Breakfast on December 26th is always a French toast baked using panettone, it's the best way to make the best of all that leftover delicious Italian panettone besides freezing some for another day!
Most of the time we use up our homemade panettone since that has no preservatives and will get stale much quicker than store-bought kinds but either way, this is the best way to repurpose those gifts of bread.
I love to mix and match fruits for this great baked french toast this one has bananas, blueberries, and apples and is so delicious.
We used leftover sweet rolls also this time of the year and sometimes add leftover eggnog instead of milk.
They made the perfect baked french toast and the fruits with added cinnamon smelled awesome baking.
Also, if you want to make after Christmas even easier for breakfast, keep some throw away aluminum pans on hand so you can toss it away after breakfast, easy peasy!
Scroll down for this easy recipe.
What do we do with all this leftover Panettone you Ask?
Don't hesitate to try using up all that gifted bread by using this recipe.
The family will love it and with the addition of 3 fruits in this casserole, it can even be late in the day warmed-up dessert topped with whipped cream.
We just love this any time of the day and it's a wonderful alternative to all the heavy foods the last few days in a lighter fashion and flavor.
I usually get more than one box of panettone, and honestly, I have to freeze a lot of it but this is a tradition we make either Christmas morning and or the day after.
Fruits to Use
- blueberries
- more raisins
- diced peaches
- sliced bananas
- diced mango
- pineapple
- minced apples
- pears
- fresh berries
- seriously anything fruit that will bake in around 45 minutes can go in this casserole of french toast bake
Other Suggestions and Tips
- use any sweet rolls or cinnamon rolls leftover
- add eggnog or heavy cream instead of milk or half and half
- use almond, rum, or another extract instead of vanilla
- store leftovers in the refrigerator
- to reheat place wrap in foil and bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees
- this french toast can be served with warmed maple syrup, dusted with powdered sugar, plain as it is, or with whipped cream
- French toast is best made with stale bread if not using rolls, panettone, or leftover Italian bread
- For easy cleanup after the holidays, use disposable pans
Baked Panettone French Toast Pin for later
Casserole French Toast is so much Easier!
This Baked Panettone French toast is so super simple to make.
It's easier than regular french toast since you're not standing by the stove flipping bread one by one.
It's all made in one easy pan. You can use throw-away pans to make it no clean up!
I just love how the apples taste with a little cinnamon and the blueberry flavor is enhanced as well.
Either way fruit or no fruit this Baked Panettone French toast is fabulous!
Baked Panettone French Toast
Panettone is an Italian bread found at Christmas, we use it to make baked french toast with leftovers.
Prep time: 9 MinCook time: 50 MinTotal time: 59 Min
Ingredients
- 2 cups half-and-half, whole milk or leftover eggnog
- 4 eggs
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon of nutmeg
- 1 apple paired and sliced
- 1 banana sliced
- 1 cup blueberries
- 6 slices of leftover Panettone bread, Hawaiian sweet rolls or 8 slices of Italian bread
Instructions
- Beat eggs, milk, sugar, spices, vanilla, together in a separate bowl set aside.
- Preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Coat a 3 or 4-quart pan regular baking dish or a throw-away aluminum pan with nonstick cooking spray, add two tablespoons of butter and melt in the oven.
- Layer bread like a lasagna put a layer of bread on the bottom, fruit, ending with bread, and pour egg mixture over the top,
- Allow to sit for 10 minutes, or until all the liquid has been absorbed.
- Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until the middle is set.
- Serve with cooked bacon, breakfast sausage, or ham slices on the side.
- If served as a dessert add a dollop of whipped cream.
Notes:
Fruits to Use
- blueberries
- more raisins
- diced peaches
- diced mango
- pineapple
- minced apples
- pears
- bananas
- fresh berries
- seriously anything fruit that will bake in around 45 minutes can go in this casserole of french toast bake
Other Suggestions and Tips
- use any sweet rolls or cinnamon rolls leftover
- add eggnog or heavy cream instead of milk or half and half
- use almond, rum, or another extract instead of vanilla
- store leftovers in the refrigerator
- to reheat place wrap in foil and bake for 10 minutes at 400 degrees
- this french toast can be served with warmed maple syrup, dusted with powdered sugar, plain as it is, or with whipped cream
- French toast is best made with stale bread if not using rolls, panettone, or leftover Italian bread
- For easy cleanup after the holidays, use disposable pans
Baked Panettone French Toast Pin for later
More Recipes We Love
Mom's Foccacia
Pizza Dough
Panzerotti
No Knead Bread
Panettone Egg Strata
Disclosure: This recipe was originally shared in 2016. It was edited and re-published in 2021.
