Julie Recipes
Why You’ll Love Baked Praline French Toast
Make-Ahead Convenience: Prepare it the night before and bake in the morning for an effortless breakfast.
Praline Topping: A luscious blend of butter, brown sugar, and pecans creates a crispy, caramelized crust.
Crowd-Pleasing: Perfect for feeding a group without standing over a hot griddle.
Customizable: Add your favorite spices or extracts to personalize the flavors.
Ingredients Notes For Baked Praline French Toast
Bread: Use thick slices of day-old French bread or brioche for the best texture.
Praline Topping: Brown sugar, butter, and pecans create a classic praline topping. Adjust sweetness to taste.
Eggs: Whisking eggs with milk and vanilla creates a creamy custard that soaks into the bread.
Recipe Steps:
Prepare the Praline Topping:
In a saucepan over medium heat, melt 1 cup of unsalted butter.
Stir in 1 cup of packed light brown sugar until dissolved.
Add 1 cup of chopped pecans and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the mixture thickens slightly. Remove from heat and let it cool slightly.
Assemble the French Toast:
Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and spread half of the praline topping evenly over the bottom.
Arrange 8-10 slices of day-old French bread or brioche in a single layer over the praline topping.
Prepare the Custard:
In a large bowl, whisk together 8 large eggs, 2 cups of whole milk, 1/2 cup of heavy cream, 1/2 cup of granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract, 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until well combined.
Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread slices, ensuring all pieces are coated. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours, to allow the bread to absorb the custard.
Bake the French Toast:
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature while the oven preheats.
Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the custard is set.
Serve:
Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
To serve, invert each slice onto a plate so the praline topping is on top. Sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired and serve warm.
