4 French Toast Recipes With an Adults-only Twist

French toast, a favorite across America, has many names throughout the world – eggy bread, German toast, poor knight’s pudding, Bombay toast, and the French call it pain perdue which literally translates to “lost bread” as it was often made with stale or old bread.

But you didn’t think this was just going to be a French toast blog, did you? This is Spec’s! So of course, we have a collection of spirited French toast recipes to take your brunch game to the next level on French Toast Day!

1. Fireball French Toast

Cinnamon has always been a breakfast spice staple!

Ingredients

• 1 cup Fireball cinnamon whiskey
• 6 large eggs
• 1¼ cups milk (whole or 2 percent)
• ⅔ cup half-and-half
• ½ cup sugar
• ½ tsp. ground cinnamon
• 1 loaf challah or brioche bread, cut into ¾-inch-thick slices
• 1 tbsp. unsalted butter
• Maple syrup or apple butter, for serving

Directions

1. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, Fireball, half-and-half, sugar and ground cinnamon until well combined. Pour into a large baking dish and add the cut slices of bread in a single layer. Let stand 5 minutes, until the underside of each slice is saturated with custard, then flip to soak the second side of each slice.
2. Heat a nonstick griddle over medium heat and add 1 tablespoon of the butter. When the butter is melted, remove the bread slices from the custard, letting the extra drip off, and transfer to the pan. Cook, turning once, until golden brown on both sides, about 6 minutes total.
3. Divide the slices among 4 warmed plates and serve with additional butter and maple syrup.

2. Bailey’s French Toast

An Irish cream soaked French toast with a spiked chocolate sauce

Ingredients

• ¼ cup Bailey’s Irish Cream
• 1 Loaf sourdough bread
• 3 eggs, whisked
• 1 tsp. Pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp. Cinnamon

For Chocolate Sauce

• 4 oz. Dark chocolate
• 2 tbsp. Heavy whipping cream
• 1½ tsp. Bailey’s Irish Cream

For Whipped Cream

• ½ cup Heavy whipping cream
• 2 tbsp. Powdered sugar

Directions

1. Slice bread to desired thickness.
2. Crack eggs in a 9×9” pan. Whisk until light and fluffy. Add Bailey’s, vanilla extract and cinnamon. Whisk thoroughly until mixed.
3. Place bread in the pan and soak each side for at least 10 minutes.
4. Preheat pan on medium-high heat. Lightly spray with cooking spray. Place soaked bread into pan and cook for about 1 minute on each side until slightly brown. Remove bread from pan and set aside until all bread is cooked.
5. While cooking the French toast, prepare the chocolate sauce. In a glass measuring cup, or other microwave-safe bowl, combine 4oz of Dark chocolate with 2 tablespoons of heavy cream. Microwave on high for 45-60 seconds. Remove from microwave and whisk until smooth. Add Bailey’s Irish Cream and whisk into melted chocolate.
6. Serve with homemade whipped cream if desired. Prepare the whipped cream by combining heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar in your mixing bowl. Beat on high speed until stiff peaks form; about 3-4 minutes. Set whipped cream in the fridge until ready.

3. Whiskey Custard French Toast

Fast and fabulous, this decadent delight will put you back to bed!

Ingredients

• 2 tsp. whiskey
• 4 slices of your favorite bread
• 2 eggs
• ⅓ cup cream
• 2 tbsp. maple syrup
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 2 tbsp. butter

Directions

1. In a wide bowl, combine the eggs, cream, maple syrup, whiskey, vanilla, and salt. Whisk the custard mixture until smooth.
2. Soak each slice of bread in the custard mixture. Turn each slice 4-5 times in the custard, pressing and releasing gently on the top of the bread to soak up as much custard as possible.
3. Heat a wide skillet (cast iron or non-stick) over medium-high heat. Add the butter. When the butter is melted, and stops bubbling, add the soaked slices of French toast.
4. Cook the bread on the first side for about 3 minutes. Flip, and cook for an additional two minutes. You are looking for the outside of the toasts to get beautifully mottled golden brown, and for the center to just barely set.
5. Serve immediately with maple syrup, whipped cream, cider syrup, or whatever topping you prefer.

4. Champagne Custard French Toast

Breakfast bubbly is the best bubbly.

Ingredients

• 1 cup champagne (a sweeter variety is best.)
• 4 eggs
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ⅔ cup sugar
• orange zest
• 1 loaf of day-old French bread
• butter to fry it in
• orange wedges and strawberry slices for serving
• butter for serving

Directions

1. In a saucepan, combine champagne, cream, milk, and sugar. Bring to a slow boil and let simmer for 5 minutes.
2. Stir in zest
3. Slice French bread in 1″ slices
4. Place in a big baking dish in a single layer and pour custard over it.
5. Let sit 5 minutes and flip, then let sit 2 more minutes.
6. Heat a skillet to medium and add a dollop of butter.
7. Fry the toast for 2 minutes on either side.
8. Top with strawberry slices, a bit of butter, and squeeze orange wedges over the toast.