Orange French Toast with Cream Cheese Spread
We make this on Christmas morning, but you’ll love it any time at all. There’s a mix of fresh orange juice, zest, and marmalade to get lots of orange flavor in every bite. It’s simple but makes your breakfast feel super special.
There are some mornings when breakfast is more memorable (like Christmas morning or a Saturday morning of a long weekend). That’s when I make this recipe, and it’s become a family favorite. My kids love it, and it’s great to serve for brunch if you have guests over.
Table of Contents
Ingredients and Tools You’ll Need
Slightly stale bread is actually better for French toast because it soaks up the egg mixture without falling apart. It’s a great way to use up leftover brioche sandwich bread. Use a microplane zester to make zesting the oranges easier. You’ll need 2 oranges total to get all the zest and juice listed.
This will serve 6 people, but the recipe is super easy to double or triple. If you are feeding a crowd, you can make adjustments in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
Equipment
- Large skillet or electric griddle
- Stand mixer or electric mixer
- Microplane zester
Ingredients
French Toast
- 12 slices of bread, 1-inch thick slices; French bread, Challah, Brioche, or Texas Toast
- 8 eggs
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon orange zest, you need 2 large navel oranges for this recipe
- ⅓ cup chopped walnuts, optional topping
- ⅓ cup craisins, optional topping
Orange Vanilla Cream Cheese
- 8 ounces of cream cheese, softened
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- ¾ teaspoon orange zest
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
Orange Sauce
- 1 cup orange marmalade
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
How to Make Orange French Toast
Step One: Make The Cream Cheese Spread
Get your mixer out and beat together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, orange zest, and vanilla until it’s all fluffy. Pop it in a bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and stick it in the fridge while you handle the French toast.
Step Two: Make The Orange Sauce
This is SO simple – just whisk the marmalade and orange juice together in a small bowl. Done. Set it aside.
Step Three: Get Your Griddle Ready
Heat that electric griddle to 350°F, or if you’re using a skillet, medium-high heat works great.
Step Four: Make The Egg Mixture
In a big bowl, whisk together eggs, half and half, sugar, vanilla, and orange zest. Make sure you grease your griddle or skillet with cooking spray or butter – nobody wants stuck French toast!
Step Five: Dip And Cook!
Take each slice of bread and dip it in the egg mixture, making sure both sides get completely coated. Then place on the hot griddle! Cook for 2-3 minutes per side until they’re golden brown and beautiful.
As you finish each piece, put it on a big cookie sheet. If you want to keep them warm while you finish cooking (and you do!), stick that sheet in a 200°F oven.
Step Six: Garnish And Serve
Spread your lovely orange cream cheese on one slice, drizzle with the orange sauce, and if you’re using the walnuts and craisins, sprinkle them on top.
Storing leftovers
Store the leftover French toast, cream cheese mixture, and orange sauce all separately in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Serve this on its own, with simple sides, or add it to a larger brunch spread.
- Serve with fresh fruit and a side of bacon.
- Make a cast iron skillet baked omelet, or a ham and hashbrown casserole to help feed a large crowd for Christmas morning.
Questions and Troubleshooting
You can use any bread for French toast, but a sturdier, thicker bread will hold up better and not get soggy from the egg mixture. Use brioche, challah, or Texas toast if you can.
If you don’t have a microplane zester, you can use the smallest holes on a regular box grater. Just be extra careful to avoid grating any of the white pith.
Oh, that’s the best part! The leftover orange sauce is fantastic on pancakes, waffles, and ice cream.
More Breakfast Recipes
For those days when you have the energy and want something fun, or just need something quick and easy.
- Serve your guests these pecan pie croissants – they will be so impressed!
- Buttermilk blueberry waffles are perfect for the weekend – fun, but don’t take all morning.
- These cheesy crockpot hash browns are great for a brunch – just start them early (you only need 10 minutes of prep).
- Make this homemade granola to have on hand for a super quick breakfast.
Printable Recipe
Orange French Toast
Equipment
- Large skillet or electric griddle
- Stand mixer or electric mixer
- Microplane zester
Ingredients
French Toast
- 12 slices bread 1-inch thick slices; French bread, Challah, Brioche, or Texas Toast
- 8 eggs
- 1 cup half and half
- 1 tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon orange zest you need 2 large navel oranges for this recipe
- ⅓ cup chopped walnuts optional
- ⅓ cup craisins optional
Orange Vanilla Cream Cheese
- 8 ounces cream cheese softened
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- ¾ teaspoon orange zest
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
Orange Sauce
- 1 cup orange marmalade
- ¼ cup freshly squeezed orange juice
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Instructions
- Make orange cream cheese. Using an electric or stand mixer, beat the cream cheese, powdered sugar, ¾ teaspoon orange zest, and ½ teaspoon vanilla. Transfer to a small bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate or set aside while you make the French toast.
- Make the orange sauce. Whisk together the orange marmalade and orange juice in a small bowl. Set aside.
- Preheat. Preheat an electric griddle to 350℉ or a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Make egg mixture. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, half and half, granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and ½ teaspoon orange zest. Grease the griddle or skillet with cooking spray or butter. Dip French toast one at a time into the egg mixture and turn so both sides are entirely dredged.
- Cook. Place French toast on the preheated griddle or skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until each side turns golden brown.
- Keep warm. Remove from the skillet or griddle and place on a large cookie sheet while you cook the other French toast pieces. To keep the French toast warm, you can keep it in a 200℉ oven.
- Serve. Spread the cream cheese over a slice of French toast and top with the orange sauce. Garnish with chopped walnuts and craisins if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
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