French Toast · Sheet Pan
Sheet Pan French Toast for a Crowd
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Before you start
Gather your ingredients
Weights from USDA FoodData Central cup weights; counted things stay as counts.
Swaps for unsalted butter
Instead of butter
- Salted butter: The same amount, with about ¼ tsp less salt per stick (½ cup) elsewhere in the recipe. Nothing noticeable once you cut the salt.
- Plant-based butter sticks: The same amount. The closest swap.
- Refined coconut oil: The same amount: solid when the butter is soft or cold, melted when it is melted. It is all fat, so bakes are a bit more tender and rich, with no butter flavor.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
Swaps for whole milk
Instead of milk
- Unsweetened soy milk: The same amount. The closest plant milk for baking: its protein helps things brown and set.
- Unsweetened oat milk: The same amount. Creamy and mild with a hint of sweetness.
- Unsweetened almond milk: The same amount. Thinner and less rich, so cakes are a little paler and drier.
Cooking for an allergy? Check every label.
Swaps for brown sugar
Instead of brown sugar
- White sugar + molasses: 1 cup granulated sugar + 1 tbsp molasses (light) or 2 tbsp (dark). The same as store-bought.
- White sugar: The same amount. Crisper, paler cookies with less caramel flavor.
- Light and dark brown sugar: The same amount, either way. Dark brown sugar tastes stronger and makes bakes a bit darker and moister.
Swaps for vanilla extract
Instead of vanilla extract
- Vanilla bean paste: The same amount. Stronger, with visible vanilla seeds.
- Vanilla bean: The seeds of 1 bean for each 1 tbsp extract. A deeper, floral flavor and visible seeds.
- Alcohol-free vanilla: The same amount. Made with glycerin; a slightly milder taste.
Swaps for ground cinnamon
Instead of cinnamon
- Pumpkin pie spice or apple pie spice: The same amount. Mostly cinnamon, with ginger, nutmeg and allspice or cloves: a little spicier.
- Ground allspice or nutmeg: About ¼ the amount. Much stronger and different, but warm in the same way.
Swaps for kosher salt
Instead of salt
- Table salt or fine sea salt: About half as much as Diamond Crystal kosher, about ¾ as much as Morton kosher. The same saltiness when measured this way.
- Salt by weight: 1 tsp is about 6 grams of table salt, 5 grams of Morton kosher, 3 grams of Diamond Crystal kosher. The most reliable way to swap, especially in baking and brines.
Swaps for powdered sugar
Instead of powdered sugar
- Homemade powdered sugar: 1 cup granulated sugar + 1 tbsp cornstarch, blended. Slightly grainier in uncooked frosting; fine in glazes and for dusting.
Swaps for maple syrup
Instead of maple syrup
- Honey: The same amount. Thicker and sweeter, browns faster, and it isn't vegan.
- Agave syrup: The same amount. Sweeter, with no maple taste.
- Pancake syrup: The same amount. Sweeter and flatter in flavor (it is mostly corn syrup); fine on pancakes, not great in baking or glazes.
Step 1 of 11
Heat the oven to 425°F (220°C) with a rack in the middle.
425°F
Step 2 of 11
Line (how to line a pan)
Line a pan Cover the bottom (and sometimes sides) of a pan with parchment or foil so food doesn't stick and lifts out easily. 1. For a sheet pan, tear parchment the size of the pan and lay it flat.2. For a round cake pan, trace the bottom on parchment, cut the circle out and press it in.3. For brownies and bars, leave two long sides hanging over to make handles (a "sling").4. A little grease under the paper holds it in place. Done when: The paper lies flat with no folds where the batter could run under it. How to line a baking pan with parchment: mistakes to avoidStep 3 of 11
Whisk (how to whisk)
Whisk Beat ingredients with a whisk to mix them smoothly or to add air. 1. Use a bowl big enough to whisk without splashing; set it on a damp towel to stop it spinning.2. Hold the whisk loosely and move it in quick circles or side to side, touching the bottom.3. For lumpy mixtures, add liquid a little at a time and whisk after each.4. For sauces on the stove, keep the whisk moving across the whole bottom of the pan. Done when: The mixture is even with no lumps or streaks of egg. How to whisk: mistakes to avoidStep 4 of 11
Pour the custard onto the buttered sheet pan and tilt it so the custard covers the whole bottom.
Step 5 of 11
Lay the bread slices on the pan in 3 rows of 4, pressing them into the custard.
Step 6 of 11
Let the bread soak.
Step 7 of 11
Flip every slice with tongs or a spatula so the dry tops can soak up the rest of the custard.
Step 8 of 11
Let the second side soak until almost all the custard is absorbed.
Step 9 of 11
Bake until the bottoms are golden brown.
425°F
Step 10 of 11
Flip the slices and bake until the second side is golden, the slices are puffed and no wet custard shows when you press the center (160°F inside).
425°F
Step 11 of 11
Dust with powdered sugar, if using, and serve hot with maple syrup.
All done
Enjoy!
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