Make Ahead Chocolate French Toast Food

MAKE AHEAD FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream and vanilla. Dip bread slices into egg mixture and place in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking pan. Refrigerate overnight.
• The next morning: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• In a small bowl, combine butter, sugar, maple syrup and pecans. Spoon mixture over bread.
• Bake in preheated oven until golden, about 40 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

CHOCOLATE FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Beat together milk, eggs, sugar, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
• Heat a lightly buttered skillet or griddle over medium heat.
• Dip each slice of bread into egg mixture until well soaked, about 20 seconds per side. Place in pan, and cook on both sides until they are no longer gooey or shiny in the middle when cut in half, about 3 to 4 minutes per side.

HOT CHOCOLATE BAKED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Butter a 13x9" baking dish. Arrange bread slices in overlapping rows in dish.
• Cook cream, milk chocolate, semisweet chocolate, and vanilla in a medium saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly, until chocolate is melted, about 5 minutes; remove from heat. Transfer 1 cup chocolate mixture to an airtight container; let cool to room temperature, then cover and chill until ready to serve. Reserve remaining chocolate mixture.
• Whisk eggs, milk, sugar, and salt in a large bowl. Whisking constantly, pour in hot chocolate mixture in a slow, steady stream. Pour evenly over and between each layer of bread. Push down with your hands to soak top of bread. Cover dish tightly with foil and chill at least 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake foil-covered bread until warmed through and a knife inserted into the center feels warm to the touch, about 35 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking until bread is browned, 35-40 minutes longer. Let cool 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, toast hazelnuts in a small skillet over medium heat, tossing occasionally, until golden-brown and fragrant, 3-5 minutes. Microwave 1 cup reserved chocolate mixture in a microwave-safe bowl in 10-second intervals (or heat in a heatproof bowl set over a saucepan of simmering water), stirring occasionally, until warmed through.
• Serve French toast with hot chocolate sauce and toasted hazelnuts.
• Do Ahead
• French toast can be assembled 1 day ahead before baking; cover tightly with foil and chill.

MAKE AHEAD CHOCOLATE FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Spray a 13 x 9 inch baking pan with veggy spray.
• Cut the French bread into 6 slices, each, 1 1/2 inches thick.
• Using a small, sharp knife, cut 2 inch long slits in one side of each bread slice, cutting 3/4 of the way through the bread, to create a pocket.
• Spoon heaping 2 tablespoons of chips into the pocket of each bread slice, press to close.
• Place filled slices into prepared baking pan.
• Whisk together eggs, milk, cinnamon and vanilla in medium bowl.
• Pour egg mixture evenly over bread, carefully turn pieces over, spooning mixture in pan over top bread.
• Cover pan with plastic wrap, refrigerate several hours or overnight.
• Heat oven to 400 degrees.
• Bake uncovered, 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown.
• Transfer toast to plates.
• Serve with maple syrup if desired.

OVERNIGHT FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Place bread slices in a generously greased 9x13-inch baking dish, overlapping the slices.
• Place eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl and mix thoroughly with a rotary beater or whisk. Pour mixture over bread, making sure all slices are moistened. Cover and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 40 minutes.

MAKE AHEAD OVEN BAKED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• In large, shallow dish, combine egg, cream, brown sugar, orange juice, and spices.
• Place bread in mixture; leave 5 minutes. Turn bread over; leave 5-10 minutes until all liquid is absorbed.
• (If preparing ahead of time, cover and refrigerate overnight.)
• Transfer bread to non-stick cookie sheet or cookie sheet lined with buttered foil.
• Bake at 375° F (190° C) for 10 minutes.
• Turn carefully and bake 10-15 minutes longer, or until puffed and golden.
• Drizzle with warmed syrup, or sift icing sugar on top, and serve with fresh fruit.

OVERNIGHT FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Pour melted butter into an 11x15-inch baking dish. Sprinkle brown sugar and cinnamon over the butter and top with bread slices, making sure slices are placed close together.
• Mix milk, eggs, and vanilla extract in a bowl until thoroughly combined; pour over bread in the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Place the covered casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover, and bake until puffed and lightly golden, about 15 minutes more.

MAKE-AHEAD FRENCH TOAST BAKE

Steps:

• Spread bread cubes evenly in a greased 9x13-inch pan.
• Mix eggs, milk, sugar, cream, and vanilla together in a bowl. Pour evenly over the bread and and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
• Mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt for topping together in a medium bowl. Add butter and cut in with a pastry blender until mixture is crumbly. Refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Sprinkle topping over bread-egg mixture and bake in the preheated oven until golden brown and to desired consistency, 45 minutes to 1 hour.

EASY FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE (MAKE AHEAD)

Steps:

• The night before: Grease a 9x13 baking dish. Break up half the bread by tearing or cutting into 1 inch or so cubes.
• Scatter cubed cream cheese over the top.
• Top with the remaining bread, also broken or cut into cubes.
• Sprinkle with the cinnamon and the sugar.
• Pour maple syrup over the top (the real stuff always tastes better!).
• Pour the beaten eggs over the top next.
• Cover with foil and place in the fridge overnight.
• The next day: Preheat oven to 350°F
• Bake uncovered 45-60 minutes, depending on your oven and how mushy you like your french toast.
• Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving.