Baked French Toast

Name: Baked French Toast
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 60 min
Yield: 8 servings.
Ingredients: 8 ounces day-old French bread, unsliced; 4 large eggs; 2 tablespoons sugar; 1 tablespoon brown sugar; 2 teaspoons vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon maple extract; 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt; 2 cups whole milk; 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream; TOPPING:; 1/4 cup all-purpose flour; 3 tablespoons brown sugar; 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; Freshly grated nutmeg, optional; Fresh blueberries or raspberries; Confectioners' sugar

Any day is special when Mom makes one of her French toast recipes, like this do-ahead baked version. —Jill Baughman, New York, New York

Ingredients

8 ounces day-old French bread, unsliced
4 large eggs
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon maple extract
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
TOPPING:
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons brown sugar
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cut into 1/4-inch cubes
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Freshly grated nutmeg, optional
Fresh blueberries or raspberries
Confectioners' sugar

Directions

Cut bread into 1-in.-thick slices. Arrange in a single layer in a greased 13x9-in. baking dish. Lightly beat next six ingredients; stir in milk and cream. Pour egg mixture over bread, turning once to coat. Refrigerate, covered, overnight.
Preheat oven to 375°. Turn bread again to coat. For topping, combine flour, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon and, if desired, nutmeg. Sprinkle flour mixture over bread. Bake, uncovered, until a knife inserted in center comes out clean and topping is golden brown, 40-45 minutes. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting. Top with blueberries or raspberries; sprinkle with confectioners' sugar.

Test Kitchen tips

Top this decadent French toast with whatever fruit is in season. Go with berries in the spring, stone fruit in summer, apples or pears in fall, and citrus in winter.

Switch it up by using brioche or challah in place of French bread. Or go all-out with thick slices of cinnamon-raisin bread.