Mom's Orange French Toast (The Best!)

Mom's Orange French Toast is the best French Toast I've ever had! Make her easy recipe and see what you've been missing!

I mean, come on. Don't you want to reach through your screen and devour that French Toast?

Mom's Orange French Toast is one of my favorite foods of all time, and I can't wait for you to try it!

Like The Best Homemade Pancakes, this is an easy recipe that relies on extract to elevate the standard to the sublime.

Here, it's orange extract (affiliate link) that provides this French Toast with that "wow" factor that makes you go "Mmmmm."

Mom got the inspiration for the recipe from a meal she ate at Stouffer's restaurant in the 1960s.

Yes, that Stouffer's. The Stouffer family was from Cleveland and opened a few restaurants here, including one on Shaker Square, where customers began requesting meals to take home, spawning the idea for Stouffer's frozen foods.

Mom made this easy French Toast for breakfast every Sunday morning when I was growing up. We loved its golden brown, crusty edges and its nooks and crannies glistening with orange flavor. 

Nothing else I've ever tried can compare. This is simply the best French Toast recipe!

Recipe ingredients

How to make orange French toast

You'll start by beating eggs with milk, orange extract and a little salt. Salt is key to prevent bland French Toast!

And, notice, we're not using vanilla extract, which is too plain for French toast and pancakes. (Don't miss this collection of pancake flavors!)

Next, you'll dip sliced bread (preferably Tuscany or Italian bread), into the egg mixture. You just want to coat both sides of each slice and soak them for a few seconds, without letting them get soggy.

Finally, you'll heat up a skillet or griddle. (We always make skillet French toast).

Melt some butter and add your French toast slices. Once the first side is brown, it's time to add a little more butter and flip the bread over to cook the other side.

That's it! Serve it with maple syrup and orange slices, if you like.

Recipe tips

• Adding a bit of salt makes all the flavors pop.
• Using butter in the pan (or griddle) helps to brown the French Toast while bringing delicious flavor.
• Using Tuscany or sliced Italian bread for French Toast ensures a crispier, less soggy result.

What if you don't have orange extract?

If you need a substitute for orange extract, you can try using some orange juice in place of a portion of the milk, although I haven't tested it. You also can try adding orange zest to the batter, in combination with some orange juice. That's what I use in these Chocolate-Orange Bars with Shortbread.

Another option is to skip the orange and go with almond extract, which also is tasty here.

Then, next time, you can buy the orange extract for the full effect. I've got lots of ways to use it!

More delicious recipes using orange extract

• Pumpkin-Orange French Toast
• Orange Pancakes with Chocolate Chips
• Nutella Rice Krispie Treats with Orange
• Cranberry Smoothie
• Cranberry Pie with Cookie Crust

Enjoy!

If you try Mom's Orange French Toast, please come back to leave a comment and a rating! I can't wait to find out how you liked it.

Mom's Orange French Toast (The Best!)

Mom's Orange French Toast is the best French Toast ever! Orange extract provides delicious flavor.

4.84 from 6 votes

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Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 7 minutes minutes

Total Time: 20 minutes minutes

Servings: 2

Calories: 304kcal

Author: Mamma C

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 eggs (extra large; or 3 large)
• ▢ ¼ cup milk (or half & half)
• ▢ 3 sprinkles salt
• ▢ 1 ½ teaspoons orange extract
• ▢ 4 slices bread (about ½-inch thick)
• ▢ 1 ½ tablespoons salted butter (divided use)
• ▢ maple syrup (for serving)
• ▢ orange slices (optional)

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Instructions

• In a small mixing bowl, add the eggs, milk, salt and orange extract. Beat well with a fork or whisk.
• Stack your bread in the bowl. Coat both sides of each slice with the egg mixture, letting it soak in for a bit. (Using a spatula, you can take turns carefully transferring the bottom piece of bread to the top of the stack and keep going, then flip the bread and repeat.) If there is leftover egg mixture, pour some on each piece when you start cooking.
• Heat a skillet or griddle to medium high. (If using an electric skillet, set it to 375 degrees F.) Melt a tablespoon of butter in the pan and spread it around with a spatula to coat the pan. Cook 3-4 slices of French toast at a time, depending on what will fit. Start checking each piece after 3-4 minutes on the first side.
• Flip each slice when it is starting to brown. Add another ½ tablespoon of butter to the pan and use your spatula to disperse it so it flows underneath the bread. Continue cooking the French Toast on the second side, until it is browned to your liking.
• Serve the French toast with maple syrup and orange slices, if desired.

Video

Notes

• Nutrition info does not include syrup.

What if you don't have orange extract?

• You can substitute almond extract, which also is tasty here.
• You can try using some orange juice in place of a portion of the milk, although I haven't tested it.
• You can try adding orange zest to the batter, in combination with some orange juice.

 

Nutrition

Calories: 304kcal | Carbohydrates: 29g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 15g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 189mg | Sodium: 500mg | Potassium: 204mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 530IU | Calcium: 137mg | Iron: 3mg

Tried this Recipe? Mention @cookingwithmammac or tag #CookingWithMammaC!

(Recipe Source: Barely adapted from my Mom. Inspired by a meal at Stouffer's on the Square. Originally published on January 9, 2015 and updated now with new photos and text.)