Baked Cinnamon Pear French Toast

Cozy Make Ahead Breakfast

This baked pear french toast is prepared in advance, then topped with cinnamon sugar and baked until crispy on the outside and warm and bubbly on the inside. The addition of fresh pears, a bit of apple butter, and cinnamon makes this a very cozy breakfast to wake up to. I especially love it for the Autumn or Winter season! This would be a great breakfast to make ahead for Thanksgiving or Christmas morning to feed a crowd of people early before the big meals later in the day.

The Supplies

Ingredients

To make this baked pear french toast, you’ll need the following ingredients:

• Cooking spray
• Loaf of challah bread
• Pear
• Sggs
• Whole milk
• Heavy cream
• Brown sugar
• Apple butter
• Vanilla extract or paste
• Cinnamon, divided
• Kosher salt
• Unsalted butter
• Cane sugar
• Maple syrup for serving

For the exact ingredient amounts, check out the recipe card at the bottom of this page.

Equipment

In order to make this baked pear french toast, you’ll need the following pieces of equipment:

• 9×13 casserole dish
• Cutting board and bread knife
• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Measuring cups and spoons
• Silicone spatula or mixing spoon

Frequent Recipe Questions

Can I bake this recipe in advance?

• A: This recipe is best eaten right after baking. This way, the top stays nice and crispy!

Is there a good substitute for challah?

• A: If you can’t find challah at your grocery store, you can substitute with another enriched bread. Brioche, Hawaiian style rolls, or croissants.

What kind of pear should I use?

• For a sweeter pear flavor, opt for a Bartlett or Concorde pear. If you prefer a less sweet pear, look for a Green Anjou or Concorde pear.

Recipe Tips

When you make this baked pear french toast, here are a few tips to make sure it turns out delicious:

• Be sure the eggs are well scrambled before mixing in the milk, cream and seasoning. Otherwise, you might find large pieces of cooked eggs in the casserole after baking it.
• This recipe is perfect for making in the evening and baking in the morning for breakfast. Letting the cream soak into the bread overnight lets the flavors meld together nicely! That said, I wouldn’t let the mixture sit for more than 24 hours. Otherwise, the bread may get too soggy and not crisp up on the top.

Recipe Details

Prep the Pear French Toast

To get this recipe started, grease the bottom and sides of a large casserole dish with cooking spray. Place the cubed challah and diced pears into the casserole dish and give them a quick toss. 

Then, in a large mixing bowl whisk the eggs until the yolks are broken and incorporated into the whites. Add in the milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, apple butter, vanilla extract, a little bit of the cinnamon, and the kosher salt. Stir everything together until it’s mixed in with the eggs. 

Pour the egg and cream mixture over the cubed challah and pears in the casserole dish. Tightly wrap the dish with plastic wrap and then place it in the refrigerator. Chill the french toast casserole for at least two hours or up to overnight.

Bake the French Toast

When you’re ready to bake the pear french toast casserole, preheat your oven to 375°F. Take the casserole dish out of the refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap. Drizzle some melted butter over the top of the casserole and then sprinkle it with cinnamon and sugar. 

Bake the pear french toast casserole for 40 minutes. The top will be toasty and the insides will be warm and bubbly. Take the french toast casserole out of the oven and let it cool slightly for a few minutes. Serve the baked pear french toast casserole warm with maple syrup on the side. 

If you make this baked pear french toast, be sure to leave a comment or give this recipe a rating – I can’t wait to hear how it goes. As always, tag me on Instagram, TikTok, or Facebook in your photos. It makes me feel like we’re getting to cook together!

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