This delicious and easy baked lemon French toast is a perfect weekend breakfast treat, or ideal for the brunch table! No overnight refrigeration needed.

lemon French toast in baking dish with blueberries and lemon slices

If you’re looking to brighten up your weekend breakfast, you may wish to consider this easy, delicious french toast bake. No overnight refrigeration is needed. This one comes together quickly and easily. Just let stand about 20-30 minutes before popping in the oven. Then enjoy the lovely lemon french toast with a drizzle of maple syrup and some berries.

And while I just said you don’t need to start it the night before, if you really want to, you certainly can! Just take out of the fridge and let stand for 30 minutes before baking (to take the chill off it a bit). Certainly a handy option for entertaining.

Cook’s Notes

You can really use any bread you like for this french toast bake, but do make sure it’s not super fresh. Day old, ever-so-slightly stale bread is perfect. I have set slices of bread on a cooling rack to stale up a bit if it seems a bit too fresh. It doesn’t take long and will help the bread keep its shape as it bakes.

Challah bread would be perfect for this dish. I can never get my hands on challah (unless I make it myself), so I used a round loaf of artisan bread, with wide slices that I cut in half in the middle and over-lapped slightly.

Try to keep the bread as flat to the bottom as possible, overlapping only slightly. It’s important that most of the bread is submerged in the liquid, with only the very top edges exposed.

You may not need all the soaking liquid, as the amount needed will vary depending on the type and thickness of the bread used.

I used an oval copper pan here, but any baking dish of similar size or a 7 x 11 or 9×13 baking dish will work just fine.

I love this lemon french toast with fresh blueberries, but blackberries or raspberries would also be lovely.

Don’t forget the drizzle of maple syrup. The combination of flavours with the lemon is fabulous!

lemon French toast in baking dish with blueberries and lemon slices

lemon French toast in baking dish with blueberries and lemon slices

Get the Recipe: Baked Lemon French Toast

Delicious and easy lemon flavoured baked french toast. Perfect for a weekend breakfast or great for entertaining. 
5 stars from 1 rating
Prep Time: 40 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
Yield: 8 people

Ingredients

  • 6-10 slices (6 slices) day-old bread, (challah, miche, white etc.)
  • 6 large (6 large) eggs, lightly beaten
  • 2 cups (50820 ml) half & half (10%) cream
  • 1 cup (244 ml) milk, (whole (3%) milk, if possible)
  • 1 Tbsp (14.79 ml) vanilla
  • Zest of 1 large lemon
  • 1/4 cup (55 g) brown sugar

To serve:

  • Fresh blueberries, blackberries or raspberries, for topping
  • Icing/confectioners' sugar, for dusting
  • Mint leaves, for garnish
  • Maple syrup, for drizzling

Instructions
 

  • Grease your baking dish with butter. Lay your bread slices in the dish in a single layer, slightly over-lapping, but ensuring that the layer is as flat to the bottom of the pan as possible.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, half & half, milk, vanilla, lemon zest and brown sugar. *Note: You may not need to use all of the soaking liquid. A lot will depend on the thickness and type of bread you are using. Pour mixture over bread slices only until the bread is almost all covered, with only the top edges of the bread slices exposed. Use a fork to gently move the slices so that the soaking liquid seeps between the slices, as well. Allow to stand at room temperature for 20-30 minutes, pressing down with a fork and adding a bit more of the soaking liquid if necessary, once some has been absorbed by the bread before putting in the oven.
  • Preheat oven to 350 F. Bake in preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until set and lightly golden. *If necessary, loosely cover with aluminum foil for the last part of baking if top seems golden enough before the bake is set.
  • Remove from oven and allow to stand 5 minutes. Dust with icing sugar and scatter fresh fruit over top. Serve with maple syrup, for drizzling.

Notes

Be sure to read the "Cook's Notes" in the original post, for more tips, options, substitutions and variations for this recipe!
Cuisine: American, Canadian
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Author: Jennifer
Calories: 232kcal, Carbohydrates: 21g, Protein: 9g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 5g, Cholesterol: 163mg, Sodium: 202mg, Potassium: 222mg, Sugar: 9g, Vitamin A: 475IU, Vitamin C: 0.6mg, Calcium: 156mg, Iron: 1.5mg
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