There are mornings I find myself waking to the scent of freshly brewed coffee. I think about how wonderful it would be to embrace the sweet and spicy aroma of Apple Butter Baked French Toast with Spiced Whipped Cream.
Then I admit to myself that I’m the chef in the family. So, if freshly baked anything is going to happen, I’ll need to get out of bed to make it. Not that I mind. Quite the opposite.
I’m usually an early riser and I suppose that stems from my need to cherish the quietest moments of the early morning. Watching the sunrise, or in the case of an Oregon winter, watching the daylight slowly appear.
Most weekend mornings, once I’ve had my coffee, snuggled with the Gus dog and sat quietly with my thoughts as the daylight arrives, I’ll get the urge to make something delicious for breakfast.
When my girls were little they adored pancakes and French toast. I’d often prep a French toast on a Friday or Saturday evening so the girls would wake the next morning to dreamy scents of French toast baking in the oven.
Just to mix things up a bit, sometimes I’d skip the jam or apple butter and add chocolate chips to the French toast. The delight on my daughters faces when they made the discovery of chocolate chips in the French toast was magical. It will forever be imprinted in my memories.
The beautiful gift of food is comforting, joyous, gives us connection and often an emotion I cannot describe. An emotion only to be felt.
My girls come home from college often and I still make them Apple Butter Baked French Toast with Spiced Whipped Cream. The delight on their faces still appears when they catch a glimpse of baked French toast on the kitchen table.
I’m sure it has nothing to do with the thought of chocolate chips hidden in the lovely baked treat. Most likely, the delight is relief that they didn’t have to think about making themselves breakfast.
Delicious Wishes and Loads of Baked French Toast Love!
Karista
Apple Butter Baked French Toast with Brown Sugar Apples and Spiced Whipped Cream
Notes
When pumpkin butter is in season I love to use it as a sub for the apple butter. I also use Blackberry jam which is divine in this recipe.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 12 slices of Cinnamon Raisin Bread
- 1 ½ cups apple butter
- 6 eggs
- 1 ½ cups heavy cream
- ½ cup whole milk
- 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup maple syrup
- 2 apples sliced
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 pint heavy cream
- ¼ cup powdered sugar
- 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice
- Powdered sugar for garnish
Instructions
- 1. Pre-heat the oven to 350F.
- 2. Use the 2 tablespoons of butter to grease a deep 8x8 baking dish. You can also make this in a larger baking dish using only two layers, versus the three layers in the 8x8 baking dish.
- 3. Place four slices of cinnamon raisin bread on the bottom of the baking dish. Spread about a tablespoon of apple butter onto each slice of bread and then top the apple buttered bread with four more slices of cinnamon raisin bread.
- 4. Spread the those slices of bread with the remaining apple butter and then top with the remaining four bread slices.
- 5. Whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, whole milk, pumpkin pie spice, pinch of salt and maple syrup. Pour this mixture carefully over the bread in the baking dish, pressing down on the bread a bit to help it absorb the liquid. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and place it in the refrigerator overnight or for at least six to eight hours.
- 6. Bake at 350F for about 1 hour. Take the foil off the baked French toast and let it bake for another 15 minutes uncovered.
- 7. Remove it from the oven and let it sit for about 15 minutes.
- 8. While the French toast is baking, add the apples, butter and brown sugar to a sauce pan and heat over medium low heat. Stir the apples and brown sugar until they’re nicely combined and the apples are wilting. Turn the heat to low and continue to cook and stir often until the apples are soft and glazed with the brown sugar. Remove them from the heat and set aside.
- 9. In an electric mixer, add the heavy cream, powdered sugar and pumpkin pie spice. Whisk until fluffy and soft peaks form in the whipped cream. Chill until needed.
- 10. When ready to serve, dust the Apple Butter Baked French Toast with powdered sugar and serve with the brown sugar apples and spiced whipped cream. Enjoy!
Goodness, this looks divine. What a fab variation on French toast!
Oh thank you Virginia! It’s such a fun and delicious twist on a standard French toast. Makes the weekend feel like a celebration. 🙂 Happy Friday!