Upside Down Apple French Toast Bake (Make-ahead!)

Happy Fall, All!

It really, really is the first official day of fall. Whether you’re still enjoying beach weather or you’re rockin’ the sweaters, it’s undoubtedly Apple Time.

This totally snuck up on me. Could be the longish summer we gleefully basked in (um, it was 80F last week.) Or it could just be my overloaded brain. Probably both.

Fall happened when I wasn’t looking. The trees that were just green yesterday are suddenly turning orange-red. I’m ready. The apples are overflowing in our kitchen…

I’m so determined to get all apple-y that I literally spent hours trying to find a local orchard that’s doing Pick-Your-Own Honeycrisps right now. It just doesn’t feel like fall unless we muddy up our boots and pick our own apples from the farms.

{Side note: If you have yet to try a Honeycrisp, get your teeth into one as soon as you can. If you see them at the stores, orchards, whatever. Just eat it. Well, buy it first. Then inhale it. They are hands down the bestest Apple ever invented.}

Now for baking, I stick with my trusty grannies. Granny Smith apples keep their shape so well after baking and they have the perfect tartness to offset the sweet.

For this Upside Down Apple French Toast Bake, you’ll want a nice loaf of…French bread. Slice it up into thick slices that will absorb all that glorious custard. Eat a couple slices with slathered butter if you have extra to spare.

The thick and chewy slices of French bread will result in a gorgeously browned top with crispy edges. It will be able to handle a custard soaked center, puffing up nicely, without being soggy.

What I love about this Apple French Toast Bake:

1. The apples are deliciously caramelized on the bottom of the pan. It’s magic when you flip the pieces over and a layer of buttery apples appear on top.
2. Everyone gobbles it up.
3. It’s make-ahead. No other words needed there.

Prepare everything the night before, cover, and chill until you’re ready to bake.

Again, be sure you’re using thick slices of sturdy French bread to ensure complete avoidance of sog city.

Sleep in. Press snooze one more time. Stretch a little longer. Just because you can.

Here’s to the start of a new season.

Enjoy.

Upside Down Apple French Toast Bake (Make-ahead!)

5 from 9 ratings

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Don’t want to wake up at 5am to make breakfast for the clan? Try this make-ahead Upside Down Apple French Toast Bake! Assemble everything the night before and just pop it in the oven the next morning. Easy and delicious.

Prep Time: 45 minutes mins

Cook Time: 40 minutes mins

Chill: 8 hours hrs

Total Time: 9 hours hrs 25 minutes mins

Servings: 12 servings

Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients  

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• 4 TB salted butter
• 6 large granny smith apples, peeled and sliced very thin
• ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
• 2 TB apple cider
• 1 ½ tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp ground ginger
• ¼ tsp ground cloves
• ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
• pinch table salt
• 1 loaf French bread, sliced to 1-inch thick (8-10 slices)
• 4 large eggs
• 1 ¼ cups milk, I use whole
• ¼ cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ⅛ tsp table salt

Instructions

• In a large heavy skillet, combine butter and apples over medium heat. Allow butter to melt, cooking and stirring for 5 minutes. Add brown sugar, cider, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and pinch of salt. Cook and stir 7 minutes or until apples are tender and sauce is thickened. Spread mixture into a 9×13 baking dish.
• Layer bread slices over the apples, covering the entire surface. Trim pieces of bread to fit, if needed.
• In a bowl, beat eggs until foamy. Whisk in the milk, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until well combined. Slowly and gently pour egg mixture over the bread slices, taking time to let the liquid soak through tops of bread to ensure even coating. Press down lightly on bread to ensure soaking. Cover dish with plastic wrap and chill 8 hours or overnight.
• Remove casserole from fridge 30 minutes before baking; meanwhile, preheat oven to 350F. Bake uncovered 35-40 minutes or just until bread tops are golden and the edges are crisp. Allow casserole to rest 10-15 minutes at room temp before cutting into it. To serve, carefully cut individual servings and invert pieces so the apples face up. Serve with maple syrup.

Notes

This apple french toast bake is delicious both warm and at room temp! It’s perfect for potlucks and brunches, since it keeps well at room temperature.

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Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 261mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 309IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 2mg

Course: Breakfast, brunch

Cuisine: American

Method: Bake

Source: Chew Out Loud

Make-ahead breakfast bakes are our jam. Here are our favorite sweet ones:

1. Bluberry Lemon French Toast Bake. Simply magnificent. Do-able all year round.

1. Baked Pumpkin French Toast Casserole. All the goodness of rustic pumpkin. And the finesse of French toast.

1. Baked French Toast Casserole with Streusel. No fail, always good, forever on my favorites list.

1. Texas French Toast Bake. Go big or go home. Or something like that. This breakfast goes big in a delicious way.