Description
Baked Apple Cider French Toast is a cozy, spiced breakfast casserole made with custard-soaked bread, caramelized apples, and pecans.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 loaf French bread, sourdough, or challah
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup apple cider
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup packed light or dark brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon fresh orange zest
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Pinch of cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter
- 4 medium apples, peeled and sliced into 1/4 inch slices
- 1/4 cup apple cider (for cooking apples)
- 1/3 cup packed light or dark brown sugar (for cooking apples)
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 3/4 cup pecan halves
- Confectioners’ sugar for serving
- Maple syrup for serving
- Salted caramel sauce for serving
Instructions
- Slice the bread into 1-inch wide pieces and let them sit uncovered for several hours or overnight to dry out.
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, apple cider, milk, brown sugar, orange zest, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt to make the custard.
- Dip each slice of bread into the custard, soaking both sides, then arrange in the prepared baking dish. Pour any remaining custard over the top.
- In a skillet over medium heat, melt butter and add apples, cider, brown sugar, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, and salt. Cook for 8 minutes until apples soften. Stir in pecans.
- Spoon the apple-pecan mixture evenly over the bread slices and pour any remaining sauce on top.
- Cover the dish tightly and refrigerate for at least 3 hours or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Uncover and bake for 20 minutes, then cover with foil and bake for an additional 25–35 minutes until puffed and set in the center.
- Let cool for 5 minutes, then serve with confectioners’ sugar, maple syrup, or salted caramel sauce.
Notes
- Use day-old or dried bread to prevent sogginess.
- Customize the spices to your taste preferences.
- Let the dish rest before serving for better texture.
- Can be made ahead and stored overnight in the fridge.
- Great for holidays, brunch, or weekend breakfasts.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 21g
- Sodium: 180mg
- Fat: 14g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 6g
- Cholesterol: 105mg
Keywords: baked apple cider french toast, apple breakfast casserole, fall french toast, apple pecan breakfast, overnight french toast bake