Description

This French Toast Bake is a delicious and easy-to-make breakfast casserole featuring slices of challah bread soaked in a spiced egg and almond milk mixture, baked to golden perfection. Topped with toasted almonds, fresh pomegranate arils, and optionally drizzled with maple syrup, it’s perfect for holiday mornings, weekend brunches, or serving a crowd with a comforting and flavorful dish.

Ingredients

Scale

Egg Mixture

3 eggs
¾ cup almond milk (or any milk)
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of sea salt

Bread

10 to 12 1-inch slices challah bread, about 1 loaf, cut on a slight diagonal

Topping

Non-stick spray or olive oil (for greasing)
3 tablespoons brown sugar
¼ heaping teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup sliced almonds (toasted)
¼ cup pomegranate arils (or desired fruit)
Maple syrup (optional)

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Instructions

Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray or olive oil to prevent sticking.
Mix Egg Batter: In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the eggs, almond milk, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, 1 heaping teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of sea salt until fully combined and smooth.
Prepare Cinnamon Sugar Topping: In a small bowl, combine the 3 tablespoons of brown sugar with the ¼ teaspoon cinnamon and mix well.
Assemble Bread in Dish: Dip each slice of challah bread into the egg mixture, fully coating both sides. Layer the coated slices in the baking dish, slightly overlapping and tilting them to create vertical uniformity for even baking and browning.
Add Topping and Bake: Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture evenly over the top of the layered bread. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, until the eggs are set and the top turns a golden brown and becomes crisp.
Finish and Serve: Remove from oven and immediately sprinkle with toasted sliced almonds and pomegranate arils or your choice of fresh fruit. Serve warm, optionally drizzled with maple syrup for added sweetness.

Notes

This French Toast Bake serves 4 to 6 people, making it ideal for holiday gatherings or weekend brunches.
For a dairy-free option, use almond milk as suggested or any other plant-based milk.
Feel free to substitute challah bread with brioche or thick-cut white bread if preferred.
Toasted almonds add a crunchy texture contrast; you can toast them lightly in a dry pan over medium heat until fragrant.
Leftovers can be refrigerated and reheated gently in the oven or microwave.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice (approximately 1/6th of the dish)
Calories: 280
Sugar: 15g
Sodium: 220mg
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 1.5g
Unsaturated Fat: 7g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 38g
Fiber: 3g
Protein: 8g
Cholesterol: 110mg