Soft Spice Baked French Toast (Printable Version)

Custardy baked French toast with warm spices for a comforting breakfast or brunch treat.

# What You'll 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 tsp vanilla extract
07 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 tsp ground ginger
09 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
10 - 1/8 tsp ground cardamom
11 - Pinch of salt

→ Topping

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

→ Optional Garnishes

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

# Directions:

01 - Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - Place the bread slices in the dish, overlapping slightly.
03 - Whisk eggs, milk, cream, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, cardamom, and salt together in a large bowl until smooth.
04 - Pour custard evenly over bread and gently press slices down to absorb the mixture.
05 - Mix melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon then drizzle over the casserole.
06 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight for best results.
07 - Set oven to 350°F (175°C).
08 - Uncover and bake for 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown and set in the center.
09 - Allow to cool slightly and serve warm with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh berries as desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • Custardy baked French toast perfect for weeknights
  • Infused with warm soft spices for cozy flavor
02 -
  • Using day-old bread helps absorb the custard better
  • Refrigerate overnight for enhanced flavor and texture
03 -
  • Use thick sliced day-old brioche or challah for best texture
  • Cover and refrigerate overnight for custard to soak in fully
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