Description
Luxurious Pecan Praline French Toast delivers Southern comfort with rich caramel and toasted pecans. Brunch guests will savor each indulgent, crisp-edged slice drizzled with maple-infused praline sauce.
Ingredients
Scale
- ½ cup butter (113 g, plus more for greasing pan)
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsps maple syrup
- 5 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups milk or half & half (355 ml)
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
- ½ tsp salt
- ¼ cup packed brown or white sugar
- 1 tbsp ground cinnamon
- 1 French or Italian bread (sliced into ½-inch thick pieces, using about ½ to ¾ of loaf)
- ½ cup rough-chopped pecans
Instructions
- Preparation: Generously grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish to prevent sticking and create easy removal.
- Caramel Base: Craft a rich foundation by melting butter with brown sugar and corn syrup over medium-high heat. Stir until the mixture transforms into a smooth, glossy caramel sauce, then evenly distribute across the prepared baking dish.
- Nut Layer: Scatter pecans uniformly over the liquid caramel, creating a consistent, crunchy landscape.
- Bread Arrangement: Layer bread slices tightly, eliminating any gaps to form a compact, uniform surface.
- Custard Creation: Whisk eggs, whole milk, vanilla extract, and salt until the mixture becomes smooth and slightly aerated.
- Liquid Absorption: Pour the custard mixture over the bread, ensuring complete saturation of each slice.
- Flavor Infusion: Cover the dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate for 8-12 hours, allowing ingredients to harmonize and bread to fully absorb the custard.
- Temperature Adjustment: Remove the dish from the refrigerator and let it rest at room temperature for 30 minutes prior to baking.
- Oven Preparation: Heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
- Final Touch: Sprinkle prepared topping evenly across the soaked bread surface.
- Baking Process: Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes until the top achieves a golden-brown hue and the center sets with a subtle jiggle.
- Resting Period: Allow the French toast to stabilize for 5 minutes after removing from the oven.
- Presentation: Carefully invert the entire dish onto a serving platter, revealing the caramelized pecan layer as a stunning crown.
Notes
- Optimize Overnight Soak: Refrigerate for 8-12 hours to allow bread maximum custard absorption and flavor development.
- Prevent Sticking: Generously butter or spray baking dish to ensure effortless release and clean serving.
- Master Caramel Base: Continuously stir sugar mixture to create smooth, even caramel without burning or crystallization.
- Serve Strategically: Invert dish immediately after baking to showcase beautiful caramelized pecan topping and maintain optimal texture.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Southern American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 9
- Calories: 382
- Sugar: 22 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 145 mg