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Apple Butter Pear Pecan Challah French Toast Bake with cinnamon and pecans on top.

Apple Butter Pear Pecan Challah French Toast Bake

A cozy, slightly sweet French toast bake featuring soft challah, ripe pears, and crunchy pecans, perfect for feeding a crowd without stress.
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 300
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 loaf Challah bread, cubed Soft and slightly dried is ideal
  • 1 cup Whole milk or half and half For a richer custard
  • 4 large Eggs Large eggs for the custard
  • 1 cup Apple butter For sweetness and flavor
  • 2 medium Pears, diced Use ripe but firm pears
  • 1 cup Pecans, chopped Toast them for better flavor
  • 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon Cinnamon For flavor
  • 1 pinch Salt Balances sweetness

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Cube the challah and set it out to dry for 30 to 60 minutes.
  2. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, apple butter, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. Add the cubed bread to the custard mixture, ensuring all pieces are coated. Let it soak for at least 20 minutes, or overnight in the refrigerator.
  4. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
  5. Fold in diced pears and half of the chopped pecans into the soaked bread mixture.
  6. Pour the mixture into a greased baking dish and dot the top with additional apple butter and remaining pecans.
Baking
  1. Bake in the preheated oven for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the top is golden and the center is set.
Serving
  1. Let it cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
  2. Serve warm with maple syrup, Greek yogurt, or additional apple butter.

Notes

This bake can be assembled the night before for easy serving in the morning. Perfect for brunch or family gatherings.