Brunch Baked French Toast Recipe

French bread: A fresh loaf cut into cubes, providing the base for the dish.

Eggs: These bind the ingredients together and add richness.

Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a custard-like texture.

Heavy cream: Enhances the creaminess and richness of the dish.

Sugar: Sweetens the mixture and balances the flavors.

Vanilla extract: Adds a warm, aromatic flavor.

Cinnamon: Provides a hint of spice and warmth.

Salt: Enhances the overall flavor by balancing the sweetness.

For an extra layer of flavor, try toasting the french bread cubes lightly before assembling the dish. This will add a slight crunch and enhance the overall texture of your baked french toast. Additionally, consider using a combination of whole milk and half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter, yet still rich, custard base.

• french bread - Substitute with brioche: Brioche is rich and buttery, making it an excellent alternative for a more decadent French toast.

• french bread - Substitute with challah: Challah is slightly sweet and soft, providing a similar texture and flavor profile.

• eggs - Substitute with flaxseed meal and water mixture: Mix 1 tablespoon of flaxseed meal with 3 tablespoons of water per egg. This is a great vegan alternative that helps bind the ingredients.

• milk - Substitute with almond milk: Almond milk is a dairy-free option that works well in baking and has a mild flavor.

• milk - Substitute with oat milk: Oat milk is creamy and has a neutral taste, making it a good dairy-free substitute.

• heavy cream - Substitute with coconut cream: Coconut cream is thick and rich, providing a similar texture and a slight coconut flavor.

• heavy cream - Substitute with Greek yogurt: Greek yogurt adds creaminess and a slight tang, which can enhance the flavor of the dish.

• sugar - Substitute with maple syrup: Maple syrup adds a natural sweetness and a unique flavor that complements French toast.

• sugar - Substitute with honey: Honey is a natural sweetener that can be used in place of sugar for a different flavor profile.

• vanilla extract - Substitute with almond extract: Almond extract provides a different but complementary flavor that can add depth to the dish.

• vanilla extract - Substitute with maple extract: Maple extract can add a rich, warm flavor that pairs well with the other ingredients.

• cinnamon - Substitute with nutmeg: Nutmeg has a warm, slightly sweet flavor that can be used in place of cinnamon.

• cinnamon - Substitute with pumpkin pie spice: Pumpkin pie spice contains cinnamon along with other spices, adding a more complex flavor.

• salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt has a slightly different mineral content and can enhance the flavors similarly.

• salt - Substitute with kosher salt: Kosher salt has larger grains and a purer taste, making it a good alternative.

• Allow the Brunch Baked French Toast to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation, which can make the dish soggy.
• Transfer the cooled French toast to an airtight container. If you don't have a container large enough, you can use a baking dish covered tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
• Store the container in the refrigerator. The French toast will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
• For longer storage, consider freezing. Wrap individual portions of the French toast in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. This makes it easy to reheat only what you need.
• Label the container with the date to keep track of freshness.
• When ready to enjoy, reheat refrigerated French toast in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes or until warmed through. Alternatively, you can use a microwave for a quicker option, heating in 30-second intervals until warm.
• For frozen portions, thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating, or reheat directly from frozen in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 20-25 minutes.
• To maintain the French toast's texture, avoid reheating in the microwave for too long, as it can make the bread rubbery.

• Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the leftover baked French toast in an oven-safe dish.
  3. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out.
  4. Heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through.
  5. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to crisp up the top.

• Microwave Method:

  1. Place a portion of the French toast on a microwave-safe plate.
  2. Cover it with a damp paper towel to retain moisture.
  3. Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through.
  4. If not heated through, continue in 30-second intervals until warm.

• Stovetop Method:

  1. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add a small amount of butter or oil to the skillet.
  3. Place the French toast slices in the skillet.
  4. Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until heated through and slightly crispy.

• Air Fryer Method:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the French toast slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  3. Heat for 3-5 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure even heating.
  4. Remove when the French toast is warm and slightly crispy.

• Oven: Used to preheat and bake the French toast to a golden brown perfection.

• Baking dish: Greased to hold the cubed French bread and egg mixture.

• Mixing bowl: Used to whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt.

• Whisk: Essential for blending the egg mixture smoothly.

• Measuring cups: Used to measure out the milk, heavy cream, and sugar accurately.

• Measuring spoons: Used to measure the vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt precisely.

• Knife: Needed to cut the French bread into cubes.

• Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for cutting the French bread.

• Spatula: Useful for spreading the egg mixture evenly over the bread cubes.

• Oven mitts: Protect your hands when placing the baking dish in and out of the oven.

• Cooling rack: Allows the baked French toast to cool slightly before serving.

Prepare ingredients ahead: Cube the french bread and mix the egg mixture the night before. Store them separately in the fridge.

Use a larger dish: A larger baking dish can help the french toast cook more evenly and faster.

Preheat oven early: Start preheating your oven while you prepare the ingredients to save time.

Grease efficiently: Use a non-stick spray to quickly and evenly grease the baking dish.

Quick soak method: Press down on the bread cubes with a spatula after pouring the egg mixture to ensure they soak up faster.