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    Baked French Toast

    September 5, 2024

    What if you could make your French toast (or at least most of it) the night before? This cinnamon baked French toast recipe is our favorite way to relish slow weekend mornings.

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    homemade baked french toast made with challah bread in a baking dish topped with dollops of whipped cream and blackberries
    Photography by Gayle McLeod

    More breakfast bakes

    An Easy French Toast Bake For Sweet Weekend Mornings

    The words sweet breakfast casserole are music to our ears. Plus, our simple overnight French toast can be made the night before, and baked in the A.M. making your morning both totally indulgent and stress-free. This baked french toast recipe with challah bread is pretty awesome, but we’ll just throw it out there that leftover Banana Bread makes excellent French toast too. If you’d like to first try making regular French toast, check out our How to Make French Toast for great results. Get the full breakfast club together with oven-baked bacon, soft scrambled eggs, and a fruit salad.

    challah bread, eggs, butter, cream, milk, vanilla and cinnamon in prep bowls to make baked french toast

    Ingredients For Homemade Baked French Toast

    • Challah bread

    • Butter

    • Eggs

    • Heavy cream

    • Whole milk

    • Vanilla extract

    • Cinnamon

    eggs, milk, cream, vanilla and cinnamon being added to a glass bowl
    challah bread torn into 1 inch pieces in a buttered casserole dish
    egg and cream mixture being poured over torn challah bread in a baking dish
    torn challah bread covered in a cream and egg mixture in a baking dish

    How to Make The Best Baked French Toast Casserole

    1. Use your hands to tear up a loaf of challah bread into even pieces.

    2. Scatter the bread in a greased baking dish.

    3. Whisk the milky cream-and-egg mixture.

    4. Pour the custard over the bread.

    5. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour.

    homemade baked french toast made with challah bread in a baking dish
    homemade baked french toast made with challah bread in a baking dish topped with dollops of whipped cream and blackberries

    How to Store + Tips

    • Sprinkle with powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup and plenty of softened butter.

    • This recipe is great for a crowd–there’s not a ton of dirty dishes to clean up, and breakfast is hot from the oven in one serving.

    • If you can’t find challah, brioche or other sweet milk bread will work.

    • Leftovers should be stored in the fridge for 3-4 days. This french toast bread pudding can be made in advance and frozen, either before or after it’s baked.

    homemade baked french toast made with challah bread in a baking dish topped with dollops of whipped cream and blackberries
    baked french toast topped with maple syrup, powdered sugar, whipped cream and berries on a plate with a fork

    More Great Breakfast Recipes From The Modern Proper

    An Easy Cinnamon French Toast Bake For Great Mornings

    For more recipe inspiration, follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest or order our cookbook. We love when you share your meals. Tag us on Instagram using #themodernproper. Happy cooking!

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    Baked French Toast

    Updated on September 5, 2024

    • Serves:  6
    • Prep Time:  10 min
    • Cook Time:  45 min
    • Calories:  319
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    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
    • 1 (16 ounce) loaf challah bread, torn into 1-inch pieces (about 8 cups)
    • 6 eggs
    • 1 cup heavy cream
    • 1 ¾ cups whole milk
    • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
    • 1 tablespoon powdered sugar, for serving (optional)
    • ¾ cup maple syrup, warmed, for serving (optional)

    Method

    1. Preheat the oven to 350°F with a rack in the center position. Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with the butter.

    2. Add the challah to the prepared dish in an even layer.

    3. 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 for 45 to 60 minutes, or until the liquid is absorbed and challah is browned.

    4. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if using. Serve alongside the maple syrup, if using.

    Nutrition Info

    • Per Serving
    • Amount
    • Calories 319
    • Protein 14 g
    • Carbohydrates 20 g
    • Total Fat 15 g
    • Dietary Fiber 2 g
    • Cholesterol 235 mg
    • sodium 306 mg
    • Total Sugars 5 g

    Baked French Toast

    Questions & Reviews

    Join the discussion below.

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    • Kyra

      Will it not get too soggy if you do it the night before? Or not soaked enough if you bake immediately? Or doesn't matter?

      You can do either, we prefer soaking it so there aren't dry spots but we've definitely done it both ways.

    • Judy

      instead of cinnamon can I substitute chocolate chips? If so do I delete the vanilla as well?

      We would still recommend the vanilla if you omit the cinnamon. Adding chocolate chips would work fine. Hope you enjoy!

    • Nella

      Should I turn both the upper and lower heating elements while baking or just the lower one?

      Just the lower. You do not want the broiler on. Hope you enjoy!

    • lamckinney

      Any thoughts on subbing in coconut cream and coconut milk to make this dairy free?

      Would probably work fine! Hope you enjoy!

    • Lenita

      if it's an overnight French toast recipe, why would the first instruction be to turn on the oven?

      You don't have to make it the night before but you can. Just turn the oven on when you're ready to bake. Hope you enjoy Lenita.

    • Evelyn

      Delicious! I used regular sandwich bread and it’s truly amazing. I’m sure with the other type of bread is excellent :D

      Thanks Evelyn, we are so happy you loved it!

    • Carol

      This is mind-blowingly good.

      Thanks Carol, glad you love it!

    • Tresa

      Best French toast ever! It’s a Christmas morning tradition now!

      What! So happy about this!