If Heaven made me breakfast…

I know what you’re thinking…what’s with the title? Well, writing challah french toast with subtle notes of orange drenched in orange berry sauce is a little bit lengthy for a blog title, don’t you think?

So, I decided if Heaven could cook me breakfast in the morning, I imagine this is what they would serve. Delicious, fruity french toast. There’s something about french toast. It’s just so simple, yet yummy and you can flavor it any way you want. Versatile little breakfast you are, my french toast.

One of my fellow Weddingbee pals (Yes, I know I got married over a year ago. Once a bee, always a bee darnit!), who writes the blog I love you much, came up with this recipe. This recipe is the reason I made challah and it was worth it. Make the challah/buy the challah…whatever it takes. This bread redefines french toast, folks. Seriously…you don’t even have to make THIS french toast. Just make any french toast with this bread from now on. You will NOT regret it!

Challah French Toast with Orange Berry Sauce
Source: adapted from I love you much

Ingredients for toast:

• 1 loaf challah
• 6 large eggs
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 cup reduced fat milk
• 3 tbsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. orange zest
• pinch of salt
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp. vegetable oil

Ingredients for sauce:

• 1 bag of frozen strawberries
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1 tsp. orange zest
• 2 tbsp. sugar
• 1 tbsp. butter
• 1 tbsp. flour
• pinch of salt

(optional: some powdered sugar for dusting)

Directions:

1. Place all ingredients for the berry sauce in a small pot on medium low heat and allow to cook down, stirring/slightly mashing berries every few minutes.
2. Preheat your oven to 250 degrees.
3. Whisk all ingredients (except for the challah) in a large bowl until well incorporated.
4. Slice challah into 1/2 inch slices.
5. Heat the vegetable oil in a skillet at medium heat.
6. Soak 3-4 pieces of challah in the egg mixture for 30 seconds on each side (until the bread is fully soaked but not soggy). Shake off excess mixture and place on the skillet (cook 2-3 minutes on each side until barely brown).
7. When finished on the skillet, place on a parchment lined cookie sheet in an oven to keep warm/finish the toast.
8. Repeat 6 & 7 until all toast is done. Keep in the oven an extra 10 minutes.
9. Serve with berry sauce and powdered sugar. Enjoy!