Baked Butter Pecan French Toast
★★★☆☆
Ingredients
- ½ cup plus 2 teaspoons brown sugar120 ml plus 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- ¼ cup real maple syrup60 ml real maple syrup
- 7 tablespoons salted butter, melted105 ml salted butter, melted
- 1½ cups roughly chopped pecans360 ml roughly chopped pecans
- 8 large eggs, beaten8 large eggs, beaten
- 2½ cups whole milk600 ml whole milk
- 3 tablespoons Grand Marnier (orange liqueur)45 ml Grand Marnier (orange liqueur)
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract15 ml vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon5 ml cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg1 ml nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt2 ml kosher salt
- 1 loaf challah bread, sliced into thick slices1 loaf challah bread, sliced into thick slices
- whipped cream, for serving (optional)whipped cream, for serving (optional)
- Bourbon Syrup
- 1 cup real maple syrup240 ml real maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons bourbon30 ml bourbon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla5 ml vanilla
Instructions
- 1. Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter.
- 2. In a bowl, mix together ½ cup brown sugar, maple syrup, and 6 tablespoons melted butter. Pour half the mixture into the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle with half the pecans.
- 3. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, Grand Marnier, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Submerge each piece of bread into the egg mix, allowing the bread to sit at least a minute to soak up the eggs. Arrange the bread in the baking dish. Pour the remaining egg mix over the bread slices. Then add the remaining brown sugar maple mix.
- 4. In a bowl, mix the remaining pecans, butter, and brown sugar. Sprinkle the nuts over the French toast.
- 5. Cover and place in the fridge for 1 hour or overnight. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375°F. Bake for 45 minutes or until the French toast is golden and crisp. If the tops of the bread begin to brown too quickly, cover with foil.
- 6. Meanwhile, make the syrup. In a small pot, mix the maple syrup, bourbon, and vanilla. Bring to a boil and reduce heat, simmer 5 minutes until thickened.
- 7. Serve the French toast warm, drizzled with syrup. Enjoy!
Every bite is soft, buttery, and custardy inside, yet caramelized around the edges...almost like creme brûlée! Can be prepared overnight for easy morning preparation. The Grand Marnier adds a sophisticated orange note that elevates this classic breakfast dish.
Wine Pairing: Sparkling — Prosecco or Champagne — the bubbles and bright acidity cut through the rich butter and custard while complementing the vanilla and bourbon flavors