Barefoot Contessa's Challah French Toast

Bri22's Note:

I just watched Barefoot Contessa and she made a romantic breakfast for dinner for her husband. I have posted the other things she made which are Barefoot Contessa's Hash Browns - Ina Garten, Barefoot Contessa's Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, and Barefoot Contessa's Raspberry Champagne. She also made sausage links which I'm sure everyone knows how to cook in a pan ;>

• Total Time: 22 mins
• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 12 mins

Ingredients:

Servings: 4

• 1 loaf challah , sliced and left out to dry
• 1 ½ cups whole milk or 1 ½ cups half-and-half
• 6 large eggs
• 1 pinch salt , to taste
• 1 tablespoon honey
• ½ teaspoon grated orange zest , to taste
• ½ teaspoon vanilla
• butter (for frying)
• oil (for frying)

Directions:

1. In a shallow dish large enough to hold three slices of challah side by side, whisk eggs and milk.
2. Add orange zest, honey and vanilla.
3. Add salt.
4. Place three slices of the bread in the egg mixture and let soak about three minutes each side.
5. Meanwhile melt one tbsp of butter and oil each in a large frying pan.
6. Transfer challah to pan and cook 3 minutes on each side or until nicely browned.
7. Add a little more butter for each round of bread.
8. If you are making the other recipes transfer french toast to oven until rest of meal is complete.

Reviews

[Mary_K]

I made it exactly as written, using 1/2 and 1/2. Ina Garten never lets me down. The honey and orange zest gave it a great flavor, but next time I will substitute brown sugar and cinnamon for a more traditional flavor. You cannot go wrong with using challah...WOW!!!

[AlaskaJennifer]

This recipe is excellent. I skipped the salt, honey and used non-fat milk and it turned out great. I also used a brioche with raisins and cinnamon which made it extra good.

[dimply dots]

Delicious! I added a squeeze of the orange for extra flavor and adjusted the servings for 2. Slicing the challah yourself into nice thick slices is key. I've used pre-sliced thin challah before and it isn't as good as the thick slices.