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Sunny mornings are made for this easy, make-ahead French toast. Thick slices of brioche or challah are dipped in a rich, cinnamon-spiced custard made with sweetened condensed milk, then baked until golden and caramelized. Finish with cinnamon sugar–tossed strawberries and whipped cream cheese. It’s special and just sweet enough, but not too sweet, and absolutely delicious!
Many of you probably saw this recipe coming. Mother’s Day is Sunday, and you know there is no way I can resist making something sweet for my mom.
Breakfast foods, especially pancakes, French toast, crepes, and Dutch babies, have always been some of her favorites. I probably share this every year, but one of the reasons I fell in love with cooking is because of her.
Back in middle school, I’d make her chocolate chip banana pancakes on cold snow days, or really anytime I could convince her to let me stay home from school. It always felt so special, and that’s really where my love of cooking—and sharing it with the people around me—began. I’ve always loved creating something that feels just as beautiful as it is delicious.
We really do have my mom to thank for all of this, and I truly mean that.
Every Mother’s Day, my sister and I usually spend the morning with her. This year will be no exception.
I made this French toast ahead of time to share with you all. But trust me, she’ll be enjoying something just as good on Sunday. This was her first pick. She had a slice while I was testing, and she said it was “heaven”!
These are the Details
Ingredients
The French Toast
- brioche or challah
- sweetened condensed milk
- eggs
- whole milk
- vanilla extract
- salted butter
- brown sugar
- granulated sugar
- cinnamon
- strawberries
The Whipped Cream Cream
- cream cheese
- heavy cream
- vanilla
- sea salt
The Tools
Just a pretty baking dish, mixing bowl, and sauce pot. You can use a stand mixer or an electric mixer to whip the cream.
The Steps
Step 1: Make the Custard
In a large bowl, whisk together the sweetened condensed milk, eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon until smooth and creamy.
Dip each slice of bread into the custard, letting it soak for about 1 minute so the bread can absorb all that goodness. Arrange the slices side by side in the prepared baking dish.
Step 2: Chill the French Toast
Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 10 minutes, or overnight for an easy make-ahead option.
Step 3: Bake
Preheat the oven and bake the French toast for about 45 minutes, until the top is golden and the custard is set.
Step 4: Make the Cinnamon Sugar
Mix together the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. If you have vanilla bean powder, stir in a small spoonful—it’s a total game changer and adds the most subtle vanilla flavor.
Step 5: Prep the Strawberries
Slice the strawberries and toss them with a few spoonfuls of the cinnamon sugar.
During the last few minutes of baking, top the French toast with slices of cold butter and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon sugar.
Step 6: Make the Cream
Using an electric mixer, whip together the cream cheese, heavy cream, sweetened condensed milk, and vanilla until light, creamy, and fluffy.
To Serve
Dollop the whipped cream cheese over the warm French toast, then spoon the cinnamon-sugar strawberries and all their juices over the top.
The fresh berries make this French toast especially pretty—and so delicious. I can’t wait to share it with my mom (again) this Sunday. She will be so excited!
Looking for other breakfast/brunch ideas? Here are some favorites:
Dad’s Easy Cheesy Eggs with Chili Butter
Blackberry Lavender White Chocolate Scones
Bakery Blueberry Vanilla Crunch Muffins
Baked Strawberry Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast
Baked Blackberry Ricotta French Toast
Raspberry Lemon Brioche Rolls with Whipped Ricotta Cream
Lastly, if you make this Easy Baked Condensed Milk Cinnamon French Toast, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love hearing from you guys and always do my best to respond to 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!
Baked Condensed Milk Cinnamon French Toast
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 loaf challah bread, sliced into 1 1/2 inch thick slices
- 1 cup sweetened condensed milk
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 4 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 6 tablespoons cold salted butter, sliced
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 cups sliced strawberries
whipped cream cheese
- 6 ounces cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1-2 tablespoons sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- 1. Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish.2. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, 1 cup sweetened condensed milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of sea salt. Submerge each slice of bread in the custard mixture, allowing it to soak for at least 1 minute. Arrange the bread in the prepared baking dish.3. Pour any remaining custard over the bread. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.4. In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, granulated sugar, and cinnamon.5. In a separate bowl, toss the strawberries with 1 tablespoon of the cinnamon sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375°F. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for another 20–25 minutes, until golden and crisp around the edges. During the last 5 minutes of baking, dot the top with butter slices and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.6. To make the whipped cream cheese, beat the cream cheese with an electric mixer until smooth and creamy. Slowly stream in the heavy cream and vanilla, whipping until soft peaks form.7. Serve warm, topped with strawberries and whipped cream.
