Mothers Day Strawberry French Toast (Printable version)

Baked layers of brioche and strawberries soaked in creamy custard, perfect for a festive brunch gathering.

# What You Need:

→ Bread & Fruit

01 - 1 loaf brioche or challah bread (about 16 oz), cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 2 cups fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced

→ Custard

03 - 6 large eggs
04 - 2 cups whole milk
05 - 1 cup heavy cream
06 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Topping

10 - 1/3 cup sliced almonds
11 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
12 - 2 tablespoons turbinado or coarse sugar

→ To Serve

13 - Powdered sugar for dusting
14 - Maple syrup

# How to Make It:

01 - Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - Arrange half of the bread cubes in the prepared dish. Scatter half of the sliced strawberries evenly over the bread layer. Top with remaining bread cubes and finish with remaining strawberries.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until well combined and smooth.
04 - Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread and strawberries, pressing down gently to ensure the bread absorbs the liquid throughout.
05 - Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, preferably overnight for optimal flavor and texture.
06 - Remove the dish from refrigeration and preheat the oven to 350°F.
07 - Sprinkle sliced almonds and turbinado sugar evenly over the top. Drizzle with melted butter.
08 - Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and set in the center. If the top browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil.
09 - Allow to cool for 10 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's the ultimate make-ahead brunch weapon because the bread soaks up all that creamy custard overnight, tasting even better the next day.
  • Nobody has to know you prepped it while they were sleeping, which feels like kitchen witchcraft in the best way.
  • The brioche gets golden and custardy while strawberries soften into jammy pockets of sweetness throughout.
02 -
  • Overnight chilling isn't just convenient—it's transformative because the bread has time to absorb every drop of custard, creating that perfectly custardy texture instead of soggy.
  • If your oven runs hot, check the bake at 35 minutes because every oven is different and you want it set in the center, not overcooked on top.
03 -
  • If you're short on time, room-temperature custard poured over room-temperature layered bread still works fine, though the flavors meld better after chilling.
  • The center jiggles slightly when done—don't overbake it trying to get it completely firm or you'll lose that creamy, custard-forward texture that makes this special.
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