Baked Apple French Toast
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Part French toast, part apple pie, this baked apple French toast is the ultimate holiday brunch dish.
A lovely mash-up of French toast and apple pie, this prep-ahead baked apple french toast has all the makings of a special holiday breakfast casserole—the kind that becomes a beloved family tradition. You can prepare it the night before, let it chill in the fridge overnight, and pop it in the oven when you’re ready to eat. I like to add a splash of bourbon to the custard mixture for extra depth, but feel free to substitute apple cider or more half & half if you prefer. Serve it with a sprinkle of confectioners’ sugar, a drizzle of maple syrup, and crispy bacon on the side.
“This was amazing and worked perfectly as a make-ahead casserole for brunch the next day. I followed the recipe exactly and got rave reviews.”
What You’ll Need To Make Baked Apple French Toast
- Challah: Absorbs the custard mixture well and provides a rich, slightly sweet base. A raisin challah would also work nicely.
- Eggs: Bind the custard mixture and help create a creamy texture.
- Half & Half: Adds richness and creaminess to the custard mixture.
- Maple Syrup: Sweetens the custard mixture and adds a distinctive maple flavor.
- Bourbon: Adds depth and complexity to the dish; it can be replaced with apple cider or more half & half.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the custard mixture with its aromatic richness.
- Butter: Adds richness and helps cook the apples.
- Granny Smith Apples: Provide a tart contrast to the sweet custard and topping.
- Dark Brown Sugar and Maple Syrup: Sweeten the apples and create a caramel-like sauce.
- Cinnamon: Adds warmth and spice to the apple topping.
- Confectioners’ Sugar and/or Maple Syrup: Optional toppings that add extra sweetness and flavor.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Begin with the custard: in a large bowl, combine the eggs, half & half, maple syrup, bourbon, vanilla, and salt.
Whisk to combine.
Dip each slice of challah into the custard mixture for about 5 seconds, then arrange in an overlapping pattern in the prepared baking dish.
Be sure the entire bottom of the dish is covered with the bread. Pour any remaining custard over the bread. Set aside.
In a large sauté pan, melt the butter over medium-high heat.
Add the apples, brown sugar, maple syrup, and cinnamon.
Bring to a gentle boil.
Cook, stirring frequently, until the apples are softened and the sugar-syrup is thickened, about 8 minutes.
Spoon the apples and sugar-syrup evenly over the bread, making sure not to leave any of the syrup behind. If not baking immediately, cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Otherwise, proceed with the recipe.
When you’re getting ready to eat, cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until puffed and golden, about 20 minutes more.
Remove from the oven and, using a fine sieve, dust with the confectioners’ sugar. Serve with maple syrup.
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Baked Apple French Toast
Ingredients
For the French Toast
- One 1-lb challah or raisin challah
- 5 large eggs
- 1½ cups half & half
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons bourbon (optional; see note)
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Heaping ¼ teaspoon salt
For the Apple Topping
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 large Granny Smith apples, peeled and thinly sliced
- ¼ cup + 2 tablespoons (packed) dark brown sugar
- 6 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For Serving
- Confectioners' sugar and/or maple syrup
Instructions
For the French Toast
- Butter a 9 x 13-inch (23 x 33-cm) or 3-QT (3-L) baking dish. Slice the bread into ¾-inch (2-cm) thick slices.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half & half, maple syrup, bourbon, vanilla, and salt.
- Dip each slice of challah into the custard mixture for about 5 seconds, then arrange in an overlapping pattern in the prepared baking dish. Be sure the entire bottom of the dish is covered with the bread. Pour any remaining custard over the bread. Set aside.
For the Apple Topping
- In a large sauté pan, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the apples, brown sugar, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Cook, stirring frequently, until the apples are softened and the sugar-syrup is thickened, about 8 minutes. Spoon the apples and sugar-syrup evenly over the bread, making sure not to leave any of the syrup behind. If not baking immediately, cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Otherwise, proceed with the recipe.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C) and set an oven rack in the middle position.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until puffed and golden, about 20 minutes more. Remove from the oven and, using a fine sieve, dust with the confectioners' sugar. Serve with maple syrup.
Notes
Nutrition Information
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
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Do you think this could be made with almond milk instead of the half and half?
Hi Rakhi, I think this would work with almond milk. Just in case you want to consider it, some readers have commented they’ve used Rich’s non-dairy coffee creamer (frozen) (Please keep in mind that I haven’t tried it with this.) Please LMK how it turns out!
This dish turned out fabulous. I used a dairy free oat based creamer as suggested. Will definitely be making this again. Thank you for another amazing recipe.
I didn’t have any bourbon, but I did have Fireball cinnamon whiskey, so I added that. The end result was delicious!
I love that idea! Cinnamon is the perfect compliment.
Jenn,
I have a strawberry huller that does a brilliant job with coring pears and apples, and the top in the middle bit that we don’t want on a tomato. I love it as it leaves such a neat and perfect hole. Very useful gadget.
I haven’t tried these apples yet, but since everything else of yours (masses of stuff) that I’ve made is 5 star worthy, that’s what they get!
Hi Jenn i was wondering could i make this up tonight but not bake until friday morning
Thank you so much
I think it should be fine, Melissa — enjoy!
The recipe is great but I have just one simple comment. If you prepare it the night before and put it in the fridge for baking the next morning either let it come back up to room temperature before putting it in the oven or let it stay in the oven for ten minutes longer otherwise the batter will not be fully cooked.
Traditions! For close to 40 years, my family gets together at my house with the family next door after Christmas Eve service to have pizza and enjoy each other’s company. Then on Christmas morning, we meet at their house for Christmas breakfast.
This year, I brought the hit of the breakfast – Jenn’s Baked Apple French Toast. Multiple times from the same person, I heard “Bob, this is SO good”. I also heard “This tastes like it came from a kitchen serving a professional Brunch”. Anytime, I need a pat on my back, I can rely on Jenn’s recipes. (Note – After I get my praise, I always steer the conversation to the actual source – “Once Upon A Chef” and Jenn.
What a wonderful tradition, Bob. Thank you for sharing, and so glad the french toast was a hit. Happy holidays to you and yours. ❤️
I made this and it was delicious. Family loved it!
Hi! Think I can make two days in advance and keep in fridge?
I think you could get away with it, but I wouldn’t push it beyond that. Enjoy!
Hello. Is it possible to use coconut milk instead of the half and half?
I haven’t tried it so can’t say for sure, but I think it would work.
I tried today with organic “creamer” made by So Delicious. It s a coconut milk cream. The custard blended just a little lighter than had I used real half and half. I also used plant based butter for the apples (we love Envy apples so that’s all I had to use). It was absolutely delicious with these changes !
Good to know — thanks for reporting back (and so glad it worked out)!
Hi! Just wondering if you can use another type of apple? Granny Smith isn’t a type our local apple orchards grow. Thank you
Hi Lizzie, Is there a variety of apple that is tart in flavor? If so, I’d go with that. Hope you enjoy!
Made this for Saturday morning breakfast today for the family – it was a huge hit! Used honey crisp apples and apple cider instead of the bourbon. It was fantastic! I have tried a few different baked french toast recipes (all were flops) and this recipe blew them all out of the water! It was easy and delicious. I highly recommend this recipe – you won’t be disappointed!! 😊