Soft Spice Baked French Toast (Printable Page)

A custardy baked French toast with warm spices for a comforting brunch or dinner option.

# What You Need:

→ Bread

01 - 1 loaf (16 oz) brioche or challah, day-old, sliced thick

→ Custard

02 - 4 large eggs
03 - 2 cups (16 fl oz) whole milk
04 - 1/2 cup (4 fl oz) heavy cream
05 - 1/3 cup (2.3 oz) light brown sugar
06 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
07 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
10 - 1/8 teaspoon ground cardamom
11 - Pinch of salt

→ Topping

12 - 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) unsalted butter, melted
13 - 1/4 cup (1.75 oz) light brown sugar
14 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Optional Garnishes

15 - Maple syrup
16 - Powdered sugar
17 - Fresh berries

# Steps:

01 - Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - Arrange the bread slices in the dish, overlapping slightly.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt until smooth.
04 - Pour the custard evenly over the bread. Gently press the bread to soak up the mixture.
05 - In a small bowl, mix melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Drizzle evenly over the casserole.
06 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for best results.
07 - Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
08 - Uncover and bake for 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown and just set in the center.
09 - Let cool slightly. Serve warm with optional maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh berries.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Easy weeknight dinners
  • Delicious warm spices
02 -
  • Add 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the topping for a nutty twist
  • Substitute half-and-half for the milk and cream mixture for variation
03 -
  • Use day-old bread for better custard absorption
  • Refrigerate overnight for enhanced flavors
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