Mothers Day Strawberry French Toast

Celebrate Mother's Day with a luscious strawberry French toast bake that's as beautiful as it is delicious. This make-ahead casserole features golden brioche layered with sweet, fresh strawberries and soaked in a creamy, cinnamon-spiced custard. Perfectly baked to a golden brown, it offers a festive centerpiece for any brunch table, pairing wonderfully with maple syrup and a dusting of powdered sugar.

Pin It

This strawberry French toast bake not only delights with its flavors but also fills your home with a comforting aroma while baking. The combination of soft bread soaked in velvety custard, punctuated by juicy strawberries and crunchy almonds, creates layers of texture and taste that everyone will love.

Ingredients

• Bread & Fruit
  • 1 loaf (about 16 oz / 450 g) brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 2 cups (300 g) fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced
• Custard
  • 6 large eggs
  • 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
• Topping
  • 1/3 cup (40 g) sliced almonds
  • 2 tbsp (28 g) unsalted butter, melted
  • 2 tbsp (25 g) turbinado or coarse sugar
• To Serve
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting
  • Maple syrup

Instructions

1. Prepare the baking dish

Grease a 9x13-inch (23x33 cm) baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.

2. Layer the bread and strawberries

Arrange half of the bread cubes in the dish. Evenly scatter half of the sliced strawberries over the bread. Top with the remaining bread and then the rest of the strawberries.

3. Make the custard

In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, granulated sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until well combined.

4. Combine custard and bread

Pour the custard evenly over the bread and strawberries, pressing down gently to help the bread absorb the liquid.

5. Chill the mixture

Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for best results.

6. Preheat oven

Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

7. Add the topping

Before baking, sprinkle the top with sliced almonds and turbinado sugar. Drizzle with melted butter.

8. Bake

Bake uncovered for 40–45 minutes, until golden brown and set in the center. If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil.

9. Serve

Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup.

Zusatztipps für die Zubereitung

This dish is excellent when prepared the night before, allowing the custard to fully soak into the brioche and intensify the flavors. Pressing the bread gently into the custard before chilling helps absorption. If using gluten-free bread, adjust soaking time slightly to avoid sogginess.

Varianten und Anpassungen

Substitute blueberries or raspberries for a different berry flavor. For a dairy-free version, replace whole milk with almond milk, heavy cream with coconut cream, and butter with vegan margarine. You can also swap sliced almonds for pecans or walnuts to vary the crunch.

Serviervorschläge

Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm alongside pure maple syrup for drizzling. This bake pairs beautifully with a mimosa or a sparkling lemonade to elevate your brunch celebration.

Pin It

Enjoy this easy and elegant strawberry French toast bake as a heartwarming way to start a special day. Its combination of textures and flavors is sure to become a new brunch tradition in your home.

Recipe Questions & Answers

→ Can I substitute the strawberries with other fruits?

Yes, blueberries or raspberries work wonderfully as alternatives to strawberries, offering a similar tart-sweet balance.

→ How long should I soak the bread before baking?

Refrigerate the assembled dish for at least one hour or overnight to allow the bread to fully absorb the custard mixture.

→ What bread types work best for this dish?

Brioche or challah bread are ideal due to their rich texture and ability to absorb custard nicely without becoming soggy.

→ Can this be made dairy-free?

Yes, substitute almond milk and coconut cream for dairy, and replace butter with vegan margarine for a dairy-free version.

→ How do I prevent the topping from burning during baking?

If the almonds or sugar brown too quickly, loosely tent the baking dish with foil partway through baking to protect the topping.