If you’re getting bored with the usual granola and yogurt, and you want to try something new for brunch, what about making French toast bake? It’s sweet and tastes like vanilla, and the whole family will love it. Making this is so easy and even a beginner cook will find it a breeze to prepare.
If you don’t want it for brunch or breakfast, what about for a mid-afternoon treat on a lazy weekend? You might like to add a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream to make it into a luxurious dessert.
This recipe is both budget-friendly and delicious. You probably already have most of the ingredients for French toast bake to hand, and it’s the perfect way to use up bread which is somewhere between starting to dry out and almost stale.
Nobody wants sandwiches when the bread is past its prime, but it’s ideal for baking and will soak up the creamy, sweet vanilla sauce beautifully.
Why You’ll Love the Recipe
French toast bake is so good at breakfast time and it’s nice to make for a special occasion. Since you prepare it a day ahead then chill it overnight, all you have to do in the morning is pop it in the oven. So if you find yourself with slightly stale bread, don’t worry – you can still use it to make a French toast bake.
How to Serve It:
Warmed maple syrup is wonderful drizzled over French toast bake, or you can use any other kind of plain or flavored syrup instead. If you’re having this as a dessert, sub some whipped cream or vanilla ice cream instead.
Ingredients:
- Butter
- Texas toast
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
- Eggs
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon and powdered sugar
- Warmed maple syrup
How to make French Toast Bake:
Step 1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Step 2. Microwave the butter until melted, then mix in the sugar.
Step 3. Pour this into a 13×9-inch pan and use a pastry brush to spread it all over.
Step 4. Beat the milk with the vanilla and eggs.
Step 5. Arrange half the bread in the pan in one layer.
Step 6. Spread half the egg mixture over the bread.
Step 7. Sprinkle over half the cinnamon.
Step 8. Add the rest of the bread slices on top then the rest of the egg mixture.
Step 9. Cover the dish with foil and refrigerate overnight.
Step 10. Bake covered for 30 minutes then uncovered for another 15.
Step 11. Sprinkle with cinnamon and powdered sugar.
Step 12. Serve hot, with warmed maple syrup if liked.
Amazing for breakfast, brunch or dessert, this French toast bake is so delicious. Served warm or hot from the oven, this recipe is sure to put a big smile on every face at the table.
French toast bake
Ingredients
- 1 stick butter
- 1 loaf Texas toast or any thickly sliced bread, slightly stale is fine
- 1½ cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup brown sugar
- Cinnamon and powdered sugar for sprinkling
- Warmed maple syrup to serve (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Microwave the butter until melted, then mix in the sugar.
- Pour this into a 13×9-inch pan and use a pastry brush to spread it all over.
- Beat the milk with the vanilla and eggs.
- Arrange half the bread in the pan in one layer.
- Spread half the egg mixture over the bread.
- Sprinkle over half the cinnamon.
- Add the rest of the bread slices on top then the rest of the egg mixture.
- Cover the dish with foil and refrigerate overnight.
- Bake covered for 30 minutes then uncovered for another 15.
- Sprinkle with cinnamon and powdered sugar.
- Serve hot, with warmed maple syrup if liked.
Can You Make It Ahead?
You have to make this ahead because it needs to chill overnight. That’s how the flavors permeate through the bread slices and meld beautifully. You can make it 2 days ahead though if you want to.
Storage Instructions:
Don’t leave the cooked dish at room temperature for any more than 2 hours. Leftovers will keep for about 5 days in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can also freeze it for up to 3 months, allowing it to thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
Variations and Substitutes:
Texas toast, which is basically thick slices of bread, works well here, or you could use anything that has a crust on it, like brioche, challah, sourdough, or baguette. You can either use slices or cut the bread into big cubes if you’re starting off with an uncut loaf. Want to add a savory element to this? Throw in some cooked, crumbled bacon or sausage. Spices such as allspice, nutmeg, cloves, or anise would also be good, or even some pumpkin pie spice in place of, or as well as, the cinnamon.
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