Baked Apple French Toast
Ingredients
- One 1-lb challah or raisin challah
- 5 large eggs
- 1½ cups half & half
- 3 tablespoons maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons bourbon
optional; replace with apple cider or half-&-half if desired
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Heaping ¼ teaspoon salt
- 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
- Confectioners' sugar and/or maple syrup
Directions
- 1
Butter a 9 x 13-inch or 3-QT baking dish. Slice the bread into ¾-inch-thick slices.
- 2
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half & half, maple syrup, bourbon, vanilla, and salt.
- 3
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.
- 4
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.
- 5
Preheat the oven to 350°F and set an oven rack in the middle position.
- 6
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.
Baked Apple French Toast
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Ratings & Reviews
Based on 110 ratings
Rating Breakdown
About this Recipe
Ready to transform your holiday brunch into an unforgettable feast? This Baked Apple French Toast recipe delivers a heavenly blend of classic French toast comfort and warm apple pie spice, perfect for making those special mornings even more delightful.
What makes this recipe truly shine is its clever combination of textures and flavors. You get the rich, custardy goodness of French toast, but baked into a cohesive dish that marries beautifully with tender, spiced Granny Smith apples. It's the kind of dish that feels indulgent yet surprisingly approachable for any home cook.
Prepare your taste buds for a symphony of sweet and spiced notes. You'll savor the tender challah, whether plain or raisin, soaked in a luxurious egg and half & half mixture, then generously layered with apples caramelized with dark brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon. The optional touch of bourbon adds a sophisticated depth, while vanilla extract and maple syrup ensure every bite is comforting and sweet. The outcome is a wonderfully cohesive, sweet, and satisfying dish that’s perfect for sharing with loved ones.
Customization & Variations
Feel free to make this dish your own. If you prefer to skip the alcohol, you can easily replace the bourbon with an equal amount of apple cider or additional half & half for a non-alcoholic version. While Granny Smith apples are recommended for their tartness that balances the sweetness, other firm, tart apple varieties could be used. You can also experiment with the challah – a plain loaf offers a blank canvas for the apple flavors, while raisin challah adds an extra layer of sweetness and texture.
This Baked Apple French Toast is destined to be the star of your next holiday brunch, or any special occasion that calls for a comforting and impressive treat. Serve it warm, dusted generously with confectioners' sugar or drizzled with extra maple syrup, and watch it disappear.