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Brioche French Toast is a luxurious breakfast made with buttery brioche bread and a rich custard mixture infused with orange liqueur and zest. Perfect for special occasions like Mother’s Day or Christmas morning, this easy recipe is a guaranteed hit with the whole family.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Fluffy texture: Brioche bread creates the perfect French toast with its soft, rich consistency.
- Citrus flavor: Grand Marnier and orange zest add a vibrant twist to this classic breakfast. I use Grand Marnier to add that unique orange flavor to my homemade fresh cranberry sauce as well as for the orange glaze in my hot cross buns recipe.
- Simple ingredients: Thick sliced brioche is easy to find at major grocery stores. You likely have most of these on hand, with just a few extras for a major upgrade.
Ingredients
Exact quantities are listed below in the recipe card. Note: the recipe card allows you to easily scale the recipe and will automatically adjust the ingredient quantities.
- butter: For greasing the griddle.
- eggs: Lightly beaten for the custard base.
- heavy cream: For a richer, creamier soak. (You can substitute with whole milk, but heavy cream is recommended.)
- Grand Marnier: Adds a citrusy liqueur flavor.
- vanilla extract: For a touch of sweetness.
- cinnamon: Brings warmth to the flavor profile.
- orange zest: Enhances the citrus notes.
- brioche bread: Thickly sliced for the best texture. I also use Brioche when making my Creme Brulee French Toast.
Ingredient Notes
- Brioche bread: The soft, buttery texture elevates this dish. Challah is a great alternative if brioche isn’t available.
- Heavy cream: Using heavy cream instead of milk gives the custard a decadent, creamy consistency.
- Grand Marnier: A key ingredient for a unique orange flavor. Skip the vanilla if using this
Step-by-Step Instructions
Always refer to the recipe card below, but here is a visual summary.
1. Prepare the Griddle
Heat a large griddle over medium heat and grease with butter to prevent sticking.
2. Make the Custard Mixture
In a shallow dish, whisk together eggs, heavy cream, Grand Marnier, cinnamon, and orange zest until just combined. Avoid overmixing.
3. Soak the Bread
Dip both sides of each brioche slice in the custard mixture, ensuring even coverage. Let the bread soak just long enough to absorb the liquid without falling apart.
Tip: Use a shallow bowl or container for easy dipping.
4. Cook the French Toast
Place the soaked bread on the hot, buttered griddle. Cook on each side for about 5 minutes, or until golden brown. Flip only once to maintain the fluffy texture.
5. Serve and Enjoy
Serve hot with your favorite toppings like fresh berries, a drizzle of maple syrup, or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Tips for the Best French Toast
- Bread choice: Brioche or challah bread works best for a fluffy, rich texture. Stale bread can also be used as it absorbs the custard well.
- Soaking time: The longer the soak, the more flavor your bread will absorb. Just be careful not to oversoak.
- Storage: Leftover French toast can be refrigerated in an airtight container and reheated in a toaster oven for a quick breakfast.
If you tried this Brioche French Toast recipe or any other recipe on my website, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it went in the 📝 comments below. Thanks for visiting!
Also, if you love rich and decadent breakfasts and desserts that are similar to this recipe, you might want to make my Berry Bread Pudding, Classic Bread Pudding with Vanilla Caramel Sauce, or my Baked Banana Macadamia French Toast.
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Equipment
Ingredients
Instructions
- Prepare griddle: Heat large griddle over medium heat. Grease surface with 2 Tablespoon butter.
- Prepare soak: In shallow flat dish, combine 2 eggs, 1 cup heavy cream, 2 Tablespoon Grand Marnier, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 teaspoon orange zest.
- Soak bread: Using 16 ounces brioche bread, soak both sides of each piece of bread in the liquid. Gently shake off any excess and transfer to griddle. Note: Due to the softness of the bread, do not soak until you are ready to directly transfer it to the hot griddle.
- Cook French toast: Cook until golden brown, about 5 minutes on each side, flipping only once.
- Serve hot with pure maple syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Add a grating of fresh nutmeg!
Been making this 20 yrs
Larry jaffeโ- Dayton Ohio& Sarasota Fla!! I KNOW!!!
Delicious. Best French Toast Iโve ever made. Best French Toast Iโve ever had.
This recipe was delicious. I used half and half and a zest of a tangerine because that’s what I had. I also used Texas toast bread. Perfect.
I bet the grand marnier and zest give so much flavor to the french toast! Can wait to try this!
Yum…I’m coming to your house for breakfast. I definitely need to up my breakfast game. This french toast takes breakfast to a whole new level. ๐
This French toast is restaurant worthy, indeed! My kids couldn’t get enough; it was delicious!
Oh my yum! I’ve never tried french toast with brioche before. I’ll have to give this recipe a try!
This looks great and super delicious! I love the cinnamon and orange zest in the recipe as those little touches make the dish that bit special. Can’t wait to try this for breakfast next weekend!!
This looks delicious!
Oh, I haven’t had french toast in ages!! I generally make it with old bits of my sourdough, but that has all gone into bread pudding of late ; P
Adding citrus flavour is a wonderful idea! My mouth waters once again.