Baked Apple French Toast
This baked apple French toast casserole is the best dish for your next Thanksgiving breakfast, brunch, or Christmas breakfast spread! Made with brioche, caramelized apples, and warm Fall spices, it’s an easy make-ahead recipe that’s great for everyday breakfast too.
Suitable for vegetarian diets.
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So, peeps what is not to love about this recipe? It checks all the boxes, it has Fall flavors, is an ideal make-ahead option during this busy season, and everyone loves this one for breakfast or brunch. Plus, you can change it up so you can serve it not once but throughout the holiday season.
French toast is such a versatile dish we love making these Air Fryer French toast sticks when we need a quick fix and we just love apple recipes be it for breakfast, lunch, or dinner.
Baked Apple French Toast
So, I will let you in on a little secret. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, with it being super crazy, I go into make-ahead mode. Any breakfast, brunch, lunch, or dinner I can make ahead, I do. I crank up the festive music and get stuck into it. It makes the holiday season so much less stressful. And this dish is just one of many dishes I prep ahead and freeze and it works so well.
This casserole is also great as you can change it up with different spices and a variety of toppings and sweeten it up with a drizzle of caramel sauce or honey. It feels like you are serving a completely different dish.
We also love the fact that it uses up some of the abundance of the apples we have on our apple tree. And yes, we also spread the love around by sharing with neighbors and friends.
Ingredient Notes
For the Apples:
Apples – You can use Granny Smith or Honeycrisp apples. Use an apple variety that can hold its shape well, when cooked.
Unsalted Butter – This is used to soften the apples and adds a nice flavor. I use unsalted so I can control the salt content in the casserole.
Brown Sugar – This is for sweetness and gives it a nice caramelized flavor.
Apple Pie Spice – All the fall flavors. If you don’t have apple pie spice you can make your own by mixing cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
Apple Cider – This adds more flavor to the apples. Apple juice is an alternative but my preferred go-to is apple cider.
French Toast Casserole:
Brioche – I like to use brioche as it soaks up all the goodness and has a nice taste. You can also use challah or a loaf of French bread. Make sure your bread is at least a day old or else if it’s too fresh it will break apart.
Eggs – This is the base of the custard that holds the casserole together.
Whole Milk –Whole milk is my preferred choice for a richer creamy taste. You can use lower-fat milk.
Heavy Cream – Makes the custard extra rich and creamy. You can substitute with more milk but trust me on this one, the cream takes it to another level.
Maple Syrup – This adds sweetness to the custard. Use real maple syrup it is worth the extra expense.
Vanilla Extract – Adds more flavor to the dish.
Ground Cinnamon – Adds a spiced flavor that works so well with apples.
Apple Pie Spice – This is for the Fall flavors we all know and love.
Salt – Just a pinch to balance the sweetness.
Chopped Pecans – Adds crunch topping to the dish.
For Garnish:
Pecans – Extra pecans on top for decorative purposes. You can leave them whole or chop them.
Powdered Sugar – An optional garnish but worth it as it makes the casserole look extra fancy.
Maple Syrup – Drizzle generously over the finished casserole dish for additional sweetness.
