This luscious baked French Toast is a perfect weekend breakfast. Farm fresh sweet cherries are topped with toasted cubed artisan bread soaked in eggs and half and half, and then baked to create an almost bread pudding like French Toast.
You can use any good, dense, chewy bread in this recipe. I used Volker’s Cranberry Orange bread. A fabulous bread with a great chewy texture and loaded with tart, sweet flavors. You can buy Volkers amazing bread at Farmer’s Markets in the Salt Lake area.
This summer I participated in the Utah’s Own Recipe Roundup. My Baked Cherry French Toast recipe was the winner of round two. So on Friday I got to compete with the other seven weekly winners at the Utah State Fair.
This was my first time competing in the Utah’s Own contest and it was a fun opportunity. I loved learning more about and helping raise awareness of the great Utah’s Own products. The winner of this year’s Recipe Roundup was Carmell Childs with an elegant Truffle Crepe Cake.
We were given two tickets so we could bring someone along to help. I asked fellow food blogger and my sweet friend, Becky, Vintage Mixer, to come help me set up and be my “stylist” for the competition. She has an amazing sense of style and I don’t know what I would have done without her help and support. Thanks Becky!
Also, a big thank you to Utah’s Own for hosting such a fun event. I’ve already started thinking of fun recipes for next year’s competition.
Baked Cherry French Toast
1 loaf Volkers Bakery Orange Cranberry Bread, cubed*
6 Oakdell eggs
1 1/2 cups Meadow Gold half and half
1 1/2 teaspoons Dutch Mill imitation vanilla
Redmond Real Salt fine salt
1/2 cup Xagave agave nectar*
1 tablespoon Cornaby’s Thick Gel Food Starch (corn starch)**
Zest of 1 orange
4 cups McMullin Orchards cherries, pitted and halved*
1/4 cup Meadow Gold butter, melted
Kodiak Mountain Berry Syrup, for serving1. Spread bread evenly in a jelly roll pan and toast for 20 minutes at 350°. Cool to room temperature.
2. In a medium bowl beat together eggs, half-and-half, vanilla, and a pinch of salt. Pour egg mixture over cooled toasted bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
3. Combine agave, cornstarch, orange zest and a pinch of salt. Fold in cherries. Pour into a greased 13×9 baking pan.
4. Place the chilled bread mixture on top of the fruit mixture.
5. Drizzle the melted butter over the bread.
6. Bake at 400° for 30 minutes or until golden brown and sauce has thickened. Cover with foil if the top is getting too brown.
*You can substitute 1 1/2 pounds of your favorite dense, chewy bread, 2/3 cup sugar instead of the agave and any sweet fruit that is in season.
**If using frozen cherries add an additional 1 tablespoon corn starch
Print Recipe
Cafe Rio Sweet Pork Barbacoa Salad
I love to bake, especially cookies, cakes, and pies.
{ 44 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great event and way to promote your local products! Your french toast sounds wonderful and I’m sure the Cherries taste great in the custard of the toast. I would love to try the Kodiak Berry syrup. This is making me very hungry for breakfast! This would be good with some almonds over top, too.
Wow! Congratulations! What a fantastic and fun opportunity for you and all involved. Wonderful photos, delicious recipe.
Paula recently posted..A New Canadian Blog Is Born!
What a wondrful recipe Barbara. I am going to try this one for sure. Love the cherries.
Bonnie recently posted..Zucchini Pancakes
Oooo….CONGRATULATIONS on the winning, Barbara! Hope to see you in the grand final. I’m truly excited for you. Wishing you all the best, dear. And this awesome baked cherry french toast as amazing. Thanks for sharing & have fun!
Break a leg!
Blessings, Kristy
kristy recently posted..Wholewheat Vegetarian Char Siew Steamed Bun
Your recipe looks like a winner to me!! And how fun to have Becky along to help you out!
Deborah recently posted..Orzo with Zucchini, Mushrooms and Sausage
It really is a luscious baked French Toast! So pretty too. What a fun event. And your creation is a winner to me!
Amy recently posted..Mini Brioche
That bread looks so scrumptious and your French toasts too! A great fall/winter treat.
Cheers,
Rosa
Wow…I can see why this made the finals! Just gorgeous!
Ashley @ Kitchen Meets Girl recently posted..Stuffed Jalepeno Topped Burgers
Looks like a winning recipe to me!
Maria recently posted..Bacon Wrapped Bratwursts
How fun and yum and congrats for being involved. The French toast looks de-lish. Why do I see a little chocolate grated on top? (I love chocolate and cherries AND I always need chocolate on just about everything.) ;)
Katrina recently posted..TWD—Salt and Pepper Cocoa Shortbreads
Barbara this looks and sounds amazing! A total winner girlfriend! Good Luck in the upcoming round.
Kathleen recently posted..S’more Bars
It was an honor to be a stylist of such an amazing cook! Plus I got to eat some of the leftovers!!
congrats! you came up with a fabulous recipe!
natalie (the sweets life) recently posted..Cream Cheese Fruit Tarts
Beautiful Blog Barbara as always!! :) Thank you for sharing your Utah’s Own recipe with our team. I can’t wait to see what you come up with next year!
Tamra Watson recently posted..Ultimate Recipe Roundup State Fair Winners
I can only imagine how good this was, especially starting off with a special bread. Congrats on the contest and hope more to come!
Barbara | Creative Culinary recently posted..MY Best – Brown Butter and Molasses Chocolate Chip Cookies #baketogether
Congratulations on your winning recipe. It sounds like a very fun event.
Mimi
mimi recently posted..Candy Corn Cookies
Mum I’m so proud of you!! WEll done and well down on showcasing Utah’s produce too :) xxx
Lorraine Not Quite Nigella recently posted..Classic Tarte Tatin
This looks fabulous! Great post!
Alison @ Ingredients, Inc recently posted..Panko-Crusted Fish Sticks with Edamame Salsa
—Barbara,
Now that’s what I call Frech Toast. WOW )))))) !!
Awww geez….yum!
Blond Duck recently posted..27 things
What fabulous french toast! Adore the fresh cherries and berry syrup; what an extraordinary use of local ingredients. I envy your placing in the state finals. I recently entered a contest focused on local ingredients and did not place! LOL
Indeed a great breakfast choice!
Angie’s Recipes recently posted..Almond Bars with Bergamot and Mint & A Visit From The Fairy Hobmother
I wish I could get a loaf of that bread in Oregon! It looks so delicious on its own!
I’ve never considered baking French toast. It must be so delicious cooking it after it’s been soaking over night. That bread looks fabulous too.
Claire @ Claire K Creations recently posted..Bills, Woollahra
Congrats my friend! How amazing and fun was that! Wow, I wish I could have been at that contest. talk about some good food. Your french toast looks amazing- no doubt it should have been the winner. When in doubt in my house I make french toast. It is just so delicious and easy!
Wow, congrats, Barbara, for making it to the finals. That must have been a great experience. Your french toast looks like a wonderful Sunday breakfast. Excellent photo, BTW.
Cathy at Wives with Knives recently posted..Homemade Peach Pie
Congrats! Your baked French toast looks so appetising. Must be lovely with those cherries.
Cheah recently posted..Pumpkin walnut bundt cake
YIPPEEE…so glad you won GF.Yay Yay Yay … what an amazing recipe and what fun that Becky was there with you! Loved looking at all the pics. Good luck for next year! Yay you!!
Deeba Rajpal (@vindee) recently posted..Baking| Orange Almond Olive Oil Cake … an Anna Olson adaptation
oh this is just gorgeous! i might even get up early for a breakfast like this!
teresa recently posted..Buffalo Chicken Wraps
Barbara, what a fun event…and your cherry French toast look fabulous…perfect for a weekend brunch!
Hope you are having a fantastic week and thank you for this recipe :-)
Congratulations!
I love Volker’s Cranberry bread, happy to have an excuse to go buy some…
Rocky Mountain Woman recently posted..WEEKEND AT THE CABIN
Here we have French toasts on breakfast, are routines but…. wait this bread reloaded full of berries isn’t common!
OMG I wish I’ve one for breakfast tomorrow morning :)
Cheers,
Gera
Gera@Sweets Foods Blog recently posted..CommentLuv Premium Plugin Review: 7 Reasons Why this Plugin Rocks
Congrats! That must have been a fun experience. Cherry French Toast with one of my faves – cranberries. Yum!
Looks like a winner to me! So lucky of you to be part of the competition =)
Peggy recently posted..Scallops with Honeydew-Avocado Salsa
How cool that you were in this competition! Looks like a great recipe ;)
Winnie recently posted..Greek Lentil Soup
oh wow congrats Barbara your a star and love the picture of you proud of you hugs
rebecca recently posted..Red Snapper with Mango Salsa
That sounds like it was such a fun event, Barbara! Your french toast looks amazing!
Faith recently posted..Fresh Fava Beans 2 Ways, A New App, & A Giveaway
Great recipe.
Now this is the ultimate french toast & the competition sounds like fun too.
Sounds like a great event! That bread sounds amazing on its own, so I can only imagine how good it was in french toast!! Love the addition of cherries!
This looks so delicious and pretty too!
Pam recently posted..Meatloaf with Barbecue Glaze
Just beautiful. Your pictures salivate the taste buds!! :)
Sandi recently posted..Hot Peppers
What fun! You’re sure to win- that cherry french toast looks amazing! :)
Betty @ scrambled henfruit recently posted..Johnny Appleseed Squares
I’m so proud of you, Barbara. I can see why this won round 2 and, maybe I’m biased, but seems like a grand prize winner!
Cookin’ Canuck recently posted..Roasted Cauliflower with Indian Spices Recipe, Plus TV Appearance