Prepare this easy french toast bake apple breakfast recipe the night before to eliminate morning prep or as a make and bake option!
Why This Recipe Works
I don’t know what is going on with me. I haven’t been this obsessed with apples, or any food for that matter, ever. The last ten or twelve apples from our recent orchard outing screamed at me today: Use me!
I ran them through our juicer and after taking six huge gulps of fresh apple juice (SO DELICIOUS!), I turned the rest into Apple Cider.
I make this French Toast Bake and my boys eat it for breakfast. Not just once, but it makes enough for us to enjoy every day of the week. It is ridiculously tasty. Think apple pie for breakfast but without the guilt of indulging in dessert for the first meal of the day. With syrup.
Instead of preparing your breakfast one slice at a time, you can put this together and know you’ll be able to feed the whole family at one time, because it’s not fun preparing everyone else’s food and having to be the last to eat. Plus you don’t have to stand over the stove – a nice change!
Because this is easy and takes time off your hands, you can actually sit down for breakfast with everyone and enjoy a conversation over the breakfast table!
Recipe Ingredients
Bread – Cut the bread into bite-sized pieces. There are several bread options to use in this recipe. Primarily, any bread you have that is on the dry end is going to be perfect so you can avoid soggy breakfast bakes!
French bread is a great option, too, and I also like using Texas Toast. Use whole wheat bread for a healthier version or white for a more sinful option.
Milk – Almond milk can be substituted for regular milk when trying to reduce dairy from your diet.
Spice mixture – If you enjoy the spice in the baked french toast, additional flavors you could add or exchange are ginger, cardamom or allspice.
How To Make Apple French Toast Bake
Step 1
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a 9×13 casserole dish.
Cut 10 slices of bread into 1-inch pieces. Toss the bread cubes into the baking pan.
Step 2
In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, milk, sugar and vanilla.
Mix well and pour the egg mixture over the bread pieces and spread evenly.
Step 3
In a large bowl, add apples, sugar, brown sugar and cinnamon, melted butter, lemon juice and nutmeg.
Mix well and pour evenly over the top. Go ahead and squish some apples into the nooks and crannies of the bread.
Step 4
Now that you have an amazing meal ready to bake, place the baking dish in the oven uncovered at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes. Serve warm with syrup!
Recipe Notes
- Topping options: sifted powdered sugar, Salted Caramel Sauce, Cherry Berry Jam.
- Make up some delicious homemade whipping cream and you can make this breakfast into a decadent meal!
What To Serve With French Toast
What do you serve alongside this sweet breakfast treat? Read on for 19 perfect ideas about what to serve with French toast.
How Long To Refrigerate French Toast Bake
One of the things I love about this dish is that it is a great prep-ahead and bake later option. Cover and store in the refrigerator for up to 36 hours before adding it to the oven in the morning for baking.
After the casserole has baked, it can be kept in the fridge for 3 days and still taste fresh and delish. But don’t limit yourself to breakfast or brunch, you can have it for a popular brinner!
Prepare The Make And Bake Option
I love the overnight option, as there is nothing better than popping breakfast in the oven with NO PREP in the morning. Cover your breakfast casserole with aluminum foil and refrigerate it overnight. Uncover it minutes before baking, then throw it in the oven uncovered at 350 degrees F for 60 minutes.
Substitute For Maple Syrup – 13 ideas!
Whether you can’t have maple syrup or just don’t have it on hand, you may find that you need a replacement. If you need a substitute for maple syrup, read on for some excellent alternatives!
Maple Syrup vs Agave
Maple syrup vs agave! Let’s compare these popular sweeteners so you know exactly what you are drizzling into your food. Which is the best choice for your next recipe?
What Types Of Apples Are Good For Baking
I recommend using a variety of apples and at the very least, use two kinds: one sweet and one tart. My favorite combo is Granny Smith and Honeycrisp apples.
Sweet/Softer Apple Brands
- Fuji
- Honeycrisp
- Red Delicious
- Golden Delicious
- Cortland
- Gala
Tart (or a little Sour) Apple Brands
- Granny Smith
- McIntosh
- Ida Red
- Braeburn
- Empire
- Jonathan
Keep Apples From Turning Brown
When chopping and peeling the apples, fill a large bowl about half with cool water and squeeze the juice of 1/2 lemon into it. The lemon juice will keep your apples from getting brown while you get them prepped for the recipe.
Use an apple corer/peeler if you have one because they will make this process go super fast. If you don’t have one, use a potato peeler and a knife to get the job done. You’ll need to peel, core and chop the apples. Place them into the water-lemon juice mixture as you work.
FAQ About Apples
Good news! Apples are very good for you! Apples are high in dietary fiber and pectin found in the peels of the apples.
Dogs can eat apples, as they are a nutritious snack for dogs. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, helping immunity and providing other benefits.
Apples do not align with a keto diet. One medium apple contains more than 20 g of carbs, making it too carb-heavy for this low-carb eating plan.
Apples can be frozen! They can be frozen whole for up to 9 months, or prepare applesauce, pie filling or entire pies and freeze them that way instead.
When baking with apples, use a variety of apples. At the very least, use two kinds: one sweet and one tart. My personal favorite combo is Granny Smith apples and Honeycrisp apples.
More Sugary Breakfast Bakes For Brunch
Fall Apple Recipes
- Appledoodles are a fun twist on the classic snickerdoodles! Great way to use up apples in the fall!
- Easy Homemade Crockpot Applesauce is fun to prepare because it’s so easy to make. Use an assortment of green and red apples and you’ll have a flavorful snack you can enjoy; better than the store stuff!
- This is the best Apple Coffee Cake recipe you’ll find. Enjoy as an indulgent breakfast treat or an any-time snack or dessert!
- Sprinkle some sea salt over your apples and you’ll have Salted Chocolate Caramel Apples, an extravagant dessert.
- Apple Carrot Muffin recipe is a most delicious little breakfast treat you could ever imagine. These babies are moist and yummy and will not last long in your kitchen. Great as a snack, breakfast or dessert!
- The only thing better than caramel apples is Salted Caramel Apple Cheesecake! This is the perfect fall treat and a great way to use up any type of apples.
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French Toast Bake Apple Breakfast Recipe
Ingredients
Instructions
- If baking immediately after prep, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
- Spread bread pieces into the bottom of prepared pan. In a medium bowl, combine the eggs, milk, vanilla and 1/4 cup sugar. Mix well and pour evenly over the bread.
- In a separate bowl, combine the apples, lemon juice, brown sugar, 1/4 cup sugar, butter, cinnamon and nutmeg. Mix well and pour evenly over the top. Tuck some of the apple slices down between the bread creases.
- If baking immediately, bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes. If storing overnight, cover pan with foil and refrigerate for up to 48 hours. When ready to bake, remove foil and bake at 350 degrees F for 60 minutes. Serve warm with syrup.
Notes
- There are several bread options for you to use in this recipe. Primarily, any bread you have that is on the dry end is going to be perfect. But french bread is a great option, I also like Texas Toast. Use whole wheat bread if you want a healthier version or white for a more sinful option.
- Almond milk can be substituted for regular milk if you’re trying to reduce dairy from your diet.
- Topping variations: sifted powdered sugar, Salted Caramel Sauce, Cherry Berry Jam.
- Make up some delicious homemade whipping cream and you can make this breakfast into a decadent meal!
- Cutting the bread into bite-size pieces makes this such an easy recipe to eat.
Lin
Seems more like bread pudding to me. What’s the difference?
Megan Porta
This is my version of it!
Katrina @ Warm Vanilla Sugar
I am so into this!! What an awesome recipe!