This post is sponsored by Crunch Pak®

Christmas morning is typically a flurry of excitement and magic now that I have little ones. It’s always been a magical holiday, but there’s just something about watching your children enjoy the season that makes it so much better. We love every ounce of December from the snow to the family gatherings, and everything in between! 

Not surprisingly, food plays a key part in our celebrations as well. Christmas morning carries so much excitement, so our breakfast has to match those vibes. I also believe it shouldn’t be a morning where you spend hours in the kitchen, so I’ve developed this baked apple french toast that you can prep the night before and pop it in the oven Christmas morning! Your family will thank you for it, and you can sit back and sip that morning coffee while the smells of apple cinnamon goodness spread through your house.

The star of this apple french toast bake is and should be the apples! Crunch Pak® has the most delicious apples because they’re grown in Cashmere, Washington (a.k.a the epicenter of apple perfection!) I used their certified organic pre-sliced apples, which boast the perfect fresh and crunchy sweetness on their own – but also hold up nicely to the saute and baking process for this recipe. 

So go ahead and sleep in as long as the littles will allow you Christmas morning! Prep this recipe the night before, refrigerate it, then take it out of the fridge while the oven warms up and bake while everyone opens their gifts. From my home to yours, I’m wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a joy-filled Holiday season!

Ingredients:

• 1 loaf brioche or hawaiian bread, cubed
• 2 12 oz bags of Crunch Pak® Organic Apple Slices, cut into 2” pieces
• 2 cups whole milk
• 3 tbsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 tbsp cinnamon
• Zest of 1 orange
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup, plus more for topping
• 1 stick butter, cubed and divided
• 8 eggs
• 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup water

Method:

• Add 1/2 stick of butter, diced apples, cinnamon and 1/3 cup of water to a skillet and saute over medium heat, stirring often on your stovetop for 7-8 minutes. Add the brown sugar to skillet and stir until dissolved, about 1 minute.

• Lightly coat a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick spray. Place a layer of bread cubes evenly into the baking dish. Top with the other half of the stick of butter and half the apple mixture in an even layer. Top with remaining bread cubes and remaining apple mixture.

• In a large mixing cup, whisk together milk, eggs, maple syrup and the zest of 1 orange. Pour over the bread cube and apple mixture. Cover and refrigerate overnight or for at least 2 hours.

• Preheat oven to 350. Remove the dish from the refrigerator for 30 minutes (or at least while your oven heats up!)

• Bake slightly covered with tinfoil for 20 minutes, then remove the tinfoil and bake an additional 15 minutes or until golden brown and the center is firm.

• Serve immediately and top with powdered sugar and maple syrup!