Baked French Toast

It's an easy, make-ahead recipe for breakfast!

By Ree DrummondPublished: Aug 17, 2023

10 Ratings

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On my Food Network show, I make (among other things) this beautiful, simple, glorious, easy, delectable, scrumptious, heavenly baked French toast, which I served with syrup and blueberries to my daughter and her four friends. The girls absolutely loved it—between the six of us, we nearly polished off the whole pan.

The great thing about baked French toast is that you can make it on the spot and bake it right away… or assemble the breakfast casserole the night before and let it sit and get even more luscious in the fridge overnight. You can leave it plain like this, or you can mix blueberries or other fruit in with all the bread. Simple just doesn't get any more delicious than this. The crustier the bread, the better!

It's fabulosity in a baking dish. So simple, so wonderful.

Have I used enough adjectives today?

What's the best bread to use for baked French toast?

I like to use a big loaf of sourdough or French bread. You want whatever bread you use to be nice and crusty so it soaks up plenty of the creamy custard. Day-old bread that has grown a little stale is even better!

What other fruit would be good mixed in?

Strawberries, blackberries, or a mix of the two plus blueberries would be heavenly! During the summer, fresh peaches would be scrumptious. You could even use sliced apples for a fall twist. There are endless possibilities!

What pairs well with baked French toast?

A big, fresh fruit salad would be tasty. For something savory, crispy, salty, delicious... try BACON! Who doesn't love bacon?

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Yields:: 8 serving(s)
Prep Time:: 15 mins
Cook Time:: 1 hr
Total Time:: 1 hr 15 mins

Ingredients

For the French Toast:

Butter, for greasing
1
loaf crusty sourdough or French bread
8
whole eggs
2 c.
whole milk
1/2 c.
heavy cream
1/2 c.
sugar
1/2 c.
brown sugar
2 tbsp.
vanilla extract
Warm syrup, for serving
Butter, for serving
1 c.
fresh blueberries, for serving

For the Topping:

1/2 c.
flour
1/2 c.
firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp.
cinnamon
1/4 tsp.
salt
Freshly grated nutmeg (optional)
1
stick cold butter, cut into pieces

Directions

1. Step 1For the French toast: Grease the baking pan with butter. Tear the bread into chunks, or cut into cubes, and evenly distribute in the pan. Crack the eggs in a big bowl. Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla. Pour evenly over the bread. Cover the pan tightly and store in the fridge until needed (overnight preferably). Or you can make it and bake it right away—it's delicious no matter what!
2. Step 2For the topping: Mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and some nutmeg in a separate bowl. Stir together using a fork. Add the butter and use a pastry cutter to mix it all together until the mixture resembles fine pebbles. Store in a plastic bag in the fridge.
3. Step 3When you're ready to bake the casserole, preheat the oven to 350˚. Remove the casserole from the fridge and sprinkle the topping over the top. Bake for 45 minutes for a softer, bread pudding-like texture or for 1 hour or more for a firmer, crisper texture.
4. Step 4Scoop out individual portions. Top with butter, drizzle with warm syrup, and sprinkle with blueberries.