Baked French Toast with Pecan Crumble

A decadent breakfast dish featuring thick slices of challah bread soaked in a rich custard and topped with a crunchy pecan crumble. Perfect for special occasions, this French toast is baked until golden brown and served with blackberry syrup.

8 servings
15 hr 25 min

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf challah
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 4 large large eggs
  • 4 large large egg yolks
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • ½ cup sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoons ground nutmeg
  • ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • ½ cup pecans
  • 2 tablespoons chilled unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • ½ teaspoons kosher salt
  • 1 serving Blackberry Syrup

Cooking Instructions

  1. 1.

    Spread out bread on a rimmed baking sheet; let stand overnight.

    720 min

  2. 2.

    Butter a 13x9" baking dish. Cut bread so slices are similar in size. Arrange, overlapping, in rows in prepared dish.

    10 min

  3. 3.

    Whisk eggs, egg yolks, cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl. Pour over bread, pressing bread to help it soak up custard. Cover and chill at least 2 hours.

    120 min

  4. 4.

    Preheat oven to 375°F. Pulse pecans, butter, brown sugar, and salt in a food processor until nuts are coarsely chopped.

    5 min

  5. 5.

    Scatter pecan crumble over soaked bread. Place dish on a rimmed baking sheet and cover tightly with foil. Bake until warmed through (a knife inserted into the center should feel warm to the touch), 25-30 minutes. Remove foil and bake until deeply browned, 35-40 minutes longer. Let cool slightly before serving with Blackberry Syrup.

    70 min

  6. 6.

    Bread can be soaked 1 day ahead. Keep chilled. Pecan mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.