What's the best bread to make French toast?

We love using pumpkin bread in this recipe, but you can also use challah, brioche bread, crusty French bread , or sourdough! Whatever bread you use, make sure it's slightly stale: Using stale, leftover bread is always best for fluffy French toast!

What is the trick to not soggy French toast?

First, be sure you're using thick, slightly stale bread slices. Drier bread will soak up the batter more evenly. Second, be sure to use only a tiny bit of butter and oil in the pan – too much fat can absolutely make the French toast soggy! Finally, make sure you give the pan adequate time to heat up before adding your French toast slices. A hot pan gives a crispier, more golden brown exterior!

Can I make gluten-free pumpkin french toast?

Totally! Just substitute your favorite store-bought or homemade gluten-free pumpkin bread .

Can I make this recipe without alcohol?

Yes – if you want to make this recipe alcohol-free, you can omit the whiskey or use your favorite non-alcoholic spirit.

Pumpkin Bread French Toast

Description

This easy French toast uses pumpkin bread as the base, with a rich egg mixture and a pop of color from fresh orange zest!

Ingredients

Scale

1/2 orange, zested and juiced (you want lots of zest and about 2 Tablespoons of orange juice: if you have extra juice, save it for another recipe)
3 large eggs
1/4 cup heavy cream
2 Tablespoons whiskey
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
kosher salt, to taste
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter
2 Tablespoons of a neutral oil (like grapeseed, canola, or vegetable oil)
6 slices of pumpkin bread

Optional Toppings:

Powdered Sugar
Maple Syrup (or whiskey maple syrup!)

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Instructions

Whisk orange juice, eggs, heavy cream, whiskey, vanilla extract, and a pinch of salt together in a shallow dish.
Heat a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add a small knob of butter and a small drizzle of oil to the skillet and let them melt together.
Place two pieces of pumpkin bread in the egg mixture; flip to ensure each side is thoroughly coated. Tip: Because pumpkin bread is fairly delicate, it can fall apart easily once soaked in the egg mixture. Don't let it soak too long, or it can fall apart!
Gently lift pumpkin bread out of the egg batter (we like to use two forks or a large spatula here to ensure the bread is well-supported so it doesn't break). Let any extra batter drip away, then place each piece of pumpkin bread in the hot skillet. Cook for 2-3 minutes per side, until cooked through and golden brown. Repeat until all pumpkin bread pieces have been cooked.
Top French toast with orange zest, powdered sugar, and a drizzle of maple syrup. Serve immediately.

Notes

This recipe works best with slightly stale pumpkin bread. For best results, use pumpkin bread that is a few days old and/or let the pumpkin bread dry out uncovered on the counter for a few hours before making this recipe. If you use freshly-baked pumpkin bread, it can be a bit too delicate and will fall apart easily under the weight of the egg mixture.

Additions and Substitutions. Use challah bread, sourdough, or cranberry pecan bread in place of the pumpkin bread here. Add extra toppings (toasted walnuts, candied pecans, shaved almonds, maple frosting, caramel sauce) if you like. Use rum instead of whiskey, or omit the liquor for an alcohol-free version. Add extra seasonings (cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, apple butter, etc.) to the egg batter if you'd like more fall spice in this recipe. Swap the heavy cream for half and half if you prefer.

Don't skip the orange zest! This bright, flavorful topping cuts through the sweet, rich flavors in this French toast to make it taste much brighter and more complex.

Which whiskey should I use? Our basic rule of thumb when cooking with alcohol: Use something you like to drink! We tend to reach for a rich, fairly complex bourbon whiskey here: We liked Maker's Mark and Elijah Craig in our recipe testing.

Keywords: brunch, thanksgiving, holiday