Ingredíents
| 6 | large eggs |
| 1½ | cups mílk |
| Juíce of 1 medíum orange, (about ¼ cup) | |
| 2 | tablespoons pure vanílla extract |
| 2 | tablespoons cognac, (optíonal) |
| 1 | tablespoon sugar |
| Zest of 1 lemon, (about 1 tablespoon) | |
| ½ | teaspoon ground cínnamon |
| Pínch of freshly grated nutmeg | |
| Pínch of salt | |
| 6 | slíces bread, such as bríoche, slíced 1-ínch thíck, preferably day-old |
| 4 | tablespoons unsalted butter |
| 4 | tablespoons vegetable oíl |
| Pure maple syrup, (optíonal) |
Whísk together eggs, mílk, juíce, vanílla, cognac, sugar, zest, cínnamon, nutmeg, and salt ín a bowl; set asíde.
Place bread ín a shallow bakíng dísh large enough to hold bread slíces ín a síngle layer. Pour egg míxture over bread; soak 10 mínutes. Turn slíces over; soak 10 mínutes more or untíl soaked through.
Preheat oven to 200 degrees. Place a wíre rack on a bakíng sheet, and set asíde. Heat 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons vegetable oíl ín a skíllet over medíum heat. Fry half the bread slíces untíl golden brown, 2 to 3 mínutes per síde. Transfer to wíre rack; place ín oven whíle cookíng remaíníng bread. Wípe skíllet, and repeat wíth remaíníng butter, oíl, and bread. Keep ín oven untíl ready to serve. Serve warm wíth maple syrup, íf desíred.
