By a show of hands, who likes their french toast dry in the middle…anyone?? Good. Because if you do you are in the wrong place. You can hit up Denny’s, I guess. But if you like your french toast flavorful with a moist custard-like center and crispy shell, then stick around. This vanilla orange custard freezer french toast is easy, and is sure to be a family favorite!
Vanilla Orange Custard Freezer French Toast
I had half a loaf of french bread from spaghetti night and I knew it was the perfect opportunity to show you my favorite way to use it up!
As soon as the vanilla and orange zest hits the half and half the aroma is heavenly! It smells like a creamsicle!
You want a large dish like this casserole dish to whisk it in. This gives you lots of surface area to work with. Don’t be shy! Soak, sop, sponge it up. However you wish…just please, don’t ‘dip’… you want it nice and soggy!
If the butter is not bubbling in your large frying pan, you don’t have enough! In this recipe we follow the admonition of Paula Deen.
Any type of berry goes excellent with this and really brings out the orange flavor of the french toast. 
Now there are fancy pants days where you lightly drizzle with organic 100% pure maple syrup as pictured. And then there are days where you are just holding on…ya know? Those days call for peanut butter and/or Nutella under that syrup, with an extra side of bacon. I don’t capture those days for the whole world to see, unless I’m wearing new yoga pants, then maybe I’ll think about a selfie.
Oh! Powdered sugar AND syrup. Don’t mind if I do!
Listen peeps, I have bags and bags of this french toast all cooked and ready to pop in the toaster or microwave straight from the freezer. If you count the time to pour the syrup, by my calculation, you have a delicious and satisfying breakfast in about 63 seconds.
It’s so easy to freeze, the instructions are in the recipe below. We actually love these on rushed mornings (i.e. every morning). I can pop them in the toaster and throw them at the kids as we head out the door. No syrup needed! They are that good! I also love to pull them out for a little nighttime snack before bed.
How do you like your french toast? Any secret ingredient I should consider adding?
Vanilla Orange Custard Freezer French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 loaf french bread day old slightly stale bread bread works best
- 8 eggs
- 2 cups half and half
- 1 Tbs pure vanilla extract
- 2 Tbs sugar
- 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- pinch of salt
- zest of 1 orange optional
- 2-4 Tbs butter plus more for serving
Instructions
- Slice french bread into 1 inch thick slices. Set aside.
- Mix eggs, half and half, vanilla, sugar, cinnamon, salt and orange zest in a large shallow dish.
- Heat skillet over medium heat and add 2 Tbs butter until melty and foamy but not burnt.
- Take bread and dip in the egg mixture, making sure that both sides of the bread are well coated.
- Shake off any excess fluid and place on hot skillet. Fry up each piece until golden brown, flip and cook up other side until browned.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar. Serve with butter, fresh berries, and hot syrup.
Notes
Remove from skillet, place on a cooling rack and cool completely. After french toast has cooled, place on a parchment covered baking sheet and flash freeze by placing in the freezer for 2 hours. Remove from baking sheet and place french toast in a freezer safe ziploc bag. Label bag and place back in the freezer. When ready to eat, reheat in microwave, oven, or toaster.
I omitted the cinnamon (reasons) and used a half tbsp orange extract (home made) and a half tbsp vanilla extract. After I zested the orange, I used the juice as (a small part) of the cream mixture. I literally cannot keep these in the freezer. They’re scarfed down in the blink of an eye. Fabulous find for our 90 year old Dad who requests this for breakfast just about every day!!!!!
My husband LOVED this orange vinalla custard french toast!
After freezing, how long do you reheat in microwave, oven or toaster?
If you already baked it previously then just 1-2 minutes in the microwave should work. If you haven’t baked it I wouldn’t suggest microwaving or toaster for cooking, use the oven as directed.
Thanks Karrie
Will be trying out recipes shortly.
Regards
E