Indulge in a delightful breakfast treat with this baked French toast recipe. Perfect for a weekend brunch or a special occasion, this dish combines the rich flavors of vanilla extract and cinnamon with the creamy texture of a custard-soaked french bread. It's easy to prepare and will leave your kitchen smelling heavenly.
If you don't usually have heavy cream in your fridge, make sure to pick some up at the supermarket. It's essential for achieving the rich, creamy texture of the custard. Additionally, using a good quality vanilla extract will enhance the flavor of the dish.

Ingredients For Baked French Toast Recipe
French bread: A loaf of sliced French bread is the base of this recipe, providing a sturdy yet absorbent texture.
Eggs: Large eggs are used to create the custard mixture that soaks into the bread.
Milk: Adds moisture and helps to create the custard base.
Heavy cream: Adds richness and a creamy texture to the custard.
Sugar: Sweetens the custard mixture, balancing the flavors.
Vanilla extract: Adds a warm, aromatic flavor to the dish.
Ground cinnamon: Provides a hint of spice and warmth.
Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.
Technique Tip for This Recipe
For an extra rich and flavorful baked French toast, try using day-old bread or slightly stale bread. This type of bread will absorb the custard mixture more effectively without becoming too soggy, resulting in a perfectly textured dish.
Suggested Side Dishes
Alternative Ingredients
sliced french bread - Substitute with brioche: Brioche is rich and buttery, providing a similar texture and flavor profile.
sliced french bread - Substitute with challah: Challah is slightly sweet and soft, making it an excellent alternative for a custardy baked French toast.
large eggs - Substitute with flax eggs: Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water per egg. This is a good vegan alternative that helps bind the ingredients.
milk - Substitute with almond milk: Almond milk is a dairy-free option that provides a similar consistency and mild flavor.
milk - Substitute with oat milk: Oat milk is creamy and neutral in flavor, making it a great non-dairy substitute.
heavy cream - Substitute with coconut cream: Coconut cream is rich and thick, offering a dairy-free alternative with a slight coconut flavor.
heavy cream - Substitute with evaporated milk: Evaporated milk is less rich but still provides a creamy texture without the extra fat.
sugar - Substitute with maple syrup: Maple syrup adds a natural sweetness and a hint of maple flavor.
sugar - Substitute with honey: Honey is a natural sweetener that can add a floral note to the dish.
vanilla extract - Substitute with almond extract: Almond extract provides a different but complementary flavor profile.
vanilla extract - Substitute with maple extract: Maple extract can add a unique twist with its distinct flavor.
ground cinnamon - Substitute with pumpkin pie spice: Pumpkin pie spice includes cinnamon along with other spices, adding a more complex flavor.
ground cinnamon - Substitute with nutmeg: Nutmeg offers a warm, slightly sweet flavor that can stand in for cinnamon.
salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt has a similar flavor but can add a slight mineral note.
salt - Substitute with kosher salt: Kosher salt is less refined and can provide a purer salt flavor.
Other Alternative Recipes Similar to This Dish
How to Store / Freeze This Recipe
Allow the baked French toast to cool completely at room temperature. This helps prevent condensation, which can make the bread soggy.
Once cooled, cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Alternatively, transfer the slices to an airtight container.
Store the French toast in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. For best results, reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for about 10-15 minutes until warmed through.
To freeze, first, allow the French toast to cool completely. Then, wrap each slice individually in plastic wrap or parchment paper to prevent them from sticking together.
Place the individually wrapped slices in a freezer-safe bag or container. Label with the date to keep track of freshness.
Frozen French toast can be stored for up to 2 months. When ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the refrigerator or reheat directly from frozen.
For reheating, place the slices on a baking sheet and warm in a preheated oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, or until heated through. You can also use a toaster oven or microwave for quicker reheating, though the texture may vary.
How to Reheat Leftovers
Oven Method:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the leftover baked French toast in an oven-safe dish.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out.
- Heat for about 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to crisp up the top.
Microwave Method:
- Place a portion of the baked French toast on a microwave-safe plate.
- Cover with a microwave-safe lid or another plate to retain moisture.
- Heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through.
- If not heated through, continue in 30-second intervals until warm.
Stovetop Method:
- Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat.
- Add a small amount of butter or oil to the skillet.
- Place the baked French toast slices in the skillet.
- Cook for 2-3 minutes on each side, or until heated through and slightly crispy.
Toaster Oven Method:
- Preheat your toaster oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the baked French toast slices on the toaster oven tray.
- Heat for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through and the top is slightly crispy.
Air Fryer Method:
- Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
- Place the baked French toast slices in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
- Heat for 5-7 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure even heating.
Best Tools for This Recipe
Oven: Used to bake the French toast to a golden brown perfection.
Mixing bowl: Essential for whisking together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt.
Whisk: Helps in thoroughly combining the egg mixture for a smooth custard.
Baking dish: Holds the bread slices and the egg mixture while baking.
Measuring cups: Necessary for accurately measuring the milk, heavy cream, and sugar.
Measuring spoons: Used to measure the vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt precisely.
Knife: Handy for slicing the French bread if it isn't pre-sliced.
Cutting board: Provides a safe surface for slicing the bread.
Cooling rack: Allows the baked French toast to cool evenly before serving.
How to Save Time on Making This Recipe
Prepare ingredients ahead: Measure and mix the eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt the night before.
Use stale bread: Stale french bread absorbs the custard mixture better, saving soaking time.
Preheat the oven: Start preheating your oven while you prepare the egg mixture and arrange the bread slices.
Layer efficiently: Arrange bread slices in a single layer to ensure even soaking and baking.
Clean as you go: Wash utensils and bowls immediately after use to save cleanup time later.

Baked French Toast
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread sliced
- 8 large Eggs
- 2 cups Milk
- ½ cup Heavy cream
- ½ cup Sugar
- 1 tablespoon Vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon Ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon Salt
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt.
- Arrange the bread slices in a baking dish.
- Pour the egg mixture over the bread, making sure all slices are well-coated.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the custard is set.
- Let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy!
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