Sheet-pan French toast is a game changer in the breakfast world. It’s a quick, convenient, and totally delicious way to make French toast en masse!
Each slice features a thick, buttery, and perfectly caramelized brioche. And every bite is infused with warm cinnamon and nutmeg.
Drizzle syrup and toss a few berries on top, and voila! A fantastic breakfast that’ll feed a whole crowd.
Why You’ll Love This Sheet-Pan French Toast
Rich, Decadent Taste: Picture it: crisp brioche bread, creamy custard, and aromatic spices. Together, they make a rich, indulgent taste that’ll tantalize your tastebuds.
Perfect for Large Groups: The best part of this recipe is that you can make multiple servings at once. It’s ideal for hosting a group brunch or feeding a large family.
Effortless Preparation: Baking eliminates the need to stand over a skillet, monitoring the whole process.
Consistent Results: Baking the French toast in the oven ensures each slice is evenly cooked to a perfect golden brown. You won’t get such a consistent texture and appearance any other way.
Ingredients
- Brioche Bread: While other breads will work, brioche is easily the best choice. It’s thick enough to soak up the rich egg mixture without becoming soggy.
- Large Eggs: The binding agent and the base for the custardy coating.
- Whole Milk: For richness and creaminess. You can substitute other varieties of milk, but the toast won’t have the same full-bodied flavor.
- Heavy Cream: The secret ingredient for truly indulgent French toast. It works with the milk and eggs to make everything so much smoother and richer.
- Brown Sugar: The easiest way to get that perfectly browned exterior. It also adds depth and distinctive caramel notes.
- Vanilla Extract: For an aromatic and flavorful finish.
- Ground Cinnamon & Nutmeg: The warm, cozy spices make French toast so comforting. They complement the sweet ingredients flawlessly.
- Salt: Add just a pinch to balance the sweetness.
- Unsalted Butter: For a crisp, golden-brown surface and extra decadence.
- Maple Syrup & Fresh Berries: These are the ultimate toppings. I like strawberries, but you can use whatever you prefer.
How to Make Sheet-Pan French Toast
You’ll love how easy this recipe is to follow:
1. Prepare. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a large-rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Make the egg mixture. Whisk the eggs, milk, cream, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl.
3. Coat the bread. Dip each slice of brioche into the egg mixture, turning it to coat both sides.
4. Add the butter. Arrange the soaked slices in a single layer on the baking sheet and brush the tops with melted butter.
5. Bake. Bake for 7 to 8 minutes. Then, carefully flip each slice and bake for another 7 to 8 minutes.
6. Serve. Let the bread cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes. Then, serve warm with maple syrup and fresh berries. Enjoy!
Tips for the Best Sheet-Pan French Toast
As usual, I have a few tips and variations you can try:
- No brioche? You can use any thick, sturdy bread. Brioche is best, as I’ve mentioned, but you can also use challah, French bread, or Texas toast.
- The thicker, the better. If cutting the bread yourself, cut it into 3/4- to 1-inch thick slices. The thicker it is, the less soggy it will get after you dip it in the egg mixture.
- Dip, don’t soak. Speaking of dipping, be sure that’s what you’re doing! You don’t want to place the bread in the egg mixture and leave it. Simply dip it enough to coat both sides, then remove it.
- Get things nice and toasty. Pop the sheet pan in the oven while it’s preheating. Placing the bread on an already-hot pan will give it a nice sear.
- Don’t overlap! It’s fine if the bread is close together, but don’t overlap any of the edges. The slices won’t crisp up as well if you do.
- Flip only once. About halfway through the cooking time, you’ll want to flip the toast once. However, don’t flip it over and over again. One time is plenty.
- Have fun with add-ins and toppings. Try adding a pinch of cardamom or orange zest. Almond extract or your favorite liqueur can also be good additions. As for toppings, try powdered sugar, whipped cream, fruit compote, jam, etc.
How to Store
French toast is best served warm and straight from the oven. It loses some of its crispiness after being refrigerated. However, you can store leftovers for a few days.
To Store: Place fully cooled French toast in an air-tight container without toppings. Refrigerate it for up to 3 days.
To Freeze: Arrange the leftovers in a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze them until solid, then transfer them to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 2 months.
To Reheat: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Reheat the French toast on a baking sheet for 10 to 15 minutes if chilled. If frozen, it may need slightly longer. Or, you can warm individual chilled slices in a toaster or microwave.