Oven-Baked French Toast

My family was tired of the traditional pancakes (from scratch, I might add) that I usually make for weekend breakfast. We just needed something different, so over to Pinterest I went. I found this amazing recipe for baked french toast that is quick, easy, and uses regular bread. 

Yes, regular bread.

French toast usually requires Italian bread or some other kind you usually don't have lying around. This recipe is great because it uses your every day sliced sandwich bread you already have! I was skeptical as to how these would turn out but they were amazing and my 2-year-old loved them! They were soft yet firm enough to be considered "finger food" which, let's face it, is a toddler's favorite kind of food. Best part is they take about 6 minutes to cook (and probably only 5-10 minutes to prep). 

Easy peasy jungle breezy! (Wow. Too much Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.)

Oven-Baked French Toast
Yields: 20 small slices; serves 4
Adapted from: A Beautiful Mess

Ingredients

4-5 slices of bread
3-4 eggs
2 Tablespoons cream (or half & half, or milk)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Cinnamon
Cinnamon & sugar mix (your preference)

Directions

Preheat broiler on low setting and place top rack about 3-4 inches from top of oven.

Mix the egg, cream, vanilla, and a generous sprinkle of cinnamon to a shallow baking dish. Mix well. Slice bread into 4 equal slices, lengthwise and quickly coat on both sides with the egg mixture. Allow excess to drip (being careful to not allow the bread to tear) and place on a prepared baking sheet. I use a Silpat mat but you can grease your baking sheet if you don't have one. NOTE: DO NOT USE PARCHMENT PAPER.

When all slices are lined on the baking sheet, sprinkle some cinnamon sugar mixture on top. Place under the broiler (low setting) for 2-3 minutes or until the egg is cooked and sugar is starting to caramelize. 

Remove pan from oven and flip sticks onto other side and sprinkle with more cinnamon sugar topping. They will stick well to the Silpat mat so be careful when flipping. Broil an additional 2-3 minutes and serve warm.