If there’s one breakfast that guarantees smiles all around, it’s Baked French Toast. Imagine golden, custardy bites of challah bread, infused with cinnamon and vanilla, wafting through your kitchen—this recipe is pure, cozy comfort that’s as easy to whip up as it is indulgent to eat.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Make-Ahead Magic: Assemble everything the night before or in the morning for an effortless breakfast—perfect for holidays or lazy weekends.
- Ultimate Comfort: Every bite bursts with cinnamon, vanilla, and that dreamy custard, proving that breakfast really can taste like dessert.
- Crowd-Pleaser: This Baked French Toast yields generous portions—no flipping slices or standing at the stove, just serve and watch it disappear!
- Easily Customizable: Jazz it up with your favorite toppings or mix-ins—the base recipe is a delicious canvas for creativity.
Ingredients You’ll Need
You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to achieve bakery-worthy Baked French Toast with just a handful of ingredients. Each one is essential for building layers of flavor and that luscious, custardy texture everyone craves.
- Unsalted butter: This keeps your French toast from sticking and adds a subtle richness in every bite.
- Challah bread (1 loaf): The real star—challah’s soft crumb and slight sweetness soak up the custard for ultimate fluffiness. Tear it for rustic charm!
- Eggs: Six eggs provide the foundation of your custard mixture, giving structure and that signature French toast flavor.
- Heavy cream: Adds richness and a silky mouthfeel—don’t skip it for that extra luxuriousness!
- Whole milk: Balances out the heavy cream, keeping the custard perfectly creamy yet light.
- Vanilla extract: Brings warmth and coziness, making every bite taste like a hug.
- Ground cinnamon: Infuses the dish with aromatic spice—essential for that classic French toast experience.
- Powdered sugar (optional): For a snowy, sweet finish. It’s the little touch that makes everything special.
- Maple syrup (optional): Warmed syrup is the crown jewel of serving, perfect for drizzling on just before devouring.
Variations
This Baked French Toast is the ultimate blank canvas. Don’t be afraid to riff on the classic—there are tons of easy ways to make it match your cravings, dietary needs, or the ingredients you already have at home.
- Berry Burst: Sprinkle a handful of fresh or frozen berries over the bread before baking for pockets of juicy sweetness.
- Nutty Crunch: Toss in a scattering of chopped pecans, walnuts, or almonds for irresistible texture in every forkful.
- Chocolate Dream: Dot the bread with chocolate chips or chunks—kids will be over the moon!
- Dairy-Free: Swap the cream and whole milk for your favorite plant-based alternatives and use vegan challah for a totally non-dairy treat.
- Spiced Up: Experiment with pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg for an autumn-inspired twist.
How to Make Baked French Toast
Step 1: Prep and Butter the Dish
Begin by preheating your oven to 350°F, then generously butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. Don’t skimp on those corners—every golden edge counts! This step ensures a beautifully baked French toast with zero sticking.
Step 2: Tear and Layer the Challah
Tear the challah bread into rustic, 1-inch pieces and scatter them evenly in the buttered dish. This creates those wonderful craggy bits that soak up extra custard and bake up delightfully golden.
Step 3: Whisk Up the Custard
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, whole milk, vanilla extract, and cinnamon until the mixture is completely smooth and cohesive. The custard should look creamy with all the cinnamon beautifully blended in.
Step 4: Pour, Soak, and Bake
Gently pour your custard mixture over the bread, making sure it’s evenly distributed. Use your (clean) hands to gently press the challah so it soaks up every drop. Bake for 45–60 minutes—the top should be golden brown and the center set with a slight custardy jiggle.
Step 5: Dress and Serve
If desired, dust the top with powdered sugar for a dreamy finish. Serve warm with a generous pour of maple syrup—and watch it disappear in minutes.
Pro Tips for Making Baked French Toast
- The Bread Matters: Day-old or slightly stale challah is ideal—it’s sturdy enough to absorb custard without getting mushy, giving your Baked French Toast that dreamy texture.
- Even Soaking: Use your hands or a large spoon to gently press the bread into the custard, ensuring every piece gets a good soak for even baking.
- Golden Top Secret: If you love crispy edges, bake uncovered—if you prefer a super custardy finish, cover the dish with foil for the first half, then remove it to brown up the top.
- Overnight Success: Prepare everything the night before and let it rest in the fridge—the flavors meld and the texture gets even dreamier come morning.
How to Serve Baked French Toast
Garnishes
Dress up your Baked French Toast with a dusting of powdered sugar for that classic “snowy” effect, or drizzle with warm maple syrup for a touch of pure decadence. Fresh berries, toasted nuts, or a dollop of whipped cream take it truly over the top.
Side Dishes
Pair this centerpiece breakfast with crispy bacon, savory sausage links, or a crisp green fruit salad to balance all the sweet, custardy richness. For a lighter touch, a bowl of Greek yogurt brings tang and creaminess on the side.
Creative Ways to Present
Slice and serve straight from the dish for a family-style brunch, or cut the Baked French Toast into thick squares and layer in glass jars with fruit and cream for an adorable parfait presentation. For special occasions, use a cookie cutter to create fun shapes—the kids will love it!
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Leftover Baked French Toast keeps beautifully. Simply cover the dish with plastic wrap or transfer slices to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to three days—the flavors get even richer as it sits!
Freezing
Baked French Toast freezes surprisingly well. Cool completely, then wrap individual servings or the entire pan in foil and place in a freezer-safe bag. Store for up to two months—such a treat to have on hand for busy mornings!
Reheating
To revive those leftovers, pop single slices in the microwave, or reheat larger portions in a 350°F oven, covered with foil, until heated through. For extra crispness, remove the foil at the end—your house will smell amazing all over again.
FAQs
-
Can I prepare Baked French Toast the night before?
Absolutely! Assemble everything in your baking dish, cover, and refrigerate overnight. This makes your morning extra relaxed, plus it gives the bread more time to soak up that luscious custard for perfect texture and flavor.
-
What’s the best bread to use?
Challah is classic for Baked French Toast because it’s pillowy and slightly sweet, but brioche or thick-cut French bread are fantastic alternatives. Day-old bread is best, as it absorbs the custard without falling apart.
-
How do I know when it’s done baking?
The top should be golden brown and set, while the center still has a slight jiggle (think bread pudding). If you insert a knife in the middle, it should come out mostly clean—don’t worry if it’s a touch custardy, that’s part of the charm!
-
Can I double the recipe for a crowd?
Definitely! Simply double all ingredients and use two baking dishes, or one extra-large dish if you have it. You may need to add a bit of extra baking time—just keep an eye out for that gorgeous golden brown color on top.
Final Thoughts
If you love cozy mornings and sharing memorable meals, you truly have to try this Baked French Toast. It’s the kind of recipe that feels both special and simple—easy enough for any weekend, but worthy of a celebration. Gather your favorite people, bake up a batch, and prepare for the happiest breakfast smiles!
Print
Baked French Toast Recipe
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 45 min
- Total Time: 55 minutes
- Yield: 6 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
This Baked French Toast recipe is a delightful twist on a classic breakfast favorite. With a rich custard-like base and a golden, crispy top, it’s perfect for a cozy weekend morning or a special brunch.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 (16 ounce) loaf challah bread, torn into 1-inch pieces (about 8 cups)
Egg Mixture:
- 6 eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 3/4 cups whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
For Serving:
- 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, for serving (optional)
- 3/4 cup maple syrup, warmed, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F with a rack in the center position. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with the butter.
- Add Challah: Add the challah to the prepared dish in an even layer.
- Prepare Egg Mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon until fully combined. Pour the egg mixture over the bread.
- Bake: Bake for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and challah is browned.
- Serve: Sprinkle with powdered sugar if using. Serve alongside the maple syrup, if using.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 345
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 20g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 190mg
