It’s getting cold outside you guys! And I’m kind of excited about it because it means I get to wear all of my comfy clothes, fall boots and of course, bake my heart out. I actually can’t wait to head to the apple orchard this year to pick fresh juicy apples. Tony just got done with baseball and will be staying with me for the next week or so. Hopefully we’ll have time to head to the orchard.
My favorite apples to snack on are usually Honeycrisp and Braeburn because of their sweet, crispy crunch. However nothing beats a granny smith when it comes to baking. They’re perfectly tart yet still offer some sweetness. I can’t wait to bake up famous apple crisp this year (make it!).
I must admit one of my favorite things about cooler weather are the cozy fall baking scents that always seem to linger for a few hours after baking. Now thanks to Bath & Body Works new fall flavors line of products, my entire house has been smelling like apple crisp and pumpkin pie from dawn until dusk. Their scents range from Farmstand Apple to Banana Nutmeg Bread Pudding.
I’m planning on stocking up on their candles and lotions, because you know the holidays will be here before you know it. I’m also the type of person who doesn’t really go shopping until a few days before Christmas or even right before I’m attending a holiday party. There have been numerous times where I have gift wrapped something in the Target parking lot. This year I vow to be better at that… maybe.
Today I’m bringing you a simple recipe inspired by Bath & Body Works new We Love Fall product line. After soaking in the aroma of their Apple candle all last week, I just had to start baking with them. This recipe is a Salted Caramel Apple French Toast and I know you guys are going to love this for those Fall mornings when you have company or just when you want a special treat. It’s easy to make and can be made ahead of time, too!
So, how do you make easy french toast casserole?
I tried to make it a little bit healthier by using almond milk, minimal butter and a little less sugar than what normally goes into a French toast casserole. There’s also a touch of maple syrup and cinnamon. Mmm hmmm your house is about to smell like heaven and best of all even though this is a skinny version, the French toast still sweet, sticky, and ooey-gooey delicious. The diced apples baked right in with the bread and they added a little more sweetness to this breakfast treat. Enjoy!
More brunch recipes you’ll love:
Strawberry Banana Chocolate Chip Baked Oatmeal
The Best Cinnamon Rolls You’ll Ever Eat
Dark Chocolate, Almond & Sea Salt Banana Baked Oatmeal
Spinach & Goat Cheese Quiche with Sweet Potato Crust
Baked Sweet Potato Donuts with Dark Chocolate + Coconut
Salted Caramel Apple French Toast Casserole
A delicious baked french toast casserole with apples and salted caramel. This easy french toast casserole is made healthier with less sugar and makes the perfect brunch treat!
Ingredients
- 1 pound french bread loaf cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1/4 cup butter
- 2/3 cup dark brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 medium granny smith apples, peeled and diced
- 1 1/2 cups unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- 2 eggs
- 3 egg whites
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- pinch nutmeg
Instructions
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Spray a 13x9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
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In a large bowl, whisk together almond milk, maple syrup, vanilla, eggs, egg whites, cinnamon and nutmeg.
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Pour egg mixture over the bread, making sure to soak each cube. If there are some dry pieces, simply press them down a bit to soak up some of the egg mixture. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours, or overnight!
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Once ready to bake, place small saucepan over low heat and add brown sugar, butter and maple syrup; whisk occasionally until butter is melted and combined with sugar. Add salt and diced apples to caramel and stir to combine. Drizzle apple caramel mixture all over bread cubes.
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and bake for 40-45 minutes or until the top of the french toast bake is golden brown. Cool for 5 minutes then cut into 12 servings. Serve with warm maple syrup.
Recipe Notes
Make this recipe a little better for you by using whole grain bread.
You can reduce the sugar or try using coconut sugar.
Nutrition
Disclaimer: This post was brought to you by Bath & Body Works, but of course all opinions are my own. Thanks for continuing to support Ambitious Kitchen!
87 comments
pumpkin muffins!
Pumpkin anything: cake, muffins, bars, pie, cupcakes…its all good!
baked apples
Oh my word this looks delicious… I can’t wait to make it! My favorite fall thing to make is apples. Apples apples apples. I love to dehydrate them with some cinnamon, bake them into apple crisp, slow cook them with a roast, and the list goes on. So I guess my answer is apple crisp. But no matter what I’m simply happy to use my oven again.
Apple crisp is my favorite!
I love to bake apple crisps!
My kids and I love to make pumpkin bread. Looking forward to using some of your recipes.
apple pie bread 🙂
I’m so excited to try out this recipe! And my favorite thing to bake in during the fall season is definitely bread 🙂
pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting
My favorite thing to make in the fall is pumpkin bread 🙂
applesauce cake!
Thai curries and vege chilie 🙂
I love baking with pumpkin this time of year and I love making pumpkin coffee cake, it’s a great treat for the morning or any other time of day! I can’t wait to make this french toast as well, what a great combo with the granny smith apples!! 🙂
I love making good old fashion apple pie!
Cannot WAIT for sweater weather. And apple picking. You said it, sister!
My favorite thing to bake in the fall is a batch of Pumpkin Cinnamon Blondies.
This looks absolutely amazing! Can’t wait to try it.
I love making pumpkin ravioli in fall with a walnut cream sauce. I’m also a big fan of pumpkin bread pudding. This recipe might also go on my favorites list after making it though.
I also love caramel + apples in the fall, my favorite is caramel apple cheesecake–and don’t tell, but it makes a great breakfast!
Apple pie, pumpkin muffins, and anything with butternut squash!!!!
Apple crisp…or pumpkin bread…or pumpkin cookies…or spice cake. I love it all and eagerly wait for scarf and boot season each year to start the bake-a-thon!
Definitely pumpkin bread with chocolate chips! Though apple crisp is a close second.
Fall is my favorite time of the year because that’s when everything pumpkin starts popping up. My favorite thing to bake in the fall is anything pumpkin – bread, muffins, pie, etc.cu
My favorite thing to bake in the fall is my signature brown sugar maple sandwich cookies. My mom and I tasted something like it at a festival, and we said we need to be known for these! We spent several tries in the kitchen re-creating them and were finally satisfied with the soft cookies and maple buttercream. And it worked–people ask us to make them for events and even pocket them on their way out the door!
Many things! Braised wine short ribs, chicken pot pie & maple walnut cookies with a maple icing. SO good with coffee!
I love cinnamon bread for fall!
I love to bake with apples in the fall. Desserts and savory side dishes, too!
Brown butter pumpkin cupcakes with salted caramel frosting. Sooo good.
There is nothing like the smell of fresh apple pie on a fall day. That or caramel brownies!
Sweet potato soup and anything pumpkin!!!!!
Fall is my favorite time to break out the casseroles! Baked comfort in a glass dish!
All. The. Pumpkin. Granola bars. Muffins. Bread.
Love baking apple crisp and pumpkin muffins!
My favorite thing to bake in the Fall has to be apple crisp. It just makes the house smell amazing, and since it has both apples AND oats, it totally qualifies as breakfast food 🙂
I absolutely love baking pumpkin bread… and eating it morning, noon, and night!
This casserole looks fantastic!! My mom loves breakfast casseroles, so I’ll have to send her this recipe after I try it. My favorite things to bake in the fall are pumpkin bread and cranberry cheesecake 🙂
apple bread for sure!
My favorite thing to make is cinnamon swirl bread from scratch! Tastes like fall and makes the house smell amazing!
Apple Crisp!
French toast bakes are the best and this looks great – pinned! I love to bake with apples and pumpkin in the fall!
Oh wow this looks delish….I’ve made your famous apple crisp before and it’s to die for! Other fall favorites of mine are overnight apple butter in the crockpot and maple bacon gravy for biscuits@
I love baking winter squash–every single variety. They are all so good!
Pumpkin cinnamon rolls with a cranberry glaze!
I can’t wait to make pumpkin ginger loaf with cream cheese frosting!
Anything with pumpkin or apples. Pumpkin cheesecake with gingersnap crust, apple bread pudding made with calvados or amaretto and homemade caramel drizzled over the top. Yum, yum, yum!
I love to bake sweet potatoes!
Love making banana muffins!
I love making pumpkin bread!
My favourite thing to bake in the fall is either your pumpkin bagels or pecan pie. 🙂
For the fall, I love to do Dutch babies. Something I’ve been thinking about, maybe you could figure it out for me? Have you seen those red tortillas? I think they’re sundries tomato something. I was thinking of making a red bread with that flavor.
My fall favorite is baking apple dumplings!
Applesauce, the chunky kind!!
Apple or pear crisp with homemade cinnamon ice cream – yum and yum!
Loving this recipe, friend! The salted caramel and apple combo is making my mouth water!
Apple crisp.
I love baking sugar cookies in the fall.
2dogs5catscrew@att.net
My favorite Fall recipe is WHOLE APPLE DUMPLINGS made with puff pastry wrapped around a brown sugar and walnut stuffed peeled and cored apple. When brushed with an egg wash, it comes out a beautiful golden color. Extra dough scraps can be cut into leaves to drape down the apple. Not sure what I enjoy more…..the smell while baking or the delicious taste.
Hmm fall reminds me of baked oatmeal but of course pumpkin muffins, breads and all sorts of cookies too!
I’ve got a recipe for a pumpkin cheesecake that is out of this world…really, what isn’t when it involves pumpkin?!
challah
Definitely anything pumpkin or apple! Baked oatmeal, granola, bars, muffins, pies, crisp–you name it!
Tried using your Bath & Body works coupon but they wouldn’t accept it 🙁
Oh no, so sorry about this Becky! I informed the Bath & Body Works team and we’re going to look into it. Thanks for letting me know.
apple crisp!
Zucchini bread, yummy!!
Apple crisp… served warm with homemade vanilla ice cream!!
I love making my apple crisp when the weather starts to get cooler and then drizzle it with some of my salted caramel sauce.
My favorite thing to bake is Pumpkin Pie!
I love to bake chocolate chip pumpkin bread in the fall. Typing this makes me want to bake some this morning! Thank you for the wonderful giveaway.
Erin
fairyfractal at gmail dot com
Cranberry bread-yum
Fried apple pies
Pumpkin sage lasagna rolls!
I love me some pumpkin pies!
I enjoy a warm apple pie for my grandkids! Thanks
Anything with pumpkin pie spice!! Happy Fall Ya’ll!!
My favorite thing to bake in the fall is a delicious dessert I found last year and made several times. Pumpkin cheesecake bars with salted caramel swirl. THE BEST! myfoxypup at gmail dot com
I like to make Apple Butter Cheesecake Pie.
I love baking with apples and pumpkin in the fall. Apple crisp, pumpkin bread, apple and pumpkin muffins, applesauce bread. I love the way thses spicy recipes make my kitchen smell.
mac and cheese, you literally cannot go wrong.
I love to bake cobblers in the fall, apple, berry, pear!
Miniature pumpkins, stuffed with apple crisp and baked in the oven. Then topped with homemade, fresh whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon & nutmeg 🙂
I love to bake apple crumbles in the fall
mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com
My favorite thing to bake is pie!
This looks delicious! I was wondering is that a tbsp. of maple syrup added to both the egg mixture and to the brown sugar mixture? Thanks!
Both!
Made this for Christmad breakfast this year to rave reviews! Thanks for sharing : )