Divine Sunday Morning: Barefoot Contessa’s Raspberry French Toast Recipe

Weekends call for something special, and this raspberry baked French toast delivers pure morning magic.

Ina garten’s Barefoot Contessa raspberry baked French toast recipe turns ordinary breakfast into an extraordinary experience.

Layers of soft bread, sweet raspberries, and rich custard create a decadent morning treat that feels like pure indulgence.

Fresh berries burst with flavor between golden-brown bread slices, promising a delightful start to any day.

The simple yet elegant preparation makes this dish perfect for leisurely mornings or weekend brunches.

Minimal effort yields maximum deliciousness, ensuring you’ll impress everyone at the table.

Get ready to savor every single bite of this irresistible breakfast sensation.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes

Calories: 515 kcal

Servings: 8

Raspberry Baked French Toast Ingredients

• Brioche Bread: Pillowy soft texture that soaks up custard beautifully, choose day-old bread for best absorption.
• Challah Bread: Rich and slightly sweet, provides decadent layers and sturdy structure for baking.

• Eggs: Creamy binding agent that creates luxurious texture and provides protein-rich foundation.
• Half-and-Half: Delivers rich, velvety smoothness and enhances overall indulgent mouthfeel.
• Granulated Sugar: Adds sweetness and helps create golden caramelized top during baking.
• Brown Sugar: Introduces deep, molasses-like warmth and helps develop complex flavor profile.
• Vanilla Extract: Brings aromatic depth and classic baking essence to the entire dish.
• Orange Zest: Introduces bright, citrusy notes that complement the raspberries and enhance overall complexity.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and amplifies all other flavor nuances in the recipe.

• Fresh Raspberries: Burst with tangy sweetness and provide vibrant color throughout the dish.
• Icing Sugar: Light dusting creates elegant presentation and adds subtle extra sweetness.
• Maple Syrup: Rich, woodsy sweetener perfect for drizzling over finished French toast.

What You’ll Need for Raspberry Baked French Toast

• Large Mixing Bowl: Spacious container for whisking custard ingredients together.
• Whisk: Essential for blending eggs, sugars, and flavorings smoothly.
• 23x33cm (9×13-inch) Baking Dish: Rectangular pan for assembling and baking the french toast.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Precise tools for accurate ingredient quantities.
• Grater: Needed for zesting fresh orange.
• Baking Tray: Supports the baking dish during cooking.
• Sifter or Fine Mesh Strainer: Used for dusting icing sugar on top.
• Sharp Knife: For zesting and preparing ingredients.

How to Cook Raspberry Baked French Toast

• Breakfast Preparation

Create a cozy morning atmosphere by gathering all your favorite baking tools and ingredients for a delightful raspberry French toast experience.

• Custard Creation

Blend rich eggs with creamy half-and-half, sweet sugars, aromatic vanilla, zesty orange hints, and a touch of salt to form a luxurious custard base.

• Layering Magic

Arrange bread slices in a buttered baking dish, generously scatter fresh raspberries, then cover with another layer of bread. Gently pour the custard over the layers, ensuring each bread piece soaks up the delicious mixture.

• Oven Transformation

Slide the dish into a preheated oven and watch your breakfast masterpiece puff and turn golden. Keep an eye on the color, covering with foil if it browns too quickly.

• Serving Elegance

After a brief cooling moment, dust the French toast with delicate powdered sugar and sprinkle extra orange zest. Drizzle with warm maple syrup and enjoy a restaurant-worthy breakfast at home.

Creative Add-Ins for Raspberry French Toast

• Swap raspberries with seasonal berries like blueberries, strawberries, or blackberries for delightful flavor variations.
• Choose rich, day-old challah or brioche for maximum custard absorption and a more luxurious texture.
• Prepare the entire dish the night before, refrigerate overnight, and bake fresh in the morning for effortless breakfast entertaining.
• Replace half-and-half with coconut milk or almond milk for a lighter, lactose-free alternative that still delivers incredible moisture and taste.
• Sprinkle chopped toasted almonds or pecans on top before baking to add a delightful nutty crunch and extra layer of texture.

Serving Style for Raspberry French Toast

• Pair with Vanilla Ice Cream: Scoop a cold, creamy dollop of vanilla ice cream on top of the warm French toast to create a delightful temperature contrast that melts in your mouth.
• Brunch Side Companion: Serve alongside crispy bacon or fresh fruit salad to balance the sweetness and add a savory or fresh element to your breakfast spread.
• Drizzle with Raspberry Coulis: Create a homemade raspberry sauce by blending fresh raspberries with a touch of sugar, then drizzle over the baked French toast for an extra burst of fruity flavor.
• Weekend Breakfast Celebration: Present this dish as a special weekend morning treat that transforms an ordinary breakfast into a memorable family gathering moment.

Raspberry French Toast: Planning and Storage

• Refrigerate Wisely: Cover the assembled dish tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking. This allows bread to soak up all the delicious custard flavors.
• Freeze for Later: Wrap the unbaked French toast securely in aluminum foil and freeze for up to 2 weeks. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking as directed.
• Reheat with Care: Warm individual portions in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, or reheat the entire dish in a 160°C oven for 15-20 minutes until heated through. Add a splash of maple syrup to restore moisture.
• Leftover Love: Store any remaining baked French toast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Enjoy cold or gently reheated for a quick breakfast treat.

Heavenly Barefoot Contessa Raspberry Baked French Toast Recipe

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4.7 from 9 reviews

• Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
• Yield: 8 1x

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Description

Barefoot Contessa’s raspberry baked french toast delivers comfort on elegant plates. Rich custard-soaked bread nestles alongside plump berries, creating breakfast magic for weekend gatherings.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 340 grams (12 oz) fresh raspberries
• 10 cups (about 250 grams) day-old challah or brioche, diced (1-inch pieces)
• 10 large eggs
• 700 milliliters (2 ¾ cups) half-and-half (or mix of double cream & whole milk)
• 75 grams (⅓ cup) granulated sugar, plus 2 tbsps extra
• 75 grams (⅓ cup) light brown sugar, packed
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp grated orange zest, plus extra for serving
• ½ tsp kosher salt
• Icing sugar, for dusting
• Maple syrup, for serving

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Instructions

1. Preparation: Lavishly butter a 23×33 centimeters ceramic or glass baking dish, ensuring complete surface coverage to prevent adhesion.
2. Custard Creation: Whisk eggs, half-and-half, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, orange zest, and sea salt until silky smooth, creating a rich custard base.
3. Layering: Strategically arrange torn bread pieces in the buttered dish, intersperse raspberries throughout, and complete with a final bread layer, forming a delicate architectural structure that captures both texture and flavor.
4. Liquid Infusion: Gently cascade custard mixture over bread layers, tenderly pressing with a spatula to guarantee complete liquid absorption and uniform saturation.
5. Chilling & Flavor Development: Sprinkle additional sugar across the surface, envelop with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for a minimum of 60 minutes to allow ingredient harmonization.
6. Thermal Preparation: Activate oven to 180 degrees Celsius (350 degrees Fahrenheit), positioning rack centrally and preparing for precise baking.
7. Baking Process: Transfer chilled dish to a robust baking tray, slide into preheated oven, and bake for 60-70 minutes, tenting with aluminum foil if browning accelerates unexpectedly.
8. Finishing Touches: Rest for 10 minutes post-baking, delicately dust with powdered sugar, sprinkle additional orange zest, and serve warm with maple syrup elegantly drizzled on top.

Notes

• Prep Ahead Strategy: Assemble the dish the night before and refrigerate, allowing bread to fully absorb the custard for maximum flavor intensity and creamy texture.
• Bread Selection Tip: Use day-old brioche or challah for best results, as slightly stale bread absorbs custard more effectively and creates a richer, more luxurious consistency.
• Prevent Burning Technique: Watch carefully after 45 minutes and tent with aluminum foil if browning too quickly, ensuring a perfectly golden surface without scorching.
• Serving Suggestion: Allow the baked French toast to rest 10 minutes before serving, which helps set the custard and makes cutting and plating much easier.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 1 hour
• Category: Breakfast, Dessert
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 8
• Calories: 515
• Sugar: 29 g
• Sodium: 150 mg
• Fat: 28 g
• Saturated Fat: 17 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 11 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 51 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 12 g
• Cholesterol: 295 mg