This Oven Baked French Toast recipe is such a warm, comforting breakfast perfect for lazy weekend mornings, busy weekdays, or a special brunch. (Hint: Mother’s Day is coming!)
Made with thick, hearty chunks of bakery bread and a deliciously spiced custard, this French toast casserole is baked to perfection in the oven with a golden-brown crust and soft, pillowy interior. It’s a must-try for all you breakfast lovers out there!
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make – Rather than cooking each slice individually on a griddle, this oven-baked French toast cooks everything in the same baking dish. So, feeding the whole gang is simple!
- Versatile – From adding different types of bread to experimenting with various toppings and spices, the recipe can easily be personalized to taste.
- Comforting and feel-good – There’s just something about it!
- Make ahead meal – Put it together the night before and it’s ready to go the next morning.
Ingredients
- Day-old loaf of hearty, dense bakery bread like sourdough, ciabatta, French or challah. (I always have at least one loaf on hand—see my Wildgrain tip below.)
- Maple syrup – Use REAL maple syrup, not imitation flavored syrups. Please?
- Half-and-half – You could use equal parts whole milk and cream, but I’ve been finding that it’s more inexpensive for me to go this route. The price of cream near me is insane.
Tip: I use the bread I get with my Wildgrain box – the bread/bakery/pasta subscription box I keep raving about! It’s a must-have this Spring!
My favorite loaf for baked French toast is their Sourdough Harvest Bread with whole wheat, pecans, cranberries, apricots, figs and candied ginger. It’s absolutely perfect for this oven-baked French toast recipe!
Read more: Wildgrain Box (Is the Bread Subscription Box Worth the Price?)
Wildgrain Box Discount Code
Get free croissants for the life of your subscription when you shop through this link
Directions for French Toast Baked in Oven
Step 1: Cut your loaf of bread into thick slices, then cut in half again.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and salt. Dip each bread chunk into the egg mixture, then place inside the prepared baking dish. Pour the remaining egg mixture over the top. Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for several hours (or overnight).
Step 3: In a separate small bowl, whisk together the topping ingredients: flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Use a fork or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour mixture to make a crumble. Cover and refrigerate.
Step 4: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the French toast casserole for 30 minutes. Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the top and return to oven.
Step 5: Bake for 20-30 more minutes until the center has set and the bread chunks are turning golden brown. Let rest for about 5 minutes before cutting.
Step 6: Serve with maple syrup, fresh berries, or whipped cream, as desired.
Other Recipes You’ll Love
Oven Baked French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 loaf hearty bakery bread
- 6 eggs
- 1½ cups half and half
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamon
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Topping
- ½ cup flour
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 4 tablespoons butter (plus extra for greasing baking dish) cut into pieces
Instructions
- Butter an 11×7-inch baking dish. Cut bread loaf into thick slices, then cut in half again. Set aside.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and salt.
- Dip each bread chunk into the egg mixture, then place inside the prepared baking dish. Pour the remaining egg mixture over the top. Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for several hours (or overnight).
- In a separate small bowl, whisk together the topping ingredients: flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Use a fork or your fingers to cut the butter into the flour mixture to make a crumble. Cover and refrigerate.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Bake the French toast casserole for 30 minutes. Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the top and return to oven. Bake for 20-30 more minutes until the center has set and the bread chunks are turning golden brown. Let rest for about 5 minutes before cutting. Serve with maple syrup, fresh berries or whipped cream, as desired.
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