Brioche French Toast Bake

Nothing says Brunch to me like French toast! This recipe is my favorite easy, no fuss way to make it! I love to prepare this dish the night before and the morning of just pop it into the oven while I get the rest of breakfast or brunch ready! Baking the French toast is delicious because you get crispy browned tops but the French toast is still nice and fluffy on the inside.

Berries and whipped cream go great on top of a slice of freshly baked French toast, oh and can't forget the maple syrup either! This recipe serves six to eight people which means sometimes I have leftovers. Ive also frozen this French toast and it reheats great in the air fryer at 375 for 4 minutes and in the microwave for 30-50 seconds.

With valentines day rapidly approaching this dish would be a hit for a galentines day brunch! The simple creme brûlée inspired custard is sure to be loved by everyone and pairs great with any toppings or fruit you may have and want to top it with. Chocolate chips, preserves, ice cream, whatever your heart desires.

Brioche bread is slightly sweet making it a great choice for French toast, it's pillowy soft and very absorbent! It does a great job at soaking up all the custard so it can melt in your mouth once you take a bite.

I don't particularly love the cleanup that comes with cooking. Baking this dish means minimal cleanup, which is always a good thing to me!

Ingredients

• 1 loaf brioche bread, sliced
• 8 tbsps unsalted butter, melted
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 8 egg yolks
• 2 cups whole milk
• 1.5 cups heavy cream
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• maple syrup for drizzling
• (optional) berries and whipped cream for topping

Instructions

1. Grease a 9 x 13 baking dish and set aside.
2. In a small bowl, mix the unsalted butter and sugar.
3. Spread roughly half of the butter and sugar mixture on the bottom of the baking dish and then set the rest of it aside.
4. In a separate bowl, mix the egg yolks, milk, heavy cream, and vanilla extract. One by one, submerge each slice of brioche into the mixture and place into the baking dish. Pour any remaining liquid over the bread slices. Finish off by putting the rest of the butter and sugar mixture on top.
5. Let sit for at least an hour or overnight in the fridge.
6. Bake at 375 °F for 50 minutes or until the tops are nice and golden. It’s delicious when topped with some maple syrup, fresh berries, and whipped cream!