I love this Panettone Baked French Toast with Pecan Crumble because it can be made in advance and possesses the most intoxicating aroma while it bakes!
“Never work before breakfast; if you have to work before breakfast, eat your breakfast first.” ~Josh Billings
Ha! Josh Billings knew what he was talking about!
The only day of the year that I make a concentrated effort to eat very little for breakfast is Thanksgiving…a cup of coffee, a bit of fruit, perhaps…nothing to write home about (for obvious reasons).
And even though Christmas dinner carries its own weight and grandeur, there is something about a lovely breakfast on Christmas morning that makes perfect sense to me. Especially a breakfast that creates a warm aromatic backdrop of cinnamon and brown sugar as we’re snapping shots of the kids coming down the stairs (yes – we still put them through that!).
And since we need to keep our strength for the days activities, it needs to be a meal that takes only minutes to prepare, which makes this Panettone Baked French Toast with Pecan Crumble an ideal meal to get our day started on a super sweet note.
The recipe begins with your favorite loaf of panettone…an Italian specialty cake.
Simply slice and cut the panettone into relatively uniform pieces and arrange in a buttered 13×9″ baking dish.
Next, pour a whisked mixture of eggs, yolks, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt over top the pieces, then press down to help soak up the custard.
Cover and chill for up to 2 hours or overnight.
Bake for approximately an hour, until cooked through, and deeply browned on top.
Then allow to cool slightly.
Serve with warm maple syrup, and enjoy…
I’m a big French toast girl…and this baked version, with the Panettone which includes sweet raisins and candied orange peels, is as good as any I’ve ever had.
Here’s to breakfast!!
Buon Appetito!
Print
Panettone Baked French Toast with Pecan Crumble
- Category: Breakfast
Ingredients
- 18 – 20 oz. Panettone Italian specialty cake
- Unsalted butter, room temperature, to prepare the baking dish
- 4 large eggs
- 2 egg yolks
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
- 3/4 cup chopped pecans
- 2 Tbsp. chilled unsalted butter, cut into pieces
- 3 Tbsp. brown sugar
Instructions
Butter a 13″ x 9″ baking dish. Set aside.
Cut panettone so slices are similar in size. Arrange in baking dish.
In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, yolks, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt.
Pour over Panettone, pressing to make sure it soaks up the custard.
Cover and chill for at least 2 hours or overnight.
When you’re ready to bake, preheat oven to 375 F.
While oven is heating, in a small bowl, mix pecans, butter and brown sugar.
Remove dish from the refrigerator and scatter the pecan crumble over top.
Place dish on a baking sheet and cover tightly with foil.
Bake for 25-30 minutes until warmed through.
Remove foil and bake until deeply browned, 35-40 minutes longer.
Remove from oven and let cool slightly.
Serve with warm maple syrup.
Ciao!
I love love love pannettone and it is genius to use it in a french toast. Oh holy yum. 🙂
Oh holy yum is right on! Thanks, Kathy!! 🙂
This is GOLD!! Panettone french toast – how have I never thought of that?? (PS I have a wee bit of a french toast obsession…..) I haven’t made a baked french toast before……this will be the first!! Oh wow wow wow….sorry, can’t stop looking at the recipe! Pinning so I don’t lose it!!
Thank you, Nagi!! You know…the Panettone does most of the work. Its texture stands up to the custard, and the bits of sweet dried fruit make it a very pleasing French toast experience. Thanks for pinning!!
I’ve never had panettone, and I’ve been wanting to try it for the longest time. This french toast looks like the perfect Christmas breakfast, and I’d love to try this! 🙂
Hi Marcie, if you like breads on the sweeter side, I think you’ll really like this. Enjoy!
This french toast bake looks lovely Annie! It’s funny, but I’m the same way about breakfast, don’t usually bother on Thanksgiving, but it’s just as important to me as the main meal on Christmas! And we always make French toast too! I love the panettone, such a neat twist!
Right?! Christmas is just a French toast kinda day…Thank you so much, Stacey! 🙂
Annie, this is brilliant! We always end up with extra Panettone and I do tire of eating it plain. I can’t wait to share this with my family. Thank you!
Thank you, Andrea! Awesome – now you have something special to do with all the extra!! Enjoy!
This looks amazing. Now I’m dreaming up making this for Christmas morning. I love it!
Ahhh! That is wonderful! Enjoy!!
This is such a GREAT idea!!! Love the use of panettone here! And perfect for the holiday season! And the pecan crumble, you know the way to my heart! Delicious!
Oh yes…this dish goes straight to the heart, first, on its way to warming the rest of you up! Enjoy!! Thanks, Lindsey!
This looks SO incredible! My husband and I spend each Christmas in Italy and always see the shelves of the markets packed with panettone – LOVE the stuff! Sadly, we can’t make it this year, but this recipe will help to hold us over to next year 😉
I really love how you’ve elevated this bread into something truly special! The warm spices dancing throughout the kitchen, the delicious pecan crumble on top! Ooo, I can’t wait to try this!
Oh my…you have spent Christmas in Italy!! I can only imagine the beauty and energy of Italy at the holidays…Okay – so this breakfast is for you and your hubby this year as you are nestled by the tree imagining Italian windows lined with everything from Panettone to prosciutto. I think you’ll really like it my friend! Buon Appetito!
This Baked French Toast with pecan crumble looks amazing!!! this is the perfect holiday breakfast or brunch to enjoy with the family!! I love it! if we can’t get our hands on an Italian specialty cake, do you suggest just a sweet thick bread?
Absolutely! There are a couple other Italian sweet breads like Pandoro or Pandolce that could be a nice substitute. Certainly, Brioche would work. But I’m thinking for this time of year, Panettone should be pretty easy to find. Thanks, Alice!
Wow, this is decadent and awesome! I totally agree about breakfast. I need it the second I wake up! Love this recipe!
There’s just something about a sweet casserole for breakfast [that I love]. Total comfort! Thanks, Mir!
This french toast bake looks incredible, Annie! Love the idea of using panettone cake! And oh my goodness, I would not be able to resist that pecan crumble!
It comes together so nicely!! And when it comes out of the oven, watch out…all puffed up and gorgeous. Thanks, Kelly!
Annie, this looks absolutely delicious. I could totally imagine having this on my breakfast table! Rich and addicting! Swoon! Pinned!
Very addicting…I kept going back throughout the day for a little spoon here and a little spoon there…too good! Thanks, Kristi!
Oh my GOOOODNESS Annie, it’s almost lunchtime here and I honestly don’t mind eating a whole dish of this baked French Toast right now!!!!!! I can almost imagine how delish this is going to taste and that browned top is just making me drool all over my keyboard!
Well, my dear, I think this would qualify as a perfect lunch and supper…so you are in business! Thanks, Samina!
Oh my god, that looks so GOOD Annie!! The crumble…GAAAHHH!!! Pinned!!
I had to keep myself from eating just the crumble with a spoon! Thanks, Manali!
Doesn’t that look wonderful! I love Panettone, and at this time of year I always have lots. It does make for some wonderful French Toast, and yours is so enticing!
Thank you, Adri! It has just the right amount of sweetness and I love those little candied orange bits!
very yummy indeed!
Oh yesss! 🙂
I’ve never even heard of a panettone so I’m glad you’ve introduced me to this Italian classic. Now I’m thinking, what a great dish for Christmas morning to surprise everything. And pecans just make me go weak in the knees. This would also be awesome for a morning-ish baby or bridal shower feast. The ladies would love it!!
Oh yes, this would be perfect for a baby or bridal shower. I highly recommend panettone! It’s so reminiscent of the holidays. Thanks, Laura!
that crumble!! UH-MAZING!!
Mm-hmmm! So good!! Thanks, Caralyn!
I love panettone, but this baked french toast is just extraordinary! Perfect for a weekend breakfast! Love the pecan crumble, too! Pinning!
Thanks, Mira! Enjoy!
This french toast bake looks incredible, Annie! I love that you used panettone cake for the base. What a great way to make this dish extra special! And that pecan crumble looks amazing! Pure perfection!
We love Panettone in our house and it’s usually enough to just toast it and top with a little butter – but this definitely makes it extra special! Thanks, Gayle!