Pioneer Woman Carrot Cake French Toast Recipe

This Pioneer Woman Carrot Cake French Toast Recipe is a decadent and cozy recipe, which is made with crusty multigrain bread, grated carrots, and a sweet cream cheese glaze. It’s the perfect make-ahead brunch, ready in about 10 hours and 30 minutes (including overnight chilling).

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Pioneer Woman Carrot Cake French Toast Recipe Ingredients

For the French Toast:

• 1 loaf crusty multigrain bread, torn into pieces
• 1 ½ cups grated carrots
• 1 cup finely chopped pecans
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups milk
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 4 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
• ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Butter, for greasing the baking dish

For the Topping:

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• Pinch of kosher salt
• 1 stick (8 tablespoons) cold salted butter, cut into pieces
• ½ cup chopped pecans

For the Glaze:

• 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
• ¾ cup powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoons milk
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice

How To Make Pioneer Woman Carrot Cake French Toast

1. Prepare the Base: Generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter. Scatter the torn bread pieces evenly across the bottom. Sprinkle the grated carrots and 1 cup of finely chopped pecans over the bread.
2. Make the Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon until well combined.
3. Soak Overnight: Pour the egg custard mixture evenly over the bread, carrots, and pecans. Press down gently to ensure all the bread is soaked. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, or for at least several hours.
4. Prepare the Topping: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold, cubed butter and use your fingers or a pastry cutter to work it in until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the ½ cup of chopped pecans. Store this mixture in a sealed bag in the refrigerator overnight.
5. Bake the Casserole: The next morning, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the French toast from the fridge, uncover it, and sprinkle the prepared topping evenly over the surface. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes. A shorter time (45 min) will result in a softer, bread-pudding-like texture, while a longer time (60 min) will yield crispier edges.
6. Make the Glaze: While the French toast bakes, beat the softened cream cheese in a bowl until smooth. Mix in the powdered sugar, milk, and lemon juice until you have a smooth, drizzly glaze.
7. Serve: Let the baked French toast rest for 10 minutes. Drizzle the cream cheese glaze over the top and serve warm, with extra pancake syrup if desired.

Recipe Tips

• Why use day-old bread? Stale, crusty bread is more absorbent and will soak up the rich custard without becoming overly soggy, providing the perfect texture for the final bake.
• Why chill overnight? This is the most crucial step. It allows the bread to fully absorb the egg mixture, ensuring the casserole is moist and flavorful throughout, not just wet on the outside and dry on the inside.
• How do I get a crispy topping? For the crispiest streusel topping, ensure your butter is very cold when you cut it into the flour mixture. Baking for the longer duration of 60 minutes will also help create crispier edges.
• How should I grate the carrots? Use the fine side of a box grater. Finely grated carrots will soften nicely during baking and blend seamlessly into the texture of the casserole.

What To Serve With Carrot Cake French Toast

This is a very rich and decadent brunch dish that is a meal in itself. It pairs best with simple sides.

• A side of crispy bacon or breakfast sausage
• A fresh fruit salad to cut the richness
• A hot cup of coffee or tea

How To Store Carrot Cake French Toast

• Refrigerate: Cover leftovers tightly or transfer to an airtight container. Store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
• Reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave until warm. For a crispier topping, you can reheat slices in a 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes.

Carrot Cake French Toast Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 705 kcal
• Protein: 16g
• Carbohydrates: 75g
• Fat: 40g
• Saturated Fat: 20g
• Sodium: 550mg

Nutrition information is an estimate and may vary based on ingredients and cooking methods used.

FAQs

Try More Recipes:

• Pioneer Woman Prune Cake Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Cake Mix Cookie Bars Recipe
• Pioneer Woman Sour Cream Pancakes Recipe