Craving something a little different for breakfast? The French toast bake is made with thick slices of Texas toast cut into cubes and is soaked in a rich custard of eggs, milk, and heavy cream, and infused with vanilla and cinnamon, and topped with a brown sugar pecan topping that is the true star of the show. The crunchy topping is a delightful addition that adds the perfect sweet and nutty finish.
French toast is a classic sweet breakfast treat that most of us have enjoyed for pretty much all our lives. Thick bread soaked with an egg mixture and then cooked in a skillet until golden brown? Yeah, you know what I’m talking about. It’s so good! The thing is that even the best recipes can get boring after making them so many times. That’s why I decided to combine a classic French toast bake with my signature brown sugar pecan topping. It’s the sweet and crunchy topping you’ve seen used in many of my other baked recipes, like muffins, cobblers, and breads. I make a classic French toast bake, add that topping, and in one fell swoop I’ve made something totally different and completely delicious.
French Toast Bake
This delicious breakfast recipe starts with a simple egg and heavy cream mixture that’s given its classic flavor, thanks to vanilla and cinnamon. I add bread cubes to a baking dish, then I pour the egg mixture over them and let it sit in the fridge for 2 to 3 hours so the bread can absorb all that eggy deliciousness. Then, I top it with my brown sugar pecan mixture and bake until its completely cooked through and golden brown. It’s an easy recipe that only takes a few minutes of prep and less than an hour in the oven, and everyone comes back for more again and again!
Why You’ll Love This French Toast Bake Recipe
- The combination of the rich custard-soaked Texas toast bread with cinnamon and vanilla, along with the brown sugar pecan topping, is simply irresistible.
- With the addition of maple syrup and powdered sugar, along with the nutty, crunchy topping, this is one of the best French toast bake recipes you will ever taste.
- This recipe takes classic French toast to a new level making it a special occasion-worthy breakfast casserole that is sure to please the whole family.
French Toast Bake Ingredients
This recipe only uses a few simple ingredients for the classic French toast base and the brown sugar pecan topping. You might not have to shop for anything outside of the bread!
For the French Toast
- Texas toast thick bread, cut into 1 ½ inch cubes
- Large eggs
- Heavy cream
- Whole milk
- Vanilla extract
- Ground cinnamon
For the Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
- Brown sugar
- All-purpose flour
- Chopped pecans
- Melted butter
How to Make French Toast Bake
Although this recipe has an added element with the topping, it’s actually easier to make than traditional French toast because you bake it rather than cook it on the stovetop. Prep is minimal, and the longest part of the recipe is letting it chill. Everyone can make this sweet breakfast.
Step 1: Prep
Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray and add the bread cubes to it.
Step 2: Make the Egg Mixture
Whisk the eggs, heavy cream, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon until well-blended.
Step 3: Pour and Chill
Pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes and stir to coat them evenly. Then, cover the dish with plastic wrap and chill the bread in the refrigerator for 2 to 3 hours.
Step 4: Prep for Baking
Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for 30 minutes. While it sits, preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Step 5: Make the Topping
Add the brown sugar, flour, chopped pecans, and melted butter to a medium bowl and stir to combine.
Step 6: Bake
Sprinkle the topping evenly over the bread mixture and bake for 45 to 55 minutes until golden brown and thoroughly baked through. Enjoy with your favorite French toast toppings!
Recipe Tips
- Spray your baking dish with non-stick spray to make it easier to remove the bake.
- Cube your bread and leave it uncovered on the counter for a few hours to get stale.
- Be sure to let your bread and egg mixture chill for at least 2 to 3 hours so the bread can absorb the eggs.
- Hearty bread works best with this recipe. Plain sliced white bread will break down during the chilling and baking process.
Variations
- Use your favorite hearty bread for this recipe.
- Try adding your favorite sweet spices to change the flavor of this bake.
- You can use your favorite chopped nuts for the topping.
What to Serve with French Toast Bake
Enjoy this bake on its own with a glass of milk or a cup of coffee or tea for a delicious sweet breakfast. You can also serve it alongside your other favorite savory breakfast items, such as bacon and sausage, or with fresh berries and fresh fruit, for a sweet and savory breakFEAST.
Recipe FAQ
French toast bake is a sweet casserole made by soaking cubed bread in classic French toast egg mixture and baking it until golden and cooked through.
There are a few reasons French toast can become soggy. Using soft bread like sliced white bread will result in soggy French toast. If you don’t let your bread get stale, your French toast could become soggy. If you let the bread soak for too long, it will break down, as well.
Yes, that’s exactly what Texas toast is. It works well for French toast and garlic bread because being sliced thickly allows it to stand up to cooking, unlike thinly sliced white bread.
Brioche, Challah, milk bread, or your favorite hearty, thickly sliced bread will work.
Yes, you can. French toast bake is freezer-friendly and will last for up to 2 months when stored properly.
How to Store and Reheat Leftover French Toast Bake
Refrigerate this French toast bake for up to 4 days in an airtight container. For longer storage, freeze it for up to 2 months in an airtight, freezer-safe container.
To reheat the bake, bring it to room temperature and bake it covered at 350 until heated through.
Try This Delicious French Toast Bake Recipe Today
This French toast bake is incredibly easy and delicious, making it the perfect breakfast for the weekend. With just a few minutes of prep, a little soak time, and less than an hour of baking time, this is one recipe that will have you and your family happy this weekend. It’s a great breakfast treat to serve on Christmas morning, or Easter brunch, or for any occasion. Give it a try, and I know you’ll fall in love with it.
More Delicious Breakfast Recipes You’ll Enjoy
This Tater Tot Breakfast Casserole is a loaded with crispy bacon, savory breakfast sausage, fluffy eggs, cheese, and tater tots. Definitely a crowd-pleaser and a family favorite.
French Toast Bake
Ingredients
French Toast Mixture
- 24 ounce Texas toast thick bread, cute into 1 1//2 inch cubes
- 12 large eggs
- 1 ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 ½ cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
- 1 ½ brown sugar
- ½ cup all purpose flour
- 1 ½ cup chopped pecans
- ½ cup melted butter
Instructions
- Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
French Toast Mixture
- Add bread cubes to the baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs, heavy cream, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon together until well combined.
- Pour egg mixture over bread cubes and stir to coat.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for 2-3 hours or overnight.
Brown Sugar Pecan Topping
- In a medium bowl, add brown sugar, flour, chopped pecans and melted butter. Stir to combine.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Remove the baking dish from the fridge and let sit out at room temperature for about 30 minutes.
- Sprinkle topping mixture over the top of the bread mixture, spreading in an even layer.
- Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 45-55 minutes or until golden brown and thoroughly baked through.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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I made this for a brunch that my bible study had and it was a huge hit. Very good.
Hi Monica, thank you so much for sharing. I’m so glad you all enjoyed this recipe. Thank you for the 5-star rating too! :)