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Healthier Baked French Toast

December 31, 2022 by Gina +

A healthier baked french toast that’s custardy inside with a light crisp sugary top. It’s something everyone will enjoy, can be made ahead of time, and only requires a few ingredients. It’s a go-to in our house when we want something a little extra special without a lot of fuss.

Jump to Recipe

We are a big breakfast family so having something special we can whip up that’s easy and can be made the night before is a total treat. Take a loaf of brioche or challah bread, cut it into squares, pour over the egg and milk mixture then store in the fridge until morning, and time to bake! It calls for a lot less sugar than a standard baked french toast and we use almond milk in the mix which keeps the whole thing a lot lighter.

For this healthier baked french toast, the bread you use is important. The best is a brioche or challah because it can hold up well. A sourdough would work too. Anything thinner or lighter is just not going to hold up as well. I also use almond milk to keep it lighter but you can use regular milk if you prefer. And for the topping, a coconut and cinnamon mixture is best but you can use regular sugar too if you prefer. I like raw sugar or coconut because they are larger granules and get nice and crispy.

Ingredients needed for healthier french toast


  • Bread loaf – Brioche or Challah work best
  • Almond milk – can sub for regular milk
  • Eggs
  • Maple Syrup
  • Cinnamon
  • Coconut Sugar
  • Vanilla extract

How to make Healthier French Toast


  • Cut the bread into big squares. 4 pieces per slice of bread
  • Whisk the milk, eggs, vanilla, maple syrup and pinch of salt in a bowl
  • Place the bread into a large greased baking dish. Pour the milk mixture over the bread.
  • Sprinkle cinnamon and coconut sugar mixture over top then bake.
  • OR cover and refrigerate until the next morning and sprinkle sugar then bake

Tips for the Sugar cookie bars


  • Brioche or challah bread works best. Sourdough would work too.
  • I use coconut sugar for the top but regular sugar works too.
  • After pouring over the milk and egg mixture, make sure to get all the bread covered. It soaks up fast so work quickly and gently with a wooden spoon or clean hands.

More recipes like this


  • No Bake mini pumpkin cheesecake
  • Almond flour chocolate chip cookies
  • Apple crumb bars

Healthier Baked French Toast

Print Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 30 minutes mins
Servings: 8 large servings
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 loaf brioche or challah bread
  • 1 cup unsweetened almond milk
  • 4 large eggs
  • 3 tbsp maple syrup
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • pinch of salt
  • 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
  • 2 tbsp coconut sugar regular sugar works too

Method
 

  1. Preheat oven to 350.
  2. Cut the slices of bread into 4 squares per slice. Place in a large (8×11) greased baking dish.
  3. In a bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla, maple syrup, 1 tsp of the cinnamon, and pinch of salt. Pour over bread. Using a spoon or clean hands, toss the bread to get each piece coated
  4. If baking right away, mix the 1/2 tsp cinnamon and sugar then top the bread. I usually don't use all the mix but use what you want.
  5. If baking the next morning, cover and store in the fridge. Add the sugar mix right before baking.
  6. Bake for 30 minutes then top with fresh fruit if desired.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Filed Under: Breakfast, Recipes

Trackbacks

  1. Cottage Cheese Pancakes - Gina Gibson says:
    March 22, 2023 at 11:30 am

    […] Healthier Baked French Toast […]

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Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chicken breast, finely shredded
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 small apple, finely chopped
1/4 dried cranberry 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 
salt and pepper to taste
Optional 1/4 cup chopped walnuts for crunch.

Instructions:
Finely shred or mash the cooked chicken breast to your preferred texture. In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, mixing until smooth. Add the chicken, apple, celery, red onion, and parsley, and stir until everything is evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in the walnuts if using. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors meld, then serve chilled on lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers.
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Comment โ€œAPPLEโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!
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I cut a hole straight into savory Hawaiian rolls and dropped a protein-packed meatball right in โ€”  meatballs made extra tender (and boosted with protein) thanks to a little cottage cheese blended into the mix. Load with marinara, mozzarella, bake until bubbly, and pull apart to serve.

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Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you cook the egg thin in the pan and let the bagel halves press right into it โ€” no sliding eggs, no mess. 

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Use sourdough or whatever bread you love, and make extra caramelized onions โ€” youโ€™ll want them again tomorrow.
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Another winner from @TestKitchen, where every recipe is tested to make sure it works at home. And at under 45 minutes, this one is definitely going into my weeknight rotation.
 
Want to try it? Comment RECIPE and Iโ€™ll send you a link to trial Americaโ€™s Test Kitchen and get the recipe. You can also find the link in my bio.

And be sure to give @TestKitchen a follow for more tested, reliable recipes!
This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite w This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite ways to switch up lunch this time of year. Sweet apple, crunchy celery, and a lightened-up dressing come together for something thatโ€™s fresh, filling, and way better than the usual mayo-heavy version. Serve it on a bed of lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers. Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for more recipes. 

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chicken breast, finely shredded
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 small apple, finely chopped
1/4 dried cranberry 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 
salt and pepper to taste
Optional 1/4 cup chopped walnuts for crunch.

Instructions:
Finely shred or mash the cooked chicken breast to your preferred texture. In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, mixing until smooth. Add the chicken, apple, celery, red onion, and parsley, and stir until everything is evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in the walnuts if using. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors meld, then serve chilled on lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers.
This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything This Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake Loaf is everything you want from a fall bake โ€” a soft, spiced crumb, juicy apples, a cinnamon swirl running through the center, and a buttery crumb topping on top.

Comment โ€œAPPLEโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!
A dinner you donโ€™t want to miss. I cut a hole st A dinner you donโ€™t want to miss. 

I cut a hole straight into savory Hawaiian rolls and dropped a protein-packed meatball right in โ€”  meatballs made extra tender (and boosted with protein) thanks to a little cottage cheese blended into the mix. Load with marinara, mozzarella, bake until bubbly, and pull apart to serve.

Comment โ€œMEATBALLโ€ and Iโ€™ll send you the full recipe!
Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you Instead of stacking a fried egg onto a bagel, you cook the egg thin in the pan and let the bagel halves press right into it โ€” no sliding eggs, no mess. 

Lightly toast the bagel. Whisk the eggs with a little salt and pour into a nonstick pan, spreading it thin. When the egg is almost cooked through, place the two bagel halves on top, pressing gently โ€” this holds the egg in place and keeps it from sliding out. Flip the pan so the bagel side is down and the egg side is up onto a plate. Add your toppings, fold any extra egg over the top, and close the sandwich.

Use a low carb or regular bagel, both work great. I love bagels from @westernbagel
Save this sandwich โ€” your fall grilled cheese. Bu Save this sandwich โ€” your fall grilled cheese.

Buttery, golden sourdough stuffed with melty brie, sharp white cheddar, jammy caramelized onions, and crisp apple slices. Itโ€™s creamy, sweet, tangy, and toasted to perfection.

Use sourdough or whatever bread you love, and make extra caramelized onions โ€” youโ€™ll want them again tomorrow.
Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad This is exactly th Air Fryer Chicken Parmesan #ad

This is exactly the kind of dinner I want during the weekโ€”crispy chicken, plenty of sauce, and melted cheese, without making dinner more complicated than it needs to be.

Another winner from @TestKitchen, where every recipe is tested to make sure it works at home. And at under 45 minutes, this one is definitely going into my weeknight rotation.
 
Want to try it? Comment RECIPE and Iโ€™ll send you a link to trial Americaโ€™s Test Kitchen and get the recipe. You can also find the link in my bio.

And be sure to give @TestKitchen a follow for more tested, reliable recipes!
This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite w This Harvest Chicken Salad is one of my favorite ways to switch up lunch this time of year. Sweet apple, crunchy celery, and a lightened-up dressing come together for something thatโ€™s fresh, filling, and way better than the usual mayo-heavy version. Serve it on a bed of lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers. Make sure youโ€™re following @gina_gibson_cooks for more recipes. 

Ingredients:
2 cups cooked chicken breast, finely shredded
1/2 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup light mayonnaise
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 small apple, finely chopped
1/4 dried cranberry 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley, 
salt and pepper to taste
Optional 1/4 cup chopped walnuts for crunch.

Instructions:
Finely shred or mash the cooked chicken breast to your preferred texture. In a large bowl, combine the Greek yogurt, light mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and lemon juice, mixing until smooth. Add the chicken, apple, celery, red onion, and parsley, and stir until everything is evenly coated. Season with salt and pepper, and mix in the walnuts if using. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes so the flavors meld, then serve chilled on lettuce, in a wrap, or with crackers.

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