Pull Apart French Toast Bake.

There’s no better or more fun way to serve French toast than this Pull Apart French Toast Bake. Not only is this french toast incredibly easy, it’s also better than any other. Soft, buttery, and slightly sweet challah or brioche bread, soaked in a vanilla and cinnamon egg custard. The bread is cut into a crosshatch pattern to create cubes you can easily pull apart and enjoy! Serve just as you would any other french toast, with lots of cream, fresh berries, and maple. It’s the perfect (make ahead) brunch entrée.

You know Mother’s Day must be right around the corner if I’m sharing a sweet breakfast recipe instead of something chocolate. While my mom loves chocolate (as we all know), she’s also a huge breakfast kind of girl. Actually, she really loves breakfast for lunch.

French toast, a dutch baby, pancakes, waffles…she loves them all. So every year when Mother’s Day rolls around I love to share a new recipe inspired by my mom!

This year’s French toast recipe is a favorite for sure. It’s unique, super easy to make, and most importantly so delicious.

Ingredients

• Large loaf challah or brioche bread 
• Two large eggs plus two egg yolks 
• Heavy cream or canned coconut milk 
• Grand Marnier 
• Vanilla extract 
• Melted butter 
• Pure maple syrup 
• Cinnamon 
• Kosher salt 
• Granulated sugar 
• Cold butter 
• Ground cinnamon 
• Whipped cream and berries 

Way back in the day I shared a recipe for cranberry brie pull apart bread. And when I say back in the day, it was 2016, which feels like forever ago (I can’t believe that HBH is going to be 10 years old soon!).

That bread has been one of my most popular recipes to date, especially around the holidays. It’s popular for a combination of things. First, it’s easy, and we all need easy. Second, it’s different. Slicing up bread this way isn’t all that common, so it feels like a fresh and exciting way to serve a pull apart style bread.

And third, it’s totally delicious!

I figured the same method could be applied to a baked french toast. The moment I had the idea, I knew I had to make it.

The details

The bread is key here. You want to use a loaf of challah or brioche bread, something soft and eggy. A loaf of sourdough will work too, but the flavor changes a little. And I always find a softer, sweeter loaf of bread to be so much more delicious for French toast.

Use a bread knife to slice the bread into thick slices horizontally, then vertically, to create large cubes of bread. Now the KEY is not to slice all the way through the bread. You want to leave a half-inch on the bottom of the loaf completely intact so that the loaf doesn’t fall apart on you.

It’s easy to do and pretty fun as well.

The custard is a simple mix of eggs, egg yolks, cream, cinnamon, orange liquor, and vanilla. I highly recommend using the orange liquor as it adds that touch of special flavor.

Pour the batter over the bread and use your fingers to very gently pull the bread apart to allow the batter to sink down into the bread. Then, I take cold slices of butter and place them in between the cubes of bread. They’ll melt down into the bread as it bakes.

Once the french toast has been assembled, you can bake it right away or place it in the fridge overnight. This is great if you want to have breakfast already prepped and ready for baking in the morning!

The final thing I like to do is to brush the top of the bread with the reserved egg whites. You don’t have to do this, but it gives the loaf a nice glisten.

Oh, and then a sprinkle of cinnamon sugar too, which in my book is a must. The french toast itself is not sweet, but a little cinnamon sugar on top goes a long delicious way.

Serve dolloped with whipped cream and plenty of berries, plus real maple syrup. Pull it apart and have fun eating.

The French toast is eggy and custard-like. And with a little maple on top, it will have everyone coming back for more. It’s pretty darn near perfect. Serve with crispy bacon and more fresh fruit and you will have the best brunch!!

Looking for a few other Mother’s Day brunch recipes? Here are my mom’s favorites.

Lemon Strawberry Dutch Baby with Ricotta Cream

Raspberry Lemon Brioche Rolls with Whipped Ricotta Cream

Bakery Blueberry Vanilla Crunch Muffins

Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Sweet Rolls

Lastly, if you make this Pull Apart French Toast Bake be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!

@halfbakedharvest

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♬ Surf – Mac Miller