Make this easy Orange Cranberry Overnight French Toast bake for the holidays! It is assembled the day ahead and is full of flavor with fresh cranberries and oranges. The fluffy texture is perfect and melts in your mouth.
Christmas mornings can be hectic which is why this make-ahead breakfast is so appealing. Just pop it in the oven, grab your coffee and enjoy the morning while this beauty provides the aromatic scents of orange throughout your kitchen.
I can't seem to get enough of fresh seasonal cranberries. They have the right amount of tanginess and can also be found in this Cranberry Bread Skillet recipe or another make ahead recipe - Eggnog French Toast. Both are perfect for the holidays.
Ingredients
- brioche bread
- eggs
- orange juice
- orange zest
- milk
- sugar
- fresh cranberries
Please see recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
Step 1: in a medium bowl add the milk, eggs and orange juice
Step 2: whisk until mixture is smooth and set aside.
Step 3: combine the orange zest and sugar in a small bowl; be sure to really work the mixture together to release the orange oils in the zest. Set aside
Step 4: butter a 9x13 baking dish or equivalent (as shown above)
Step 5: place cubed brioche bread in baking dish
Step 6: ladle the egg mixture over the bread cubes in the buttered dish (or you can pour). Make sure it is evenly distributed and the cubes are wet.
Step 7: sprinkle the orange zest mixture over the bread cubes
Step 8: place the fresh cranberries on top of the cubed bread; STOP - cover with plastic wrap and place in refrigerator overnight. Next day - bake at 375 for about 35-40 until golden brown and egg mixture not runny in baking dish.
Here you have it - this easy to make Orange Cranberry Overnight French Toast bake that looks like you super fussed but did not (your secret is safe with me!)
Substitutions
This recipe has minimal ingredients so the other thing I can think of is to substitute the bread - try french bread, white bread or croissants.
It tastes great with maple syrup drizzled on top. I also love that while the french toast is sweet, you get a tangy bite with the cranberry.
Equipment
I really, really love my zester. It works really well when removing citrus zest and can also be used for hard cheese and whole nutmegs.
Storage
If you have any leftover, keep in refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave for about 30 seconds for each slice.
Top tips
As mentioned above, I really like my zester. The key is to only scrape off the top layer and try not to get too much of the white area of the orange. I also like my bread to be more on the "stale" side. Day old bread or leaving the cubes on the counter for a bit will achieve that. The milk will absorb well and not make a clumpy mess.
Feel free to sprinkle some powder sugar on too.
Get the Recipe
Orange Cranberry Overnight French Toast Bake
A true holiday delight! Prepare the night ahead and bake the next morning - easy peasy!
Ingredients
- 16 oz. brioche bread, cubed
- 6 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups milk
- 1 cup orange juice
- 2 oranges, zested
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ¾ cup fresh cranberries
Instructions
- Butter a 9x13 baking dish and place cubed bread in an even layer
- Whisk together the eggs, milk and orange juice in a medium bowl and ladle or pour over the cubes; you want to make sure all the bread is soaked
- Using the back of the spoon, work the sugar and orange zest together in a small bowl until fragrance is released
- Sprinkle sugar mixture over bread cubes
- Scatter cranberries over the top
- Place plastic wrap on top and refrigerate until the next day
- Preheat oven to 375° and bake for about 35-40 minutes
- Top should be golden and egg mixture not runny on bottom (check with a knife in middle to make sure)
- Serve immediately with maple syrup if desired or sprinkle powdered sugar
Notes
PLEASE SEE STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS IN THE POST
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 10 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 255Total Fat: 11gSaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 173mgSodium: 231mgCarbohydrates: 30gFiber: 2gSugar: 12gProtein: 9g
Nutritional information provided is computer-generated and only an estimate. You may want to do your own research with the ingredients listed if you have concerns about health or specific diets.
I was inspired to make this recipe from Breakfast for Dinner.
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