Name: Hot cross bun french toast
Total time: 20 min
Yield: Serves 2
Cuisine: British, French
Ingredients: 2 eggs; 1 tbsp soft light brown sugar; 1 tsp vanilla extract; a pinch ground cinnamon or mixed spice; 50ml whole or semi-skimmed milk; 1 large orange, zested; 2 stale hot cross buns, split; 2 tsp icing sugar, plus a dusting to serve; 2 tsp (optional) Cointreau or Grand Marnier; 1 tbsp butter, for frying

Hot cross bun French toast with fresh orange slices

2 eggs
1 tbsp soft light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
a pinch ground cinnamon or mixed spice
50ml whole or semi-skimmed milk
1 large orange
zested
2 stale hot cross buns
split
2 tsp icing sugar
plus a dusting to serve
2 tsp (optional) Cointreau or Grand Marnier
1 tbsp butter
for frying

Method

step 1
Beat the eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, spice, milk and orange zest together in a shallow bowl with a pinch of salt. Put the hot cross bun halves into the mixture, turning and pressing down until completely covered, and leave to soak for 5-10 minutes or until soft but not completely collapsing.
step 2
Meanwhile, remove the remaining peel and pith from the orange using a small serrated knife, then remove the segments leaving the skins behind. Put the segments into a bowl with any juices. Sprinkle over the sugar and Cointreau (if using) and leave to macerate.
step 3
Melt the butter in a frying pan over a medium heat until foaming. Remove the bun halves from the egg mixture, allow any excess egg to drip off for a second, then fry in the butter for 2-3 minutes on each side until golden and crisp. Serve on plates, topped with the orange pieces, and a little more icing sugar, if you like.