Cranberry Orange French Toast Bake is a wonderful warm delicious breakfast that you put together the night before and bake in the morning. It is slightly sweetened with maple syrup and has a nice orange flavor from fresh squeezed orange juice and zest.
You can serve this with pure maple syrup but it really is sweet enough to stand on its own. Whether you’re hosting a holiday brunch, a family breakfast, or simply treating yourself on Christmas morning, Cranberry Orange French Toast Bake is a good choice. It is a festive, easy to make breakfast recipe.
Breakfast recipes like this that you assemble ahead of time are great for the holiday season. A fresh baked breakfast that you put together the night before can be served easily and leave you free to prepare the holiday meal. Check out these other overnight breakfast recipes for Overnight Apple Cinnamon French Toast, Blueberry Baked Oatmeal, Sausage Strata, Blueberry French Toast Bake, and Strawberry Banana Baked Oatmeal. They are all easy make-ahead breakfasts to put together that make a great start to the next day!
If you love cranberry orange french toast try Cranberry Orange French Toast Roll Ups.
SOME THINGS TO KNOW:FAQ’S
INGREDIENT TIPS:
- Day-old bread is the best kind of bread for French toast bakes as it soaks up the egg mixture without becoming too soggy. Brioche bread is good option that will make your dish extra special, but a good-quality challah or French bread will also work wonderfully.
- Freshly squeezed orange juice is key for the brightest citrus flavor. Bottled orange juice often contains added sugars and preservatives that can alter the taste of the juice. Check out How to Make Orange Juice.
SPECIAL EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
- Whisk: To combine the eggs, milk, orange juice, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and orange zest into a smooth mixture.
- Large Mixing Bowl: A sizable bowl is needed to mix your ingredients.
- Zester or Small Grater: To zest the orange peel for that fresh citrus flavor.
- Citrus Juicer: To get the maximum amount of juice out of your oranges, though you can also squeeze by hand.
- Baking Dish: An 8×8 inch or similar size baking dish is needed for this recipe.If you are serving more people, you may opt for a 9×13 inch dish and double the recipe.
- Non-stick Cooking Spray: To grease the baking dish and prevent the French toast from sticking.
SUBSTITUTIONS:
- Whole Milk can be substituted with almond milk, coconut milk, soy milk, or oat milk.
- Honey or agave nectar are good natural sweeteners that can be used in place of maple syrup.
- Fresh cranberries can be substituted for dried cranberries if it is the time of year that they are in season.
- If you don’t have cooking spray, you can use butter or a neutral oil like canola or vegetable oil to grease the baking dish.
HOW TO STORE CRANBERRY ORANGE FRENCH TOAST BAKE:
- Properly stored, the French toast bake can last in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.Allow the French toast bake to cool to room temperature before storing to prevent condensation that can make it soggy.Transfer the bake to an airtight container or tightly wrap in plastic wrap to keep it from absorbing other flavors in the fridge.
- Properly wrapped and frozen, the french toast bake can last for up to 2 months.Wrap tightly with plastic wrap, then again with aluminum foil to prevent freezer burn. You could also use freezer bags.
- Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
HOW TO REHEAT CRANBERRY ORANGE FRENCH TOAST BAKE:
- To reheat the french toast bake in the oven, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the bake in an oven-safe dish and cover with foil. Heat for about 20 minutes or until thoroughly warmed.
- For a single serving, you can microwave the french toast bake on high for 1 to 2 minutes in a microwave safe dish. Be sure to cover it to prevent drying out.
Beat the eggs in a large bowl with a whisk. Add the whole milk, orange juice, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and orange zest. Whisk everything together thoroughly.
Spray a 9 inch square baking pan with cooking spray. Add the cubed bread to the pan evenly in a single layer to the casserole dish.
Sprinkle the cranberries evenly over the bread.
Pour the milk mixture over the bread cubes in the pan. Make sure that all the cubes are covered in the mixture. Cover with a foil or plastic wrap and place into the refrigerator overnight.
Bake for 50-55 minutes, until the top is completely formed and golden brown.
Cranberry Orange French Toast Bake
Print This
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- 1½ cups whole milk
- ½ cup fresh squeezed orange juice
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 4 cups bread cubes cut into 1-inch cubes (challah bread, baguette, brioche or sourdough bread)
- ½ cup dried cranberries
- cooking spray
Instructions
THE NIGHT BEFORE:
Beat the eggs in a large bowl with a whisk. Add the whole milk, orange juice, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and orange zest. Whisk everything together thoroughly.
Spray a 9 inch square baking pan with cooking spray.
Add the cubed bread to the pan evenly in a single layer to the casserole dish.
Sprinkle cranberries evenly over the bread.
Pour the milk mixture over the bread cubes in the pan. Make sure that all the cubes are covered in the mixture. Cover with a foil or plastic wrap and place into the refrigerator overnight.
THE NEXT MORNING:
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Remove the cover from the pan and place it into the oven.
Bake for 50-55 minutes, until the top is completely formed and golden brown.
Serve with maple syrup if you want additional sweetness.
