Bahama Mama French Toast
Cinnamon bread soaked in orange juice and egg, pressed into graham crumbs, browned in a skillet.
- calories
- 540
- weight
- 6 oz
- cal / oz
- 90
- protein
- 14 g
- serves
- 4, scales
- prep
- 10 min
- cook
- 15 min
- total time
- 25 min
- water
- none
- cost
- $
Calorie and protein figures are my own estimates, good enough for planning a food bag and not meant as precise nutrition data.
- Breakfast
- Campfire coals
- Grill grate
- Liquid fuel
- Car camping
- Basecamp
- Nut free
- Real dishes
- Grab and go
- Needs a cooler
- Basic
Ingredients
| Eggs | 4 | carried in a rigid egg case, cooler only |
|---|---|---|
| Orange juice | 1/2 cup | a shelf-stable juice box works |
| Graham cracker crumbs | 2 cups | crush a sleeve at home |
| Cinnamon bread | 6 thick slices | day-old holds together better |
| Oil or bacon grease | 2 tbsp | grease if you cooked bacon first |
| Syrup | to serve |
Method
- Beat the eggs in a bowl or wide container, then whisk in the orange juice.
- Pour the graham crumbs onto a plate or into a shallow pan.
- Get the skillet or griddle hot over the fire and add the oil.
- Dip a slice of bread in the egg, let the excess run off, then press both sides into the crumbs.
- Lay it on the skillet and cook until browned, two to three minutes a side. Work in batches.
- Serve with syrup while the crumb crust is still crisp.
This one needs a cooler and a real skillet, so it is a car-camping breakfast, not a trail one. The orange juice does two jobs: it thins the egg so the bread soaks instead of sitting in custard, and the acid keeps the whole thing from tasting flat.
The graham crumbs are the point. They form a crust that browns fast and gives the slice enough structure to survive a flip on uneven camp heat, which is where ordinary french toast falls apart. Let the extra egg drip off before you crumb, or the coating slides off in the pan.
Packing
Crumbs go in a zip bag at home so you are not crushing crackers in camp. Eggs and bread ride in the cooler; the bread stays whole if you pack it on top.
Variations
- Swap the orange juice for pineapple juice and the citrus goes sweeter.
- No cinnamon bread: use plain white bread and add a teaspoon of cinnamon to the egg.
- Cook bacon first and use the grease. It is the better fat here.
https://camprecipes.com/classic-recipes/bahama-mama-french-toast