Cinnamon Apple French Toast with Toasted Pecans and Maple Crème Fraîche

This French toast is the ultimate fall breakfast, featuring a medley of seasonal toppings that bring warmth and comfort to your table. Slices of baguette are soaked in a cinnamon-spiked egg mixture, then pan-fried until golden and baked to a custardy finish. The star of the show is the apple topping: diced apples are caramelized with brown sugar, maple syrup, and butter, creating a luscious, syrupy glaze.

Toasted pecans add a delightful crunch, while a dollop of maple crème fraîche provides a tangy-sweet finish. This recipe is surprisingly simple to make, yet impressive enough for a special brunch gathering. Serve it warm and watch it disappear!

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Ingredients

4 unit Demi-BaguetteView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 unit AppleView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 unit LemonView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 unit EggsView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

6.75 ounce MilkView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 teaspoon CinnamonView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

6 tablespoon Brown SugarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

1 ounce PecansView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

4 tablespoon Maple SyrupView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

8 tablespoon Crème FraîcheView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 teaspoon Cooking OilView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

2 tablespoon SugarView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

5 tablespoon ButterView ingredient guideLike ingredientDislike ingredient

Instructions

1. Adjust an oven rack to the top position and preheat to 425°F. Wash and dry all produce. Trim about ½ inch off the ends of each baguette on a diagonal and discard the ends. Slice the remaining bread on a diagonal into three oval-shaped pieces per baguette. Peel, halve, and core the apples, then dice them into ½-inch pieces. Quarter the lemon.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, half the cinnamon, 2 tablespoons sugar, and a pinch of salt until well combined (a few cinnamon clumps are fine). Transfer the egg mixture and baguette slices to a large resealable plastic bag. Seal and toss to coat. Set aside, tossing occasionally, until the bread is evenly soaked.
3. While the bread soaks, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a medium pot over medium-high heat. Add the diced apples and the remaining cinnamon. Cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add ¾ cup water, the brown sugar, juice from half the lemon, and a pinch of salt. Stir to combine. Cover and cook until the apples are tender, 8–10 minutes. (Watch carefully to avoid burning; reduce heat to medium if the liquid boils off too quickly.) Uncover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are glazed and the liquid has thickened into a syrup, 3–5 minutes more. Remove from heat. Stir in half the maple syrup and the remaining 2 tablespoons butter until melted. Keep covered off heat until ready to serve.
4. While the apples cook, heat a large nonstick pan over medium-high heat. Add the pecans and toast, stirring, until fragrant, 2–3 minutes. Transfer the pecans to a plate. Wipe out the pan.
5. Heat a drizzle of oil and 1 tablespoon butter in the same pan over medium heat. Once the butter foams, add the soaked bread slices (let any excess egg mixture drip off first). Cook, pressing down lightly with a spatula, until lightly browned, 2–3 minutes per side. Work in batches if needed, wiping out the pan and adding more oil and butter between batches. Transfer the cooked French toast to a lightly oiled baking sheet. Bake on the top rack until custardy, 6–8 minutes.
6. While the French toast bakes, in a small bowl, combine the crème fraîche with the remaining maple syrup until smooth.
7. Divide the French toast among plates. Spoon the apples and their syrup over the top. Dollop with the maple crème fraîche and sprinkle with the toasted pecans. Serve immediately.

Useful Cookware

A few helpful kitchen tools for this recipe, with relevant Amazon picks for each item.

Medium bowl

DOWAN 22 OZ White Ceramic Bowls Set of 4 - Perfect for Soup Bowls for Kitchen, Cereal Bowl, Ramen Bowl, Microwave Safe for Oatmeal, Fruit,Salad and Rice Bowl - Dishwasher & Microwave SafeView on AmazonMASTERCOOK Plastic Bowls Set of 6 – 15oz Multipurpose Deep Plates Salad and Pasta Bowls Ideal for Home, Kids, Parties – Stackable Bowl for Kitchen – Non-BPA and Food Grade – Cute ColorsView on AmazonMALACASA 26 OZ Porcelain Soup Bowls Set of 4, White Ceramic Bowls for Kitchen, Cereal Bowl for Oatmeal, Fruit, Salad, Ramen and Rice Bowl -Dishwasher & Microwave Safe BowlsView on Amazon

Large resealable plastic bag

Spartan Industrial - 12" X 15" (100 Count) 2 Mil Clear Reclosable Zip Plastic Poly Bags with Resealable Lock Seal ZipperView on AmazonZHEWTOEN Large 5 Gallon Plastic Storage Bags (10 Pack) - 18" x 24", 2.4 Mil Thick, Resealable Clear Zipper Bags for Clothes, Travel & MovingView on Amazon12" X 16" Plastic Produce Bag on a Roll, Bread and Grocery Clear Bag, 350 Bags/RollView on Amazon

Medium pot

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Large nonstick pan

Tramontina Professional 14-Inch Non Stick Extra Large Frying Pan, Heavy-Gauge Aluminum Skillet with Reinforced Nonstick Coating, Red Handle, Dishwasher and Oven SafeView on AmazonSENSARTE Nonstick Frying Pan Skillet with Lid, 12 Inch Large Deep Frying Pan, 5 Qt Non Stick Saute Pan with Cover, Induction Pan, Healthy Non Toxic Cooking Pan with Helper Handle, PFOA PFOS FreeView on AmazonFarberware Dishwasher Safe Nonstick Jumbo Cooker Chef's Pan with Lid and Helper Handle, Kitchen Cookware, 6-Quart, BlackView on Amazon

Baking sheet

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Small bowl

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Spatula

ChefAide 5 Pieces Silicone Spatula Set, Food Grade Rubber Spatula, Upgrade Strong Handle with Ergonomic Grip, Heat Resistant Up to 600°F for Nonstick Cookware, CookingView on AmazonCoukre 2 Pack Silicone Spatula Set, High Heat Resistant, BPA Free Kitchen Spatula, Solid & Slotted Turner for Non-Stick Pans, Sautéing, and Flipping (2, PureBlack)View on AmazonKLAQQED 3Pcs Silicone Spatula Set Heat Resistant Spatulas for Nonstick Cookware Fish Turner Plastic Spatulas Rubber Wok Spatula, Long Large Spatula Silicone Cooking Use Kitchen Utensils SetView on Amazon

Recipe Tips

FAQ

Can I use a different type of bread?

Yes, you can substitute brioche, challah, or thick-sliced white bread. Adjust soaking time as needed.

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

You can use plant-based milk and vegan butter, and substitute the crème fraîche with a dairy-free yogurt or coconut cream.

How do I store leftovers?

Store leftover French toast and apple topping separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in a toaster or oven.