Cranberry Orange Walnut Bread that is lightly battered and fried to make the best French Toast I’ve ever had. Perfect for Christmas! Or perfect for a Thursday afternoon all by yourself. We don’t judge round here.
I once waited 2 hours to eat this Cranberry Orange Walnut French Toast. No food seems worth it after 2 hours, but I swear, this meal was. There is this famous restaurant in San Francisco that supposedly has amazing food, but is notorious for the long lines. Eric and I had a weekend to ourselves last summer with no kids, so we decided to exercise our thumb-war skillz wait it out.
I don’t regret the wait at all, especially since a very talented street performer entertained our queue half the time. He was taking song requests (any song!) and had a deep, rich voice. The smoking trendy French kids in line behind us requested “Bohemian Rhapsody” and the guy said he didn’t do foreign songs. It took me a minute to realize he was totally serious. (And then I got to exchange knowing smiles with French People, which made me feel So Cool.)
The day I recreated this French Toast, I ran to the store in the morning to grab the fresh berries. I had looked over the ingredient list for my recipe and determined that that was all I needed. I didn’t check the fridge to see if there was milk because THERE’S ALWAYS MILK. I mean, I have kids, and chocolate chip cookie needs, come on. Later I went to make it and realized I didn’t have one speck of milk in the house. None. And the baby had just fallen asleep.
Fortunately my neighbor let me borrow some. “I know what it’s like when those kids don’t get their milk!” she said, hefting her own baby on her hip. I smiled and did NOT tell her that I would be making French Toast with that milk, alone in my house on a Thursday afternoon while my kids napped.
Vanilla is essential for delicious French Toast, so I used the Pure Vanilla Extract that Rodelle recently sent me. I’m a new brand ambassador for Rodelle, which means that YOU guys will get the chance to win free Rodelle product giveaways occasionally. Look forward to one in early December!
I’m pretty stoked to be partnering with Rodelle. I’m a strong believer in quality vanilla, and theirs is some of the best. ^^ Truman feels the same.
I think this French Toast would be perfect for Christmas morning. So bright and festive! The Cranberry Orange Walnut Bread is definitely stand alone; it’s got tons of flavor. But there just aren’t too many things that aren’t better fried and drizzled with real maple syrup. (Can I get an amen.)
Do you guys give up? Or are you thirsty for more?
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Disclosure: Rodelle did not pay me to write this post, but I did receive free product from them. All opinions are my own! Duh.
Cranberry Orange Walnut French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Cranberry Orange Walnut Bread, click for recipe
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1 cup milk
- dash salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 & 1/2 teaspoons Rodelle Pure Vanilla Extract
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 3 large eggs
- butter or shortening, for frying
- real maple syrup
- strawberries, raspberries, blueberries (for garnish)
- powdered sugar, for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to the warm setting, about 170 degrees F. Place a baking sheet inside, with a cooling rack set on top. (You will use this to keep your toast warm.)
- Preheat a grill pan or large frying pan to medium heat (350 degrees F)
- Slice the loaf of bread into 1/4 or 1/2 inch slices.
- In a shallow dish (such as a pie plate) add the flour. Slowly pour in the milk while you whisk it together. Add the salt, cinnamon, vanilla, sugar, and eggs. (Beat the eggs in a separate bowl, if that's easier for you.) Beat together.
- Add a slice of bread to the batter, or as many as will fit on your plate at a time. Let it soak in for 20 seconds or so, then flip.
- Add a little butter or shortening to the pan and swirl to coat.
- When the butter is hot, add the soaked bread. Cook for 3-5 minutes, or until browned on the bottom, then flip over. Cook for another 2-4 minutes or until golden. If you sliced your toast thick, you may need to fry the edges as well.
- Place the finished toast on the cooling rack in the warm oven until ready to serve.
- Serve with maple syrup, fresh strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries, and a sprinkle of powdered sugar!
Nutrition
Let the bread get good and soaked. Keep whisking it every now and then so you don’t miss all the cinnamon.
Flip the bread on it’s side if your slices are thick.
Here’s the Cranberry Orange Walnut Bread in all it’s glory:
French Toast for daaaaaays!
Savory Parmesan French Toast with Hollandaise Sauce:
Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole:
Liege Waffles with Pearl Sugar:
More French Toast from friends:
Chocolate Banana French Toast Sandwiches from Amy’s Healthy Baking
Homemade French Toast Sticks from Six Sister’s Stuff
Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole from Deliciously Yum
Cutest. Picture. EVER. Truman is just the sweetest!! That looks like the best vanilla ever, and I’m dying to try some over here! Gotta keep my eyes peeled at the grocery stores! And I’m totally a fan of breakfast at any time of day. I’ve actually started to convert my guy to breakfast for dinner! Via the super classy IHOP and Denny’s. (Although in my defense, I had never been to Denny’s until two days ago when he took me.) But hey, as long as they give me breakfast, I don’t care how elegant the restaurant is! ;) Pinned!
haha.. I would have totally waited in the line to. Gotta do it .. at least once!
Totally drooling over this recipe girl and these pictures are seriously gorgeous!
Thanks Krista! It definitely was worth the wait at least once :)
Well this just might be the best thing I’ve ever seen. And I would’ve loved to have a bonding moment with trendy French people! I would seriously feel so validated. Anyway, this looks delish. I’ll be trying this soon. And dreaming about it ’til then! :-)
Ha! I’m so glad I’m not the only one who romanticizes French people :)
Totally taken with your delicious recipes and gorgeous photography! I love this beautiful dish – just look at those colours POP! Wow!
1. GORGEOUS photos. 2. I want this french toast for dessert. 3. What restaurant? I need to practice my thumb war skills!! :) Pinned!
Thanks Dorothy!! The restaurant is called Mama’s on Washington Square. SO GOOD. You have to try it.
Guuuuuuh…. < you've rendered me speechless because this is the best looking french toast I've ever seen. Thank God your neighbour lent you some milk and you didn't have to wait for French toast deliciousness in your life. Is Truman drinking from that bottle of vanilla? If so, he's my kind of guy! And who the hell doesn't know Bohemian Rhapsody? That guy doesn't deserve to call himself a busker.
I’m so glad I’m the only weirdo *cough* super cool person who has thumb wars with their husband, even though there’s no hope of winning. Do you guys also play hangman while waiting for your food? Or is that just immature me? :-p My parents used to make us wait to open our Christmas presents until after they had eaten breakfast . . . THE WORST!!! But if my mom had made me this it definitely would have softened the blow. You make such beautiful, beautiful food!
Thumb wars are the best!! I forgot about hangman, we should do that. In my family we always opened stockings, then ate breakfast, then presents. It’s all about the breakfast on Christmas!!! Thanks so much Claire!
This French Toast looks…Wow delish! This picture is gorgeous too. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve wanted to make something then to realize I ran out and the kids are asleep or in the bath or something. It is always something, hehe. Pinned!! :)
Holy French toast, Batman! This is stunning and I want it all in my belly.
lol Stephanie that Batman quote makes me laugh EVERY TIME.