Challah French Toast Recipe

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We’ve been eating a lot of breakfast for dinner lately. Blame it on the early nights, cooler weather, or a lazy mom. Whatever ever the reason, it’s darn tasty. It’s one of few dinners I can put on the table and I know I’m not going to get one complaint from anyone. Dinner will be wolfed down and at the end of the meal I will be seen as the kitchen super hero I know I am and not the usual “mean lady” who makes her kids eat their broccoli.

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We do switch the breakfast for dinner menu up. Sometimes it’s dutch oven pancakes or blueberry pancakes. Sometimes we have turkey sausage but usually we have bacon and if I’m feeling really crazy I might scramble a few eggs. Whoa, watch out.

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My personal favorite though is french toast. But it has to be french toast made right. And that means french toast that’s crispy on the outside and baked through on the inside. It’s covered with real butter and warm maple syrup. It might have a scattering of berries as a garnish and it’s definitely served with a side of bacon.

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It’s such an easy thing to make but I’ve eaten one to many plates that have fallen short. A few easy tips will ensure your french toast is spot on every time!

Tip #1- use challah bread. And if possible, slightly stale challah bread. It’s eggy, slightly sweet and sturdy enough to hold up once soaked in the egg mixture.
Tip #2- soak the bread on for a full minute or two on each side.
Tip #3- preheat the oven to 350F degrees and finish cooking the french toast in the oven. It will be piping hot and cooked through. Just how french toast should be.
Tip #4- use half and half, real butter, and real maple syrup. Need I say more?

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Pu-lease don’t look at my dirty oven. Pretty please? It will make me feel less self conscious about the fact that I have a dirty oven. *Sigh* It’s always something, isn’t it?

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When the oven french toast comes out of the dirty oven, slather it in butter and warm maple syrup. Or don’t and then regret it because mine will taste better than yours.

FYI- this french toast freezes beautifully. When you do remove it from the oven, let it cool to room temperature and then throw it in either a ziplock or tupperware and freeze for later use. You can reheat it in the toaster at 300F for 10 minutes. Not as good but almost!

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Do you serve breakfast for dinner? What’s your favorite thing to make?

My Favorite Challah French Toast Recipe

Ingredients:

  • 5 eggs
  • 1 cup half and half
  • 1 tablespoon vanilla
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 tablespoons each butter and vegetable oil
  • butter and maple syrup for serving

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350F degrees.In a large shallow bowl (I use a pie plate), whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, vanilla, and salt; set aside. Slice the challah in 3/4-inch to 1-inch thick slices. Soak bread slices in the egg mixture for one to two minutes on each side. Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a saute pan over medium heat. Add the soaked bread and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned. Place the cooked French toast on a sheet pan and repeat until all the french bread is browned. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and bake for 5-7 minutes until toast is cooked through. Serve with plenty of butter and maple syrup.