast with the accompanying toppings on a large board or platter is one of my signatures! It's a fun presentation and this way everyone can help themselves. As a roadmap, you can prepare the orange compound butter up to a couple days ahead and the orange-infused maple syrup while cooking the toast.
Yield: 4 to 6 servings
Active Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Ease of Preparation: Easy
Ingredients
French Toast:
Orange Compound Butter:
Vanilla-Infused Maple Syrup:
For serving:
Directions
For the French toast: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F and fit a rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, half-and-half, scraped vanilla seeds, brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and a good pinch of salt to combine. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Soak each slice of bread in the batter for about 20 seconds on each side.
Add 1 tablespoon of the butter to the skillet and cook 4 of the bread slices until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Repeat the process with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and 4 bread slices. Keep the finished French toast slices warm on the prepared baking sheet in the oven.
For the orange compound butter: In a small bowl, mix together the orange zest, honey and butter. Add the orange juice and mix to combine. Chill in a small covered bowl until ready to serve, up to 2 days.
For the vanilla-infused maple syrup: In a small saucepan set over medium-low heat, bring the maple syrup and scraped vanilla seeds to a simmer and cook to open up the flavors of the vanilla, about 2 minutes. Swirl in the butter and cook until melted, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and let sit at room temperature until ready to use.
For serving: Serve the French toast on a large board or platter with the orange compound butter, orange-infused syrup and assorted garnishes alongside so guests can help themselves.
Watch Lovely Bites Saturdays at 12 p.m. ET/PT, or stream full episodes on the Watch OWN app.
Active Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Ease of Preparation: Easy
Ingredients
French Toast:
- 8 slices hearty bread, such as challah or brioche
- 6 large eggs
- 3/4 cup half and half
- 1/2 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
- 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cardamom
- Kosher salt
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
Orange Compound Butter:
- Zest of 1 navel orange plus 2 tablespoons juice
- Orange blossom honey
- 1 stick (8 tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
- 1/4 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
Vanilla-Infused Maple Syrup:
- 1 cup maple syrup
- 1 vanilla bean, split and seeds scraped
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
For serving:
- Fresh berries, whipped cream, fresh mint, maple syrup, orange wedges and confectioner's sugar
- Edible orchids, for garnish, optional
Directions
For the French toast: Preheat the oven to 200 degrees F and fit a rimmed baking sheet with a wire rack. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, half-and-half, scraped vanilla seeds, brown sugar, cinnamon, cardamom and a good pinch of salt to combine. Heat a large skillet over medium-low heat. Soak each slice of bread in the batter for about 20 seconds on each side.
Add 1 tablespoon of the butter to the skillet and cook 4 of the bread slices until golden brown, 3 to 4 minutes per side. Repeat the process with the remaining 1 tablespoon butter and 4 bread slices. Keep the finished French toast slices warm on the prepared baking sheet in the oven.
For the orange compound butter: In a small bowl, mix together the orange zest, honey and butter. Add the orange juice and mix to combine. Chill in a small covered bowl until ready to serve, up to 2 days.
For the vanilla-infused maple syrup: In a small saucepan set over medium-low heat, bring the maple syrup and scraped vanilla seeds to a simmer and cook to open up the flavors of the vanilla, about 2 minutes. Swirl in the butter and cook until melted, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and let sit at room temperature until ready to use.
For serving: Serve the French toast on a large board or platter with the orange compound butter, orange-infused syrup and assorted garnishes alongside so guests can help themselves.
Watch Lovely Bites Saturdays at 12 p.m. ET/PT, or stream full episodes on the Watch OWN app.
Published 11/12/2020
