Decadent French toast can be made for a crowd without the big mess or standing over a hot stove. With this Baked Berry-Banana French Toast recipe, entertaining at breakfast involves minimal hands-on time or kitchen cleanup. The whiff of cinnamon that will welcome your guests as they walk in the door is a major bonus.
Ingredients
- 2 tsp unsalted butter or coconut oil room temperature
- 8 large free-range eggs
- 3 cups milk or unsweetened plain almond or soy milk
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup plus more for serving
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 8 thick slices whole grain or gluten-free bread, cut into 1 inch cubes preferably day-old
- 2 bananas peeled and sliced
- 1 cup fresh blueberries or blackberries
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
- 1/2 cup chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Grease 9 x 13 inch glass or ceramic dish with butter or oil.
- In large bowl, beat eggs. Whisk in milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and salt.
- Place half of bread cubes in greased dish, followed by banana slices and berries. Top with remaining bread. Slowly pour egg mixture over top. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, preheat oven to 350 F. Uncover French toast, sprinkle with walnuts, and bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, until it is browned and center is set. Slice and serve hot with additional maple syrup if desired.
Notes
Try different fruits
The bananas and blueberries in this baked French toast can be replaced with equal amounts of any seasonal soft fruit. Try sliced peaches with raspberries in the summer or diced pear with cranberries in winter.
