Pair chocolate and zesty marmalade with panettone or challah for an indulgent Boxing Day brunch, or an easy dessert. Top with yogurt, orange slices and syrup to serve
Ingredients
4 thick slices of brioche, challah or panettone
2 tbsp marmalade
40g dark chocolate, broken into pieces
3 eggs
300ml whole milk
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 orange, zested, then peeled and sliced
¼ tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp maple syrup
icing sugar, for dusting
yogurt or crème fraîche, to serve
Direction
Heat the oven to 140C/120C fan/gas 1. Cut a pocket into the side of each thick slice of bread using a small, sharp knife, then spoon in a quarter of the marmalade and poke a quarter of the chocolate into each pocket.
Whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla, orange zest and cinnamon together in a shallow dish. Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture, making sure both sides are fully coated.
Melt ½ tbsp of the butter in a large frying pan over a medium heat. Lay a soaked bread slice in the pan and cook until golden brown and crispy, about 2-3 mins per side. Repeat with the remaining slices. Keep the toasted slices warm in a low oven while cooking the next, adding more butter as needed.
Put the orange slices in a pan with the maple syrup and warm through over a low-medium heat until some of their juices are released. Dust the French toast with icing sugar and top with the yogurt, orange slices and warm maple-orange syrup.