This Dulce De Leche French Toast Bake is the kind of breakfast that makes you look way more put-together than you feel. It’s sweet, caramel-y, and syrup isn’t even necessary because the sweetness bakes right in. Make it for a cozy weekend brunch, a holiday morning, or a “my kids need something fun today” weekday breakfast. It comes together with simple ingredients, and the oven does the heavy lifting.
Dulce De Leche is the perfect delicious caramel-y flavor to add to French toast. This easy breakfast bake comes together so easily and with minimal ingredients.
Ingredients You’ll Need:
- Bread (we love the thick sliced bread you can get from Costco or Texas toast style bread)
- Milk
- Sweetened condensed milk (don’t get this confused with evaporated milk… see FAQ section for more details)
- Eggs
- Cinnamon (if you don’t like cinnamon feel free to omit)
- Vanilla
- Salt
How To Make Dulce De Leche French Toast Bake:
- Lightly grease a 9×13 baking dish. Cube bread and place into your lightly greased baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together the milk, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla and half of the sweetened condensed milk.
- After the wet ingredients are whisked together, pour it over the bread cubes. The milk mixture should almost cover the bread cubes. Lightly press the bread down using a fork or spoon to help the bread absorb the milk mixture.
- Now take the rest of the sweetened condensed milk and drizzle it on top. The sweetened condensed milk will turn into Dulce De Leche as it bakes. It will become a darker caramel color.
- The French toast bake is ready for the oven.
You can either eat it as is, dust it with powdered sugar or top it with your favorite syrup. If you’re looking for a little extra fancy sweet treat you can top it with a spoonful of this Homemade Buttermilk Salted Caramel Sauce.
Troubleshooting
Sogginess
If your French toast bake comes out soggy it most likely just needs a little more time in the oven. Ovens can bake differently and yours may just need a little more time. Once the eggs are cooked through the center of the bake will puff slightly. This is a good sign that it’s done or almost done. If after adding additional time to baking it is still soggy, try this next time.
- Use thick bread and dry the cubes for 30 to 60 minutes (or toast at 300 degrees for about 10 minutes).
- Bake until the center is set, then rest 10 to 15 minutes before serving.
Too much liquid before baking
- It should look “almost covered.” Press the bread down so it absorbs evenly.
- If using very soft bread, hold back about 1/4 cup milk next time.
Too much bread
- If it looks dry or piled high, you likely need less bread or more custard.
- Quick fix: whisk 1 egg + 1/4 cup milk, pour over, press lightly, then bake.
FAQs
Sweetened condensed milk vs evaporated milk vs regular milk?
Sweetened condensed milk is thick and sweet and is required for the dulce de leche flavor. Evaporated milk is unsweetened and won’t caramelize the same way. Regular milk is for the custard base only.
How do I store leftovers?
Cover and refrigerate for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or in the oven at 325 degrees until warmed through.
Can I freeze it?
Yes. Cool completely, wrap well, and freeze up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat.
Can I make a half batch?
Yes. Use an 8×8 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 35 minutes, until set in the center and golden on top.
Can I skip the cinnamon?
Absolutely. Leave it out, or swap in a tiny pinch of nutmeg if you still want a warm flavor.
Save this recipe for when you’re in need of a quick, easy, delicious breakfast everyone will love.
Dulce De Leche French Toast Bake Recipe Card:
Dulce De Leche French Toast Bake
Ingredients
- 8 slices French bread or thick cut bread about 12-14 oz
- 8 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 14- oz can sweetened condensed milk
- 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Method
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- Place bread cubed in lightly greased 9×13 baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, beat together milk, eggs, cinnamon, vanilla, salt and half the sweetened condensed milk.
- Pour milk mixture over the bread. Lightly press bread down using a fork or spoon to help bread absorb milk mixture.
- Drizzle remaining sweetened condensed milk on top.
- Bake for 35-40 minutes until top is golden brown and bread has set.
Hi, I checked and checked but I can’t find the type and quantity of bread listed in the ingredient list, I’m planning on making it tomorrow for a work breakfast on Friday. Thanks
Dang! Thanks for the flag. I can’t believe I missed that ingredient LOL I’ve updated the printable recipe and I’m soooo sorry for that. I hope your work breakfast is great! Happy (almost) Friday!
Can you skip the normal milk and only use the sweetened condensed milk? Kids just drank all our milk;)
Hi Jen! I hate running out of an ingredient just when you get ready to make a recipe. Been there, done that! LOL Just this last weekend my husband made breakfast and used all the eggs, the eggs I needed to make rolls for Mother’s Day.
As for the recipe. You really need the added moisture. If you have evaporated milk, cream, half and half or even coconut milk, you can substitute. The french toast bake will come out hard and dry without it. I hope it still turned out ok for you.
Thanks for stopping by!
Had this over the holidays and it is fantastic.
That looks so good. I’m thinking this is going to be a nice addition to our Sunday brunch menu!
That looks so good. I’m thinking this is going to be a nice addition to our Sunday brunch menu!
Omg can we say yum?!! Your French toast bake looks absolutely amazing!!! Must give your recipe a try!
This looks super yummy! Me and my boyfriend are massive fans of french toast so I’d love to try this recipe as a more sweet option 🙂
Thanks Courteney!
This is absolutely sounds like a yummy recipe, I can’t wait to try this at home. Glad that you share this with us
Thanks Angela! Let me know how you like it. 🙂
This looks and sounds really yummy! I don’t really ever eat french toast, but you’ve made me really want to cook this!
Thank you Jean!
That looks so delicious! I guarantee my family will flip if I made this for breakfast!
I love French Toast casseroles/bakes/whatever you want to call them. I make one for every big holiday breakfast that we are all home as a family. I love the flavor profile of this one, and will totally be adding it for breakfast for the next big holiday!
Oh wow at first I thought it was going to be pieces of bread but you cut it up and put it in a pan! I’ve never seen it done that way! Very cool and yummy looking (:
Wow this looks delicious, I have a new pan as well that I want to test out so this would be the perfect idea! Plus we love french toast so this is a cool bake and recipe!
I normally don’t like Dulce De Leche cake, but your pictures makes this look irresistible! And I would eat a shoe if it was covered in your caramel sauce!
My daughter will love this. Pinning for when she comes back to visit us from Chicago!
This recipe is literally making my mouth water. I love Dulce de Leche cake so I know that I would also enjoy this variation of it.
I am definitely going to try it with the sauce!! Is it possible to assemble, refrigerate, and bake in the morning?
Yes, you can assemble the night before and bake it off in the morning. If you do choose to do that, use a day old or crusty bread. It will hold up through the overnight soak a little better where as a regular softer bread will go a little more mushy.
My mouth is watering! I grew up eating French Toast, and this looks even better. I wonder if it’s okay to use regular milk if you don’t have condensed milk?
So here’s the thing, the sweetened condensed milk is what turns caramel-y. You can most definitely skip the condensed milk in place of regular milk and 1/2 cup sugar or so to add the sweetness.