Raspberry Baked French Toast (Make Ahead)

20m
Prep Time
45m
Cook Time
1h 5m
Ready In

Recipe: #20157

July 15, 2015

Categories: French Toast



"I like anything that is "make ahead" for the mere fact that it relieves stress in not having to make a meal in real-time and provides better planning. This particular recipe grabbed my attention for its "stress-relief" as well as for my LOVE of French Toast. Source: Make It Ahead cookbook by Ina Garten"

Original is 9 servings

Nutritional

  • Serving Size: 1 (453.6 g)
  • Calories 708.1
  • Total Fat - 36.1 g
  • Saturated Fat - 14.1 g
  • Cholesterol - 1032 mg
  • Sodium - 1569.8 mg
  • Total Carbohydrate - 52 g
  • Dietary Fiber - 3.8 g
  • Sugars - 22.9 g
  • Protein - 41.3 g
  • Calcium - 372.8 mg
  • Iron - 6.9 mg
  • Vitamin C - 10.6 mg
  • Thiamin - 0.4 mg

Step by Step Method

Step 1

Grease a 9 x 13 x 2-inch oval baking dish with the butter and set aside.

Step 2

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, the brown sugar, vanilla, orange zest, and salt.

Step 3

Spread half of the diced bread in the baking dish. Spread on the raspberries in one layer.

Step 4

Top with the rest of the bread and pour on the egg mixture, pressing lightly to moisten the bread.

Step 5

Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour. (If you are making this the day before, leave the assembled dish in the fridge overnight, and continue with the remaining steps once you're ready to bake.

Step 6

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.

Step 7

Bake for 60-70 minutes, until the custard is set and the top is puffed and browned. Check after 45 minutes. If the top is getting too browned, cover lightly with foil.

Step 8

Cool for 10 minutes, sprinkle with powdered sugar, and serve with maple syrup.

NOTE: If the bread isn't a day old, slice it 1 inch thick and place on a sheet pan, bake at 350 degrees for 5 minutes, turn, and bake for 5 more minutes.


Tips


No special items needed.

Editorial Notes

The ingredient tips, suggestions, variations, facts, questions and answers below are not edits to the original author's recipe. They are not meant to imply any change would improve the recipe. They're offered for convenience, alternative ideas, and points of interest. If you have any comments about them, please post in the Help & Ideas forum.


  • Be sure to use a good quality challah bread for the best results.
  • If the bread isn't a day old, pre-bake it for 10 minutes to ensure it is fully cooked.

  • Instead of challah bread, use whole wheat bread. The benefit of this substitution is that whole wheat bread is a healthier alternative to challah, and it provides more fiber and nutrients.
  • Instead of fresh raspberries, use dried cranberries. The benefit of this substitution is that dried cranberries are a bit more tart than fresh raspberries, adding a unique flavor to the French toast.

Cinnamon-Raisin French Toast Substitute the challah bread with raisin bread. Increase the granulated sugar to 1/2 cup and add 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon to the egg mixture. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon before baking.



Green Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette: A simple green salad with a bright lemon vinaigrette is the perfect accompaniment to the rich, sweet flavors of the Raspberry Baked French Toast. The light, fresh flavors of the salad will help to balance out the richness of the French Toast.


Maple Sausage Links: Maple sausage links are a delicious and easy addition to the Raspberry Baked French Toast. The savory and sweet flavors of the sausage will provide a nice contrast to the sweetness of the French Toast, while the maple syrup in the sausage will add a complementary flavor.




FAQ

Q: How long should I bake the Raspberry Baked French Toast?

A: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake for 60-70 minutes, until the custard is set and the top is puffed and browned. Check after 45 minutes. If the top is getting too browned, cover lightly with foil.



Q: What ingredients do I need for Raspberry Baked French Toast?

A: You will need eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, challah bread, fresh raspberries, and butter.

1 Reviews

Northwestgal

This was so good, and it's so easy to make. I didn't take the time to push all the bread pieces into the milky egg mixture, and the top pieces were just a tad dry after baking (and the very tips got a little charred in spots). It was OK once we poured some syrup over our servings, but even so I'll be sure to go that extra step next time and make sure all the bread pieces are saturated with the milk/egg mixture before baking. It was still very good and definitely worth repeating. Thanks, ForeverMama.

5.0

review by:
(5 Oct 2017)

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Fun facts:

Fun Fact 1: Challah bread, a key ingredient in this recipe, is a traditional Jewish bread that has been eaten for centuries. It is often served on special occasions such as Shabbat and holidays.

Fun Fact 2: This Raspberry Baked French Toast recipe is inspired by the Make It Ahead cookbook by Ina Garten, a famous celebrity chef and author. Ina Garten has written several bestselling cookbooks and is the host of the popular cooking show Barefoot Contessa.