+ big news! Perfect timing for a Life on Wednesdays post, buuut this breakfast was too good to wait another day. So ta-da! Blueberry chai french toast with a slice of big news on the side (big news is calorie-free, btw).
My mom makes a killer french toast bake which was the inspiration for this version. When she’s expecting a crowd she makes two 9″ x 13″ trays of it, which makes it look like there’ll be leftovers for days. Sure enough though, all but a tiny corner is left of both trays afterwards. It’s that good. I ate more than my fair share this past Mother’s Day (definitely a “loosen the proverbial belt buckle” sort of occasion), and was jazzed when I discovered an extra half of a challah loaf left over. What better way to use it than making…more french toast! 🙂
Here’s the low down. This french toast is dotted throughout with fresh blueberries just like my mom’s version, but I added the warm spice of chai, which is becoming one of my favorite new flavors to experiment with. This recipe requires very little inactive time, as the bread soaks up the liquid mixture during the time it takes for the oven to preheat. That means you can start this french toast in the morning and still eat it for breakfast. Nice!
As the french toast bakes, the blueberries heat and pucker. This allows them to burst with warm blueberry juice when they’re pierced with a fork. Gaaah, aren’t they pretty?!
I used two-day-old challah bread (slightly stale) for this recipe, as it’s a rich bread that doesn’t mush up when it’s soaked in the egg mixture and baked. If you can’t find challah bread, I suggest using a bread that’s dense, versus the type that’s lighter or has air pocket holes. I also used chai tea latte concentrate, plus added spices, for the fab chai flavor. While I’m in the throes of a sugar-free chai tea latte concentrate obsession and have plenty on hand, you can whip up an equivalent for this recipe without making a Target run:
Pour 3/4 cup (6 oz.) boiling water over 1 chai black tea bag, and let steep for a few minutes. Remove tea bag, and add:
- 3 tsp granulated sugar
- 1/8 tsp cinnamon
- 1/16 tsp ground ginger
- 1/16 tsp ground cloves
- 1/16 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp milk
- 1 ice cube (optional, to dilute slightly)
Stir all until sugar has dissolved and all ingredients are mixed. Let cool until room temperature (or refrigerate). Yields enough liquid to use in place of chai tea latte concentrate in recipe below.
This french toast bake serves a lot less servings than its gargantuan inspiration so I’m going to call it good at yielding six breakfast-sized servings. If you’re like me though and can’t be trusted around french toast…I’d decrease that number. Up to you.
Blueberry Chai French Toast Bake
Ingredients
- 8 oz. challah bread cubed into 1" pieces (about half of one large loaf)
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/4 cups milk I used 1%
- 3/4 cup chai tea latte concentrate*
- 1/2 cup maple syrup plus approx. 2 tbsp for drizzle
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/8 tsp ground ginger
- 1/2 cup fresh blueberries
- Maple syrup for serving
Instructions
- Grease an 8" x 8" baking dish and set aside. Using a serrated knife, cut challah bread into 1"-sized cubes and place bread cubes into baking dish.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, chai tea latte concentrate, 1/2 cup maple syrup, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and ginger. Pour egg mixture into baking dish over top of the bread cubes, and press down slightly with a spatula or spoon to submerge the bread.
- Scatter blueberries over top of the french toast, the drizzle approx. 2 tbsp of maple syrup over top.
- At this point, preheat oven to 350°F. I let the french toast sit for 5-10 minutes while the oven preheats so the challah absorbs the egg mixture.
- Once oven has preheated, bake french toast for 20-23 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the highest part comes out clean and no liquid remains.
- Switch oven to the broil setting and broil for 10-15 minutes longer, or until top has crisped.
- Once the top layer of the bake has crisped to your liking, remove from oven and let sit for a few minutes before serving. Top with a drizzle of maple syrup if you prefer.
Notes
…so, big news! Are you ready? I hope I am. B and I are packing our bags and kissing the palm trees goodbye because we’re moving to Nashville, TN! It’s a big change, but one that we’re SO looking forward to! We just got back from our second trip to Music City in the past few months to apartment search (and enjoy the sights and delish food and drink), so ye old blog was feeling kind of neglected. But her and I have reconciled, because I finally learned what a favicon was and snazzed up My Sequined Life with one, so she’s sitting pretty at the moment.
I haven’t dug too into my off-blog life here on MSL, mainly because you’d all be snoozing foreheads-down on your keyboards if I did. 🙂 BUT, a short synopsis for ya. Since the week after I graduated college, I’ve been neck-deep in accounting (public, private, audit – you name it!)…aaand not much else. When I had a job where I worked crazy long hours, any time spent not at work was reserved for a) sleeping, b) doing laundry, and c) hanging with B and my family. Couple long hours at my job in NJ with moving cross country to work long hours in CA, my social life was largely virtual (in the form of texts, Facebook likes, and the occasional FaceTime with my buds!).
So, let’s find a job with less crazy hours, huh? I did that, I slept a lot more, I started this blog, and I hung out with B and my family a lot more. All great things, don’t get me wrong, but with my new found free time, B and I realized San Diego wasn’t the city for us. Love the weather and love the beach, but deep down we couldn’t see ourselves putting down roots way down here in Southern California. After a lot of thought (and I mean a LOT – you know how I’m an overthinker), we’ve decided to be loads more adventurous than we’ve been, well, ever, and road trip out to Nashville. To stay. On our visits we’ve fallen in love with the culture, and would be tickled pink to call it “home”.
*Fingers crossed* we’ve found our apartment, and then we can plan out our road trip (which I’m also super excited for!). If you’ve got any suggestions for places to stop between San Diego and Nashville, please send them my way! Beyond Nashville and Dallas (which was solely for work), I’ve exclusively stuck to the coasts, so I’m woefully uneducated with the awesome sights and bites in the middle. We’re eager both to explore as we mosey out to Tennessee and to begin the next chapter in our lives!
Celebratory YAY cookie recipe here – orange chocolate chip sugar cookies.
Tamara Coleman says
Yes, please! I’m a huge fan of french toast and these flavors sound fantastic! CONGRATS 🙂
http://www.prettybitchescancooktoo.com
Ashley says
Yay! Sounds like a great move for you! I’ve never been to Nashville but I hear such awesome things about it. Now that we live in NC I’m hoping to visit at some point! And this bake sounds delicious … I mean blueberries and chai? You can’t go wrong!
Alyssa says
Thanks Ashley! We had heard great things about Nashville before we visited for the first time and the city totally delivered. It’s just brimming with great energy and culture. Excited to be a part of it! And I agree – I’ve had a hard time getting the blueberry/chai combo off my mind!
Bianca @ Confessions of a Chocoholic says
This baked french toast looks soooo good! CONGRATS and good luck on the big move! What an exciting time for you!
Alyssa says
Thanks Bianca! 🙂
Kathi @ Deliciously Yum! says
So excited for you, Alyssa. I bet you’ll love living in TN! Can’t wait to see the delicious food you’ll be whipping up inspired by the Music City :). Also, this French Toast looks amazing – all the flavors sound incredible!!
Alyssa says
Thanks Kathi! I will need to spend some serious time with a Southern cookbook or two. So many delicacies that I’ve never experienced before! I’m excited for the challenge, though. 🙂
Jess @ WhatJessicaBakedNext says
This looks divine! Love the flavours!
Alyssa says
Thank you, Jess! 🙂
Cindy @ Pick Fresh Foods says
That’s fantastic news Alyssa!! It’s wonderful to be young and carve out your life the way you want it to be. Good for you for realizing that. The more thinking the better 😀
I’ve never been to Nashville, but we love living in the south so its got to be just as great 😀 We lived in Newport Beach/Orange County for a few years and loved it there, but also didn’t feel we could ever settle in CA.
This blueberry french toast looks so delicious! I’ve never made a baked french toast before, but you make me really want to! Pinning
Alyssa says
Thanks Cindy! We’re really excited for this adventure and to live down South. That will be a first for both of us. And I definitely recommend a baked french toast! Your kitchen will smell amazing, and it feeds everyone at once. 🙂
Helen @ Scrummy Lane says
Awww, Alyssa … I so enjoyed reading all about your upcoming adventure (or adventures!) Good for you taking a risk and doing things that you WANT to do, like that wonderful-sounding roadtrip! You are so fortunate over there in the US having such a huge and diverse country to explore. I’m afraid I can’t advise you on where to go, but I’m sure you’ll have an amazing time whichever route you choose to take.
As for that blueberry french toast … wow! I’ve eaten US-style french toast before and loved it, but never a french toast bake like this. It sounds divine!
Alyssa says
Thanks so much, Helen! It has been so refreshing making this decision and planning out the aspects of the move. We’ve got roughly 2,000 miles to cover in areas we’ve never been, so we’ve got loads to think about. And I love french toast in all forms, but I love preparing it as a bake because it feeds multiple people at once (vs. standing at the stove preparing a few slices at a time). And it makes your kitchen smell heavenly. 🙂
Sues says
Huge congrats!! I’ve always wanted to visit Nashville- it sounds like such a cool place!
Also, I need this french toast bake like ASAP!!
Alyssa says
Thanks Sues! In just a few trips we’ve found awesome spots around Nashville. I can only imagine how many more cool places we’ll discover once we live there!
Erin | The Law Student's Wife says
Congrats on the big move!!! I adore Nashville, and I’m sure it will feel like home before you know it!
Alyssa says
Thanks Erin! A new place is always exciting. I’m already dreaming about how to put together my kitchen! Hope your house hunting is productive and as low-stress as possible!
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely says
Congrats on the move Alyssa! Such exciting news! Can’t wait to read all about it.
This chai french toast sounds amazing! I love the flavor of chai. Have you had the new Oprah chai at Starbucks? Prettttttty good!
Alyssa says
Thanks Natalie! We are thrilled! And I haven’t had the Oprah chai yet, but I think I will tomorrow. It sounds so good!
Monica says
Wow! “Yay” for sure – good luck to you on your new adventure! : ) Sounds like you guys have given it a lot of thought and I wish you the best on the move. It is very exciting! And thanks for sharing that pretty dish of French toast goodness.
Alyssa says
Thank you, Monica! We’re very excited, and you’re right – we’ve thought circles around the idea and are jazzed to finally put it in motion! 🙂
Anna Johnston says
Holy hubcaps, I leaned in close for a sniff. SOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOD! My BFF was walking past my computer and saw your post, she yelled out Yarm!!! We have decided that we are going to have a breakfast bake-off wearing animal onesies, finishing off with a Disney film. This dish is possibly going to be an integral part of one super awesome day. Thanks for sharing. Cant wait to try it. 🙂
Alyssa says
Hahaha oh the scent in the kitchen when this was baking…heaven!! Your breakfast bake-off sounds SO FUN! Thank ya for considering this french toast bake for your epic leisure day. 🙂
Kathy @ Olives & Garlic says
Exciting times. Best luck with your move. I’m would love a little (ok big) bite of this yummy french toast bake.
Alyssa says
Thank you Kathy! This french toast bake is long gone, but I’m craving the same thing.
Terri says
Good luck on the exciting move!!!! The french toast bake looks fabulous… I think I am going to “borrow” your recipe for the flavor Chai tea “infusion” in order to satisfy my insatiable palate for iced tea concoctions!!
Alyssa says
Thank you thank you!! This french toast was certainly a crowd pleaser. 🙂 I’ve fallen in love with iced chai tea lattes – half a glass of the chai tea concentrate and a little less quantity of milk. Sometimes I add a shot of espresso if I’m in need of a pick me up! It works so well. 🙂
Deb says
Good luck on the move, it sounds fantastic! And so does the Blueberry Chai French Toast Bake! The chai spices are an inspired flavor pairing.
Alyssa says
Thanks Deb! I have fallen in love with the chai flavor lately, in drinks and in food! 🙂