If you are on the hunt for a truly decadent and soul-warming breakfast, this Bourbon Maple Bacon French Toast Recipe is about to become your new favorite indulgence. Imagine thick slices of brioche soaked in a creamy custard flavored with a whisper of bourbon and cinnamon, then pan-fried to golden perfection, topped with crispy crumbled bacon and drizzled with extra maple syrup. It’s that perfect balance of sweet, savory, and boozy that transforms a simple morning meal into an unforgettable experience that you’ll want to share with everyone you know.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Getting the ingredients right is key to unlocking the magic of this recipe. Each element plays a special role in creating those luscious textures and complex flavors that make the dish sing.
- Brioche or challah bread: Thick-cut slices work best because they soak up the custard without falling apart, giving you a tender yet sturdy base.
- Large eggs: They enrich the custard base, adding richness and helping with structure.
- Whole milk and heavy cream: This combination creates a velvety custard with just the right balance of creaminess.
- Pure maple syrup: Adds natural sweetness and that signature maple flavor that pairs beautifully with bacon and bourbon.
- Bourbon: A splash infuses the custard with warm, deep notes, elevating the French toast to brunch-star status.
- Vanilla extract: Brings out the sweetness and adds aromatic depth.
- Ground cinnamon: Provides subtle spice warmth that complements the maple and bourbon.
- Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances all the flavors.
- Bacon: The crispy crumbled bacon adds crunch, saltiness, and irresistible smoky allure.
- Unsalted butter: For cooking the French toast, ensuring a perfectly browned surface with a rich finish.
- Powdered sugar (optional): A delicate dusting for extra visual appeal and a touch of sweetness.
How to Make Bourbon Maple Bacon French Toast Recipe
Step 1: Crisp the Bacon
Start by cooking your bacon slices in a large skillet over medium heat until beautifully crisp. Once done, transfer them to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease and cool. After cooling, crumble them into bite-sized pieces. This bacon will add that perfect crunchy, salty contrast to your French toast, so don’t skip this step!
Step 2: Prepare the Custard Mixture
In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, maple syrup, bourbon, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt until everything is smoothly combined. This custard is the soul of your dish, infusing the bread with rich flavor, a hint of boozy warmth, and a touch of spice.
Step 3: Soak the Bread
Preheat a large nonstick skillet or griddle to medium heat and add a tablespoon of butter, letting it melt and coat the surface. Dip each slice of your thick bread into the custard, allowing it to soak for a few seconds on each side. Be sure not to oversoak or your toast may fall apart. For extra richness, you can let the dipped bread rest for about a minute before cooking—this helps the custard absorb deeply.
Step 4: Cook the French Toast
Place the soaked bread slices gently onto your hot skillet and cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side. You are looking for a gorgeous golden brown crust with custardy softness inside. Add more butter to your skillet as needed between batches to maintain that beautiful golden sear.
Step 5: Assemble and Finish
Once cooked, sprinkle the warm French toast with the crumbled bacon and drizzle generously with additional maple syrup. If you like, finish with a light dusting of powdered sugar to bring a delicate sweetness and picture-perfect look. Serve immediately while warm and soft—the flavors here taste best fresh!
How to Serve Bourbon Maple Bacon French Toast Recipe
Garnishes
While the crumbled bacon and maple syrup alone make this dish extraordinary, you can add a few fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream for extra color and brightness. A sprinkle of chopped pecans or toasted walnuts can also add a wonderful texture contrast.
Side Dishes
This French toast pairs beautifully with classic breakfast staples like crispy hash browns or fresh fruit salad to lighten things up. For a brunch spread, consider serving alongside scrambled eggs or a fresh green salad with a lemon vinaigrette to balance out the richness.
Creative Ways to Present
For a special occasion, stack the Bourbon Maple Bacon French Toast Recipe high and thread a skewer of berries through the stack for height and elegance. You can also serve individual slices topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of warmed bourbon maple syrup for an indulgent twist that feels more like dessert.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
If you have any leftovers, let them cool completely and store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Enjoy within 2 days for best flavor and texture, as the custardy richness can diminish over time.
Freezing
You can freeze cooked French toast for up to one month. Flash freeze the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet before transferring them to a freezer-safe bag. This prevents sticking and helps maintain quality when reheating later.
Reheating
To reheat, place frozen or refrigerated slices on a baking sheet and warm in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes or until heated through and slightly crisp on the edges. Reheating in a skillet over low heat with a bit of butter also works well to revive that freshly cooked texture.
FAQs
Can I substitute bourbon with something else?
Absolutely! If you prefer to avoid alcohol, simply replace the bourbon with an equal amount of extra vanilla extract or a splash of maple-flavored syrup. The dish will still be rich and flavorful, just without the boozy depth.
What type of bread is best for this recipe?
Thick-cut brioche or challah bread is ideal because of its soft crumb and sturdy texture. These breads soak up the custard beautifully without falling apart, resulting in the perfect balance of creamy and crispy in every bite.
How can I make the bacon crisper?
For extra crispy bacon, cook it in a cold pan over medium heat and allow the fat to render slowly. Flip occasionally until it reaches your desired crispness. Draining on paper towels immediately after cooking also helps keep it crunchy.
Is it okay to use milk instead of heavy cream?
The recipe calls for a mix of whole milk and heavy cream to achieve a luscious custard. You could use all milk if preferred, but the result will be less rich and slightly less creamy. The heavy cream really makes the texture luxurious.
Can I make this dish vegan or dairy-free?
This version relies on eggs and dairy for that classic custard texture, so making it vegan would require alternative ingredients like plant-based milk, flax eggs, and vegan butter. While you can experiment, the outcome will differ from this Bourbon Maple Bacon French Toast Recipe’s rich and traditional appeal.
Final Thoughts
This Bourbon Maple Bacon French Toast Recipe is one of those rare breakfast treats that feels both indulgent and profoundly comforting. It never fails to turn an ordinary morning into a celebration of flavors and textures that make you smile with every bite. I encourage you to give it a try soon—you might just find it becomes your go-to recipe whenever you want a touch of warmth, sweetness, and that irresistible savory crunch. You deserve a breakfast this special.
Print
Bourbon Maple Bacon French Toast Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Description
This Bourbon Maple Bacon French Toast recipe offers a delightful balance of sweet and savory flavors, combining fluffy brioche soaked in a rich bourbon-infused custard with crispy crumbled bacon. Perfect for a decadent brunch or breakfast, each bite is enhanced by warm spices and a drizzle of pure maple syrup, creating an indulgent and memorable meal.
Ingredients
Bread
- 8 slices thick cut brioche or challah bread
Custard Mixture
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup plus more for serving
- 1 tablespoon bourbon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Bacon
- 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
Cooking Fat
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter for cooking
Optional Garnish
- Powdered sugar for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook Bacon: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the bacon slices until crisp. Once cooked, transfer them onto a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease. After cooling, crumble the bacon into small pieces for topping.
- Prepare Custard Mixture: In a shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, 2 tablespoons maple syrup, bourbon, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt until fully combined and smooth.
- Heat Skillet: Preheat a large nonstick skillet or griddle over medium heat and melt 1 tablespoon of unsalted butter until foaming.
- Dip Bread: Dip each slice of brioche or challah bread into the egg custard mixture, soaking each side briefly to absorb the custard without becoming overly soggy.
- Cook French Toast: Place the soaked bread slices onto the hot skillet. Cook for 3 to 4 minutes on each side, or until they achieve a golden brown color and are cooked through. Add more butter to the skillet as needed when cooking the remaining slices.
- Serve: Arrange the cooked French toast on plates. Sprinkle generously with crumbled bacon and drizzle with additional maple syrup. Optionally, dust with powdered sugar and serve warm for a luscious breakfast experience.
Notes
- For extra richness, let the dipped bread rest for 1 minute before cooking to fully absorb the custard.
- Substitute the bourbon with additional vanilla extract if preferred for a non-alcoholic version.
- Serve with fresh berries or whipped cream for an elevated brunch presentation.
