French toast is my favorite breakfast! This dish is perfect to make on Christmas morning becasue all of the preparation takes place the night before. Pop it in the oven first thing in the morning and bake it for 45 minutes while opening presents.
I decided to top my portion with warm Whiskey Maple Syrup, a side of fresh fruit, and a glass of orange juice mimosa. Head over to episode 2 of Easy Eats on YouTube to watch me prepare and take a look at the beautiful Christmas Tablescape! I found this recipe here and have made it my own over the years. I’ve also inluded the recipe below.
INGREDIENTS:
French Toast
- 8 large croissants , cut in half lengthwise
- 2 cups half and half or whole milk
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 6 large eggs
- ½ cup light brown sugar , lightly packed
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 cup strawberries , cut into ¾- to 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup blueberries
- powdered sugar
Whiskey Maple Syrup
- 1 Cup of Maple syrup
- 1 tbsp of Whiskey (Use any dark liquor of your choice)
INSTRUCTIONS:
French Toast
- Butter a 4- to 5-quart rectangular or oval baking dish. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together half and half (or milk), vanilla, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Dip croissant halves into mixture until fully coated.
- Arrange croissants into prepared casserole, overlapping. Pour the remaining milk and egg mixture over the casserole, gently pressing to absorb.
- Tuck about ¾ cup (total) of strawberries and blueberries between the croissant layers. Sprinkle the remaining berries over the top of the casserole. Cover the dish with plastic wrap (or the lid, if using a lidded baker), and refrigerate for at least 2 and up to 8 hours.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove casserole from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking and let stand at room temperature.
- Bake 30 minutes, covered with foil or the baking pan lid. Remove cover and bake an additional 15-20 minutes, until puffed and golden. Let stand at room temperature for 10 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar, cut into wedges, and serve with maple syrup.
Whiskey Maple Syrup
- Warm maple syrup. Stir in whiskey and drizzle over baked french toast wedges.
Orange Juice Mimosa
INGREDIENTS:
- Orange Juice
- Grand Marnier
- Champagne (I used McBride Sisters Black Girl Magic Sparkling Brut)
- Fresh Orange slices (for garnish)
INSTRUCTIONS:
- Add 1 tablespoon of Grand Marnier in each glass.
- Add 1/2 cup of Champagne.
- Add ¼ cup orange juice.
- Garnish edge of each glass with an orange slice (optional).
Let me know if you try this meal out.
XOXO,
Starr
