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But First We Brunch » Recipes » French toast

Orange French Toast with Marmalade

Modified: Jan 17, 2025 by Cynthia Christensen · This post may contain affiliate links · 2 Comments

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5 from 1 vote
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Pinterest image of orange French toast on a white plate.

Transform traditional French toast with the addition of orange marmalade in the custard and in the syrup. This Orange French Toast recipe cooks up perfectly golden and bursting with flavor and is just right for special occasions or lazy weekend mornings.

Orange French toast with fresh fruit and yogurt cream on a white plate.

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This Orange French Toast recipe reminds me of Sunday mornings, when my father would wake up and after frying up some bacon in a cast iron pan he would barely wipe it out and start making French toast. It wasn't anything fancy, just some Wonder Bread dipped in egg and milk, and sprinkled with cinnamon, but I can still taste that bacony, cinnamony toast today.

Anyway, this orange marmalade French toast is probably way too fancy for that little girl and her dad, but it sure hits the spot around here. I add orange marmalade to both the French toast custard and to the orange maple syrup and the combination with the rich French toast is out of this world! I think my dad would like it ❤️

Jump to:
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • Quick Recipe Video
  • Instructions
  • Helpful tips
  • Recipe FAQs
  • More recipes
  • 📖 Recipe
  • 💬 Comments

Table for Two? Learn How to Make French Toast for One or Two. Get all the tips and tricks for making a super indulgent breakfast or brunch for yourself and (maybe) one other.

Ingredients & Substitutions

One of my favorite things about any French toast recipe is it is so easy to customize it with your favorite toppings or flavorings. Let's take a look at the main ingredients and see where we can make changes if we need to:

Image of ingredients needed to make orange French toast.
  • Thick Sliced Bread - You can make this orange marmalade French toast with any bread you enjoy, like brioche bread, french bread, or even plain white bread. If you can find (or bake) an unsliced loaf of your favorite bread, all the better. I like a nice fat slice so that it doesn’t absorb too much of the egg mixture. I know some recipes go for a real custardy texture, but that’s just not my jam.  If you like it that way, cut your bread slices thinner, and/or soak your bread longer.
  • Eggs - My ratio of eggs for French Toast is one egg for every two slices of bread. If you want eggless French toast you can combine 1 cup milk with 2 tablespoons cornstarch or custard powder and mix until well combined. Make sure to re-whisk the batter each time before dipping your bread because the cornstarch may settle to the bottom of the dish.
  • Oranges - Plump, juicy, and very orange. That's the note. Don't come in here with your half green, hard oranges. What type of orange you use is completely up to you. You can use anything from a navel orange to a Clementine.
  • Orange Marmalade - Made with both the peel and fruit of citrus fruits, marmalade combines the sweetness of jam with the bitterness of the citrus peel, for a much more robust flavor. There is marmalade in the custard and the syrup. You can substitute with just oranges and orange juice, or you can use any jams or preserves you like.
  • Milk - Making the custard for dipping the bread requires milk a. If you have a milk of choice, almond, oat, soy, feel free to substitute. If you are going for dairy milk, use whole milk or even half-and-half if you like. We’re having French toast here. We're fancy.
  • Cinnamon and cardamom - These are the same warm spices I use for my traditional French toast as well as my mini donut muffins, and that's because they bring so much warmth and coziness to those dishes. Don't feel like those are your only choices though. You can use apple pie spice or a pinch of nutmeg. You can even skip the sugar, vanilla extract, and spices to make a savory French toast.

See recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.

Quick Recipe Video

Instructions

It's a closely held secret in the brunch industry, as well as the Mom industry, that French toast just isn't as hard as we make it seem. Making it look difficult and unattainable allows restaurants to charge more and or moms to save it for special occasions. I'm here to set you free. French toast is easy. Shh... don't tell anyone.

  • Place a wire rack set on a sheet pan in a 200° oven. This is where you will place your finished slices of French toast while you cook the rest.
Squeezing orange juice over fresh fruit.

Step 1: Combine your fruit, sugar, and orange juice in a medium bowl. Gently toss and allow to sit at room temperature until ready to serve.

Adding maple syrup to orange marmalade in a small sauce pan.

Step 2: Place marmalade, maple syrup, and orange juice in small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for 10 minutes, or until the syrup begins to thicken. Set aside to cool while you make the French toast.

Adding orange marmalade to eggs in a large measuring jug.

Step 3: Crack eggs into a large measuring cup or bowl and add 2 tablespoons of orange marmalade.

Adding heavy cream to eggs in a large measuring jug.

Step 4: Into the eggs add milk, orange zest, orange juice, cinnamon, and cardamom. Whisk thoroughly.

Pouring orange marmalade French toast custard into a small sheet pan.

Step 5: Pour into a shallow dish, such as a pie plate or small sheet pan. Warm a skillet or cast iron pan up to medium heat. Drop 1 tablespoon of butter or oil in the pan and allow to melt.

Dunking a slice of brioche bread into orange French toast custard.

Step 6: Dip a slice of bread in egg mixture, turning to coat both sides evenly. If you'd like your French toast more eggy, leave in for 30 seconds to 1 minute per side.

Placing a piece of soaked French toast into a cast-iron skillet with melted butter.

Step 7: Place a piece of dipped bread in the pan and cook 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown.

A piece of orange French toast in a cast-iron pan.

Step 8: Flip over and cook 2-3 minutes on the other side. Place on the wire rack in the oven to keep warm and repeat with the rest of the bread.

Orange French toast with fresh fruit and yogurt cream on a white plate.

Step 9: Place a couple of pieces of French toast on each plate. Garnish with fresh fruit and yogurt sweetened with a little bit of honey.

Pouring orange marmalade syrup over top of orange French toast with fresh fruit.

Step 10: Drizzle with your orange maple syrup and enjoy!

Close up of a fork piercing an orange piece and a piece of French toast.

The finished texture of the Orange French toast should be slightly crisp and golden-brown on the outside and soft, moist, and custard-like, not soggy, on the inside. I almost always add powdered sugar, fresh fruit, and syrup on top, as well as a sprinkle of chopped roasted pistachios because I'm team texture. I also love to serve crispy bacon or sausage patties on the side.

Helpful tips

Orange Marmalade French Toast is a breakfast and brunch favorite that combines the tangy sweetness of orange marmalade with the rich flavors of traditional French toast. Here are a couple of tips to help you perfect this dish:

  • Bread selection: Reach for thick-sliced breads like brioche, challah, or Texas toast. These varieties absorb the custard well without becoming overly soggy, a pet-peeve of mine.
  • Pan selection: Use a non-stick griddle or a well-seasoned cast iron skillet preheated over medium heat. This ensures even cooking and prevents sticking
Orange French toast with fresh fruit and yogurt cream on a white plate.

Recipe FAQs

Why is my French toast soggy?

Over-soaking the bread or using bread that's too soft can result in sogginess. Ensure you're using sturdy, slightly stale bread and dip it briefly in the custard. If you only have fresh bread, allow it to dry on a wire rack in a 250°F oven for 10 to 15 minutes before using.

What's the best way to store leftover French toast?

Let the French toast cool completely to room temperature. Arrange the slices in a single layer inside an airtight container. If you need to stack them, place parchment paper between the layers to keep them from sticking. Store in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.

How can I reheat my French toast?

You can reheat in a 350°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes, add butter to a skillet and pan fry it for a minute or two, or my favorite, put it in the toaster on low until warm.

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Cynthia from But First We Brunch writing down a brunch recipe.

Did you try this recipe?
Leave a comment with a ⭐️ rating below to tell me all about it, and don't forget to tag me on Instagram!
I appreciate you!
-Cynthia

📖 Recipe

Orange French toast with fresh fruit and yogurt cream on a white plate.

Orange French Toast with Marmalade

Transform traditional French toast with the addition of orange marmalade in the custard and in the syrup. This Orange French Toast recipe cooks up perfectly golden and bursting with flavor and is just right for special occasions or lazy weekend mornings.
5 from 1 vote
Author: Cynthia Christensen
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 30 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 50 minutes mins
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine American, French
Servings 8 Servings
Calories 322 kcal

Equipment

  • Wire rack
  • Large sheet pan
  • Nonstick pan or ⤵️
  • Cast iron pan
Prevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients
 

Orange marinated fruit (optional)

  • 1 ½ cups berries or sliced fruit your choice
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice save remaining juice for syrup and French toast custard

Maple Marmalade Syrup (optional)

  • ½ cup real maple syrup
  • ¼ cup orange marmalade
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice

French Toast

  • 4 large eggs
  • ½ cup milk
  • Zest of 1 orange
  • 2 tablespoons orange juice
  • 2 tablespoons orange marmalade
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground cardamom
  • 8 slices bread of your choice

Instructions

  • Place a wire rack set on a sheet pan in a 200° oven.
  • Combine your fruit, sugar, and orange juice in a medium bowl. Gently toss and allow to sit at room temperature until ready to serve.
  • Whisk eggs, milk, orange zest, orange juice, marmalade, cinnamon, and cardamom together and pour into a shallow dish, such as a pie plate.
  • Place marmalade, maple syrup, and orange juice in small saucepan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and allow to simmer for 10 minutes, or until the syrup begins to thicken. Set aside to cool while you make the French toast.
  • Warm a skillet or cast iron pan up to medium heat. Drop 1 teaspoon of butter in the pan and allow to melt.
  • Dip a slice of bread in egg mixture, turning to coat both sides evenly. Place a piece of dipped bread in the pan and cook 2-3 minutes, or until golden brown.
  • Flip over and cook 2-3 minutes on the other side. Repeat with the rest of the bread. Serve with fruit and marmalade syrup, if desired.

Save This Recipe! 💌

I'll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later, plus you'll get great new recipes from me every week!

Video

Notes

Storage: Let the French toast cool completely to room temperature. Arrange the slices in a single layer inside an airtight container. If you need to stack them, place parchment paper between the layers to keep them from sticking. Store in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.
Reheating: Reheat on a wire rack on a baking tray in a 350°F oven for 5 to 10 minutes, add butter to a skillet and pan fry it for a minute or two, or my favorite, put it in the toaster on low until warm.
Calories: 322kcal | Carbohydrates: 60g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 110mg | Sodium: 252mg | Potassium: 192mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 280IU | Vitamin C: 19mg | Calcium: 104mg | Iron: 2mg

The nutritional and caloric information shown is an estimate provided by an online nutrition calculator. It does not assert or suggest that readers should or should not count calories, and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s or doctor’s counseling.

Tried this recipe?I would love for you to leave a comment!

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Comments

    5 from 1 vote (1 rating without comment)

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  1. R Nelson says

    January 23, 2025 at 8:01 am

    I enjoy looking at your page--as every good cook knows, presentation is vital to the pleasure of the eating, and your presentation is lovely.

    I'm gonna fix this French toast recipe, but don't know where to buy "naval" oranges. The Base Exchange, maybe?

    I suspect you're suggesting navel oranges, named after the "belly button" on the side of the orange opposite the stem. There's a twin fruit protruding there, the result of a mutation in the original tree.

    but no worries--good for a smile.

    Reply
    • Cynthia Christensen says

      January 23, 2025 at 10:49 am

      That crazy spellcheck gets us every time doesn’t it? Thanks for letting me know I’ll fix it! And I hope you enjoy the food ❤️

      Reply
Picture of the author with a banner, stating welcome to my blog I am Cynthia.

In our house we get up with the sun, and most of us don't stop working until late in the night, so breakfast and brunch are our family meals. So join me at the kitchen counter, where I cook up delicious food for my busy family, starting first thing in the morning!

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