Baileys French toast isn’t just a morning breakfast treat. You can have it at any time of the day and with a wide variety of dressings. But I think my favorite way is with a generous amount of Baileys Irish Cream.
This decadent French toast pairs fluffy, sweet challah bread with Baileys Irish cream, creating a breakfast that’s easy to make and bursting with flavor.
Challah or brioche works best for this recipe, but you can also use another bread. Thinner, less sturdy bread will need less time soaking in the egg wash and will have a shorter cooking time. It’s great for any time of year. Serve it on Christmas morning or St. Patrick’s Day, but it can also be delicious for a spring brunch or weekend brunch.
You can easily double or triple the batch to serve more people, and you can make an overnight French toast bake by refrigerating the bread and letting it sit overnight in a covered container.
Making Baileys French Toast
Ingredients
For the French Toast:
- 4 large eggs
- 1/4 cup Baileys Irish Cream
- 4 to 6 slices challah bread
- 3/4 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
For the Chocolate Sauce:
- 2 teaspoons Baileys Irish cream
- 2 tablespoons heavy cream
- 4 ounces dark chocolate
For Topping:
- Fresh strawberries (optional)
- Whipped cream (optional)
Instructions
For the French Toast:
- Whisk together eggs, milk, and sugar in a shallow bowl until the whites and yolks are completely mixed. Add in Baileys and vanilla extract, then whisk again.
- Dip each piece of bread in the egg mixture to coat both sides. If you soak the bread for too long, it will get soggy; if you use thicker bread, soak less time.
- Place a tablespoon of butter in a skillet over medium-low heat. Cook the French toast on each side for 3 minutes or until golden brown and heated through.
- To keep French toast warm, preheat the oven to 200F. While the French toast is in the oven, make the chocolate sauce by melting butter and adding cocoa powder and sugar.
For the Chocolate Sauce
- Combine chocolate chips, heavy cream, and Baileys in a microwave-safe bowl. Heat for 30 seconds and stir, then heat again at 15-second intervals until the mixture is completely melted.
- Drizzle chocolate sauce over French toast and top with whipped cream and strawberries for a tasty treat.
Variation of Baileys French Toast:
For those who want to bake an overnight French toast, follow these steps:
- Cube the bread, and put it in a buttered casserole. Pour the egg mixture over the top.
- Cover the dough and put it in the refrigerator. You can bake it right away or refrigerate it until morning.
- Bake at 375F for 25 to 40 minutes. If you refrigerated the batter overnight, use the longer time.
FAQs
1. Should we use regular or stale/dry bread?
Ideally, the bread should be a bit dry or stale. This allows the eggy mixture to soak in more easily without turning the bread soggy. However, regular bread can still work if you don’t have stale bread on hand.
2. Can children also eat Irish cream French toast?
While alcohol does burn off when cooked, it takes time. Since this dish doesn’t cook for very long, the alcohol will still be present in the finished dish. Thus, it is not recommended to serve this dish to minors.
3. Can I substitute the alcohol to make it kid-friendly?
If you’re serving French toast to kids or non-alcohol drinkers, feel free to swap the liqueur with Baileys coffee creamer. Additionally, you can also make this recipe without Baileys Irish Cream. Just mix whipping cream with whiskey instead!
4. What extra toppings can we add?
French toast topped with bananas and Nutella is a delicious combo. If you want to make someone feel extra loved, serve them this dish with these toppings.
Conclusion
French toast is an easy, scrumptious, and different way to enjoy breakfast. Adding Baileys takes it to a whole new level of taste and flavor. But be forewarned, it is absolutely delicious, and you’ll want to make it again!
