A really good breakfast is one of my favorite foods. There is just something so comforting about it. Not work day breakfasts on-the-go. I’m talking real breakfasts. The kind that allow you to sit and relax and enjoy a lazy morning at home. Yet, my tendency to sleep as late as possible on work days, and our busy weekends rarely afford us this luxury.
Long weekends are often the exception, especially during the holiday season.
This past Christmas, Jeff and the kids made this fabulous decadent Paula Deen recipe for our day-after-Christmas lazy breakfast at home. And it was absolutely perfect. While this dish is way too fattening for a normal weekend when I’m trying to stick to Weight Watchers, I am certainly more than willing to enjoy it again on special occasions.
- French Toast
- Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread (13 to 16 ounces)
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Dash salt
- Praline Topping, recipe follows
- Maple syrup
- Praline Topping
- ½ pound (2 sticks) butter
- 1 cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and blend well. Makes enough for Baked French Toast Casserole.
- Slice French bread into 20 slices, 1-inch each. (Use any extra bread for garlic toast or bread crumbs). Arrange slices in a generously buttered 9 by 13-inch flat baking dish in 2 rows, overlapping the slices. In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and beat with a rotary beater or whisk until blended but not too bubbly. Pour mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the milk-egg mixture. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
- The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Spread Praline Topping evenly over the bread and bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden. Serve with maple syrup.
yum
This really looks good . I love French toast so i know i am going to try this ,
got xmas morning breakfast covered!
Pingback: Day Thirty (Christmas Brunch)…Paula Deen’s Pecan Praline French Toast | Peace For Riley
it is absolutely amazing. i throw some fresh blueberries in there too.
It is great… but actually my family thought left overs heated in oven second day were even better!
My daughter made this…it was absolutely fantastic!
I love this recipe, instead of french bread I use 1 bag of French Toast Bread with Maple Flavoring. It turned out great. Cause I forgot to buy the french bread. The recipe turned out great.. My kids really love it. I make it once a month now :)..
How is Paula D alive from all that butter she uses. Jezzzus!
I tried to make it twice and taste like butter. I will be re-trying my own way. It was gross and soggy still doing what the recipe calls for.
I cut the butter in half and it was perfect. Also, like others have said, don’t overlap the bread. When it’s soggy it’s so gross.
Sorry, I missed your comment. Your suggestions sound great. Will try that next time.
I cannot WAIT to try this on our family!!!!
This sounds wonderful. I would like to try it, I wonder what I could replace the pecans with. We have peanut and nut allergies in my family so no pecans. Any ideas?
Good question! Possibly a streusel/crumb type topping for texture?
I did it with no nuts and served with berries. I did cut some of the butter. It was delicious!
Put fresh blueberries in mixture and on top as well I
Made this for my past Christmas brunch~ was a hit. Making it again today for Starbuck’s coffee tasting tomorrow!!! DELISH!!!
I want to make this, but I do not want soggy bread. I like it toasted on the outside, but somewhat firm in the middle. Should I just dip the slices and fry in a pan first, then place in bake dish?
what do u mean with half-half, i dont get it, im not american. thanks.
It is part cream, part milk. Sold in the dairy case.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Half_and_half
This is a regular on our table. I use a french baguette and lay the pieces flat. That way everybody gets their fair share of the crunchy topping, they are a better serving size, and there are no squishy parts where the bread overlaps..A definate 5 star recipe!!!
Great recipe! My only suggestion is that you put it in two pans so you can lay the bread flat. Where the bread overlapped it was soggy and I even cooked it 30 minutes longer then the suggested time.
That’s a nice solution to the potential sogginess problem.
Thanks! I love the taste but it is ALWAYS soggy. I will try laying them flat and then using less ½ and ½.
Made this with Sunshine Bakeries plain Texas Toast. I left the whole loaf, piece by piece, out on a rack on the counter all day so it got kind of dried out. Made the French Toast, put into ‘fridge and baked it the next morning. My brunch guests LOVED it and wouldn’t leave until I gave out the recipe. No leftovers though!
can I substitute the half and half with heavy cream or buttermilk since I already have it?
Would it be possible to make this 2 days in advance? What effect would that have?
Sliced the bread 1 day ahead and let it dry out, then laid it flat in 2 9×13 pans… Should have used my pyrex as it stuck to the foil pans.. DELICIOUS!!! Hubby gave it a 10… No syrup required… Sweet Yummy Goodness!!
Fellow realtor made for a house tour she added fruit I t was incredible both ways…
I also cut the butter in half. Still tastes great. I use Challah bread and overlap but it does need to cook longer. Very rich but my grandkids love it the next day too.
Deb, great suggestions!
I have made this recipe a few times although i used cinnamon raisin bread instead
it is amazingly delicious.
Linda, that sounds delicious!
Hey I just made this, the recipe is right out of my Paula Deen cookbook. This post is quite abit different….why, and does she know youve changed it! Wow not cool!
I have made this for years and we love it. Thanks Paula. ❤❤❤
A friend of mine made this for me last weekend, and I couldn’t get enough of it! It was like heaven on a plate!!!! I’m making it today for Thanksgiving breakfast tomorrow. 🙂 Thanks for sharing this!
I’ve been making this recipe for years. My only tip/ suggestion would be to empty some of this liquid before you bake it. I guess depending on the density of the bread, it doesn’t always absorb all of the liquid. If you leave too much, the french toast will be soggy. Otherwise, it’s easy and delicious!
Do you cook covered with foil?
Thank you for providing step by step pictures!!