This baked French toast recipe is everything you love about the traditional version but baked in a single pan. It requires only 8 simple ingredients and a few minutes of preparation and can even be adapted in several ways with extras like chocolate chips or berries. It’s perfect for a weekend treat, impressive brunch, and during the holidays. A French baguette or sourdough bread (which is slightly sour) also works well, especially for an overnight version, as they take longer to soak, and their firm crust provides more texture to the French toast bake. Did you know it’s possible to use leftover simple glazed doughnut rings OR torn-up slightly stale croissants to make this recipe? Then melt the butter, stir in the brown sugar, and pour it into the baking pan, ensuring it’s evenly spread. This creates a delicious caramel-like base. Then, spread the bread cubes over the butter-sugar mixture. Be careful to whisk it into a smooth mixture, ensuring there aren’t any noticeable bits of egg white. Pour the egg custard mixture over the bread evenly, ensuring the pieces are well-saturated. Then, sprinkle over the reserved sugar. If required, broil the casserole for a few minutes at the end to brown the top more. Then, finally, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for just a few minutes before slicing/spooning into bowls, optionally sprinkling with powdered sugar, and enjoying!
A dollop of yogurt, vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream, A easy berry compote or fruity sauce, Southern fried apples, A drizzle of maple syrup, Agave, or homemade Caramel sauce, A simple glaze icing (for more of a dessert treat), Blueberry syrup or chocolate syrup, Another sprinkle of cinnamon, Fresh fruit – fresh berries, banana, apple, etc., A sprinkle of chopped nuts – walnuts, pistachios, pecans, almonds.
This breakfast casserole also pairs well with brunchtime favorites, like bacon, sausage, eggs, fruit salad, etc.
