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Serve a French Toast with Grand Marnier for a holiday breakfast or brunch. Drizzle delicious maple syprup and orange zest over this decadent breakfast that combines soft challah bread with a delicious orange liqueur for the most amazing French toast!
Grand Marnier-Infused French Toast is one of those special breakfasts that I love to make once or twice a year, usually around the holidays. This Challah French Toast breakfast is rich, decadent and I also love to serve it for out-of-town company. With a hint of orange flavor and cinnamon, and soft fluffy bread, it’s the best French Toast recipe.
Not only is this a super easy recipe, but it’s one even young kids can make. With eggs, heavy cream, cinnamon, orange zest, honey and a tad bit of Grand Marnier–this recipe comes together in no time. Also optional to make this “alcohol-free” (see notes in recipe card).
The holidays are a beautiful gift! And there are many creative ideas and homemade gifts to give! Like this French Toast Breakfast idea! Our friend gave us this recipe years ago for Christmas. She printed out the recipe, added a small bottle of Grand Marnier with a fresh loaf of Challah bread. How fun, and what a unique idea for a “homemade” gift.
Simple ingredients, and optional to make it “alcohol-free.”
You can make it any time of year, but especially during the holidays.
Make the recipe (double or triple) and keep warm in the oven. Add to a “big board” or a breakfsat board for special occasions.
Gather these ingredients
Eggs
Milk or 1/2 & 1/2
Orange zest
Vanilla extract
Honey
Grand Marnier (or see notes if ommiting)
Salt
Loaf of soft bread: we use Challah bread
Butter
Oil
How do you make French Toast with Grand Marnier
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees.
Whisk together the eggs, milk (or half and half), orange zest, vanilla, Grand Marnier, and salt.
Pour the egg mixture into a 9×13 baknig dish. Add the bread and soak the slices of bread in egg mixture for 5 minutes.
Heat 1 Tbsp. butter and 1 Tbsp. oil in a frying pan. Add the soaked bread and cook 2-3 minutes on each side.
Place in the heated oven to keep warm until served.
Serve with warm maple syrup or favorite preserves with sifted confectioners sugar.
Tips and substitutions
GIFT IDEA: In a beautiful basket, add a fresh loaf of Challah bread with a bag of oranges (for zest, and the rest possibly for fresh squeezed orange juice?), with a quality bottle of maple syrup and a small bottle of Grand Marnier. Don’t forget to add the recipe to the basket! And any other fun items that would complete the basket.
Bread: use any soft bread, like brioche, Challah, or even homemade bread.
Alcohol-free: If you want alcohol-free, replace the Grand Mariner with another tablespoon of orange zest and a tsp of Rum extract.
Serve with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and your favorite jam or jelly. We also like to serve it with peanut butter (for those wanting a little more protein). It sounds weird, but it’s delish.
Serve French Toast with Grand Marnier, made with soft challah bread and a delicious orange liqueur, for the most amazing French toast!Great for Christmas morning. Makes 8 large slices. Original source from Ina Garten.
Prepare the beaten eggs, milk (or half and half), Grand Marnier, orange zest, vanilla extract, honey and salt in a medium bowl. Whisk together until combined.
Pour the egg mixture into a 9×13 pan. Add the bread slices and soak the bread in egg mixture for 5 minutes.
Heat 1 Tbsp. butter and 1 Tbsp. oil in a frying pan. Add the soaked bread and cook 2-3 minutes on each side.
Place in the heated oven to keep warm until served.
Serve with warm maple syrup or raspberry preserves with sifted confectioners sugar. We also love a dusting of powdered sugar or peanut butter!
Notes
If you want alcohol-free, replace the Grand Mariner with another tablespoon of orange zest and a tsp of Rum extract.
I’m Sandy—lover of food, family, cooking, THE BIG BOARD, travel, and bringing people together. Through great recipes and connection around the table, we become better, stronger, and more courageous people. Feasting on Life is real, and every time we do it, we grow a little more. Read more...
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We do gifts. Definitely the love language of my hubby and even myself is giving gifts to bless others. But mine also is food and time. If I didn’t get gifts but just had time with family I’d be happy.
Such a great post. We have always loved getting gifts for others (friends and family). Over the years that has changed at times due to finances. This year we are only doing gifts for our girls…at first I thought “gee that seems selfish”, but there are so many people we’d love to give gifts to that it would be too hard to decide who gets gifts and who doesn’t. One thing we always did with our girls gifts is to write meaningful notes to them on each gift and before they could open them they had to read the message. I still do it. We’ve also at times adopted families and given gifts. Whether the gifts were store bought or handmade, they were always well thought out and with lots of love.
Thank you for sharing the french toast recipe…it looks scrumptious! I love to bake, and always make tons of different cookies to “gift” to friends and family, so I guess my “love language” is the gift of time. I buy store boughts gifts, too, but I love to share my favorite desserts with loved ones! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Sandy!
My love language always ends up being food. It’s been that way since I was five years old, and I don’t see it changing anytime soon. I love the loaf of bread gift idea. Perfect for the neighbors!
I love this post! Not only for the recipe but for the message. Sharing of oneself and being together as a family is the most important thing! My beautiful daughter was born (27 yrs ago) on December19th after losing my first daughter full term. She made me realize that she was the most important thing – much better than the frenzy of buying gifts. The gift of family s precious!
We are Jewish and my Aunt makes the most incredible homemade challah bread. Let me tell you, it makes the best French toast!! Love your thoughts on family, love and Christmas gifts. :) (We celebrate Christmas, too.)
Liz, my Mom’s side of the family is Jewish but we also celebrate Christmas! The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the recipe was “This would be great for breakfast one of the days of Hanukkah!”
Sandy, I really love this post and the story that goes along with it! What a sweet friend! I might steal the idea if that’s okay :)
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We do gifts. Definitely the love language of my hubby and even myself is giving gifts to bless others. But mine also is food and time. If I didn’t get gifts but just had time with family I’d be happy.
This looks like the perfect Sunday morning breakfast!
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The receipe is amazing. My little 10 year old critic really love the challah french toast.
Beautiful dish. Merry Christmas Friend!!
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Love the idea of food as a gift. Loved this post!
Such a great post. We have always loved getting gifts for others (friends and family). Over the years that has changed at times due to finances. This year we are only doing gifts for our girls…at first I thought “gee that seems selfish”, but there are so many people we’d love to give gifts to that it would be too hard to decide who gets gifts and who doesn’t. One thing we always did with our girls gifts is to write meaningful notes to them on each gift and before they could open them they had to read the message. I still do it. We’ve also at times adopted families and given gifts. Whether the gifts were store bought or handmade, they were always well thought out and with lots of love.
The recipe sounds yummy too
Amazing!! What a wonderful gift and what a wonderful post, Sandy! You’re so beautiful, so glad I know you! :D
This is a beautiful post. You always inspire me! Love this French toast. Merry Christmas to you, sweet friend!
Thank you for sharing the french toast recipe…it looks scrumptious! I love to bake, and always make tons of different cookies to “gift” to friends and family, so I guess my “love language” is the gift of time. I buy store boughts gifts, too, but I love to share my favorite desserts with loved ones! Merry Christmas to you and your family, Sandy!
My love language always ends up being food. It’s been that way since I was five years old, and I don’t see it changing anytime soon. I love the loaf of bread gift idea. Perfect for the neighbors!
I love this post! Not only for the recipe but for the message. Sharing of oneself and being together as a family is the most important thing! My beautiful daughter was born (27 yrs ago) on December19th after losing my first daughter full term. She made me realize that she was the most important thing – much better than the frenzy of buying gifts. The gift of family s precious!
We are Jewish and my Aunt makes the most incredible homemade challah bread. Let me tell you, it makes the best French toast!! Love your thoughts on family, love and Christmas gifts. :) (We celebrate Christmas, too.)
Liz, my Mom’s side of the family is Jewish but we also celebrate Christmas! The first thing that came to my mind when I saw the recipe was “This would be great for breakfast one of the days of Hanukkah!”
Sandy, I really love this post and the story that goes along with it! What a sweet friend! I might steal the idea if that’s okay :)
Happy Holidays!