Name: Baked French Toast
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 535 min
Ingredients: 1 1-pound loaf French bread, cut diagonally into 1-inch slices; 8 large eggs; 2 cups milk; 1 ½ cups half-and-half cream; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon; ¾ cup butter; 1 ⅓ cups brown sugar; 3 tablespoons light corn syrup

Start your morning off right with this Baked French Toast—a deliciously indulgent twist on the classic French toast.
This dish features soft, custardy bread baked to golden perfection, topped with a rich, buttery syrup sauce.
Perfect for a weekend breakfast or a special brunch, it’s a crowd-pleaser everyone will love.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

This Baked French Toast is everything you love about French toast but with an added layer of ease.
The bread soaks up the rich custard overnight, making it even more flavorful.
The combination of brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup creates a sweet, caramelized topping that’s irresistible.
It’s warm, comforting, and perfect for sharing with family or friends.
Plus, it’s simple to prepare the night before, making your morning stress-free!

Ingredient Highlights

French Bread: A classic French bread gives this dish its soft, custardy interior and crispy edges. The bread soaks up the custard perfectly, creating a fluffy texture.
Eggs: Eggs create the creamy, rich custard base that coats the bread slices.
Milk and Half-and-Half: The combination of milk and half-and-half gives the custard its creamy texture without being too heavy.
Vanilla Extract: Vanilla adds warmth and sweetness, enhancing the flavor of the custard.
Brown Sugar and Corn Syrup: The brown sugar and corn syrup create a gooey, caramelized topping that’s the perfect complement to the custardy bread.

Pro Tips Before You Start

Refrigerate Overnight: To get the best flavor and texture, refrigerate the bread and custard mixture overnight. This allows the bread to soak up all the delicious flavors.
Adjust Sweetness: If you like a sweeter French toast, you can add a little more brown sugar or drizzle extra syrup on top.
Topping Variations: You can experiment with adding chopped nuts or fresh fruit to the topping before baking for added texture and flavor.

How to Make Baked French Toast

Step 1: Prepare the Baking Dish
Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish and arrange the slices of bread in a single layer at the bottom of the dish.

Step 2: Make the Custard
In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, milk, half-and-half cream, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon together until well combined.
Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread slices. Cover and refrigerate overnight to allow the bread to soak up the custard.

Step 3: Prepare the Syrup
The next morning, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a small saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup. Heat over medium heat until the mixture begins to bubble, then stir until the sugar is dissolved.

Step 4: Pour Syrup Over Bread
Pour the hot butter and sugar mixture evenly over the bread and egg mixture in the baking dish.

Step 5: Bake
Bake in the preheated oven, uncovered, for about 40 minutes, until the French toast is golden brown and puffed.

Step 6: Serve
Serve the Baked French Toast warm, topped with fresh berries and maple syrup, for an extra touch of sweetness.

Serving Ideas

This Baked French Toast is perfect on its own, but you can serve it with fresh fruit like strawberries, blueberries, or bananas for added freshness.
A dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of extra maple syrup will make it even more indulgent. For a more filling meal, serve it alongside crispy bacon or sausage.

Storage

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2-3 days.
Reheat individual servings in the microwave or in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10 minutes.

FAQs

Can I make this recipe without overnight refrigeration?
While refrigerating overnight gives the best texture, you can bake it immediately. However, the bread won’t have as much time to soak up the custard.

Can I freeze this French toast?
Yes! You can freeze the assembled, unbaked French toast for up to 1 month. To bake, thaw it in the fridge overnight and bake as directed the next day.

Can I use a different type of bread?
Yes, you can use challah, brioche, or even whole wheat bread for a different flavor and texture.

Can I add fruit to the custard mixture?
You can add berries, sliced bananas, or chopped apples directly into the bread and custard mixture before refrigerating for extra flavor.

Final Thoughts

This Baked French Toast is a comforting, delicious breakfast or brunch option that’s perfect for busy mornings.
It’s easy to prepare the night before and bake in the morning for a warm, satisfying meal.
With its buttery caramelized topping and custardy center, this dish is guaranteed to become a family favorite.