Orange Pecan Baked French Toast

Fabulous french toast soaked with fresh orange juice and zest before being baked to golden crisp perfection and topped with a toasted pecan infused maple syrup.

French Toast to Swoon Over

I’m so in love with this Orange Pecan Baked French toast that I seriously want to make it every morning of the week. It’s one of those dishes that you just can’t put your fork down once you’ve dug in. The flavor of the toasted pecans infuses into the maple syrup and creates the most amazing topping for the orange soaked french toast.

If you love oranges, you’ll swoon over how delicious this french toast is! You’ve just gotta try it!

Make Your Weekend Amazing

French toast is seriously the most fabulous weekend breakfast I can think of. We all love building this super easy and amazingly special French toast breakfast board to enjoy as a family. Or I’ll make my baked French toast for a crowd because it’s all ready at the same time rather than flipping a few slices at a time and trying to keep them warm until all the other slices are ready.

We’ve been eating oranges like crazy lately and I’ve been dreaming up this delicious orange pecan french toast for weeks. It’s sweet and toasty on the outside while still soft and oh so flavorful on the inside. The toasted pecan maple syrup just completes it. It’s easy and quite possibly the most amazing french toast I’ve ever eaten!

Ingredients and Supplies

(see recipe card at the bottom of this post for measurements and details)

Ingredients:

• Fresh oranges (for juice, zest and slices): gives the French toast its bright, zesty flavor that pairs so well with the caramelized nutty flavor of the syrup and adds a slightly caramelized, jammy citrus layer on the bottom that makes the whole thing feel a little more “brunch special” and pretty.
• Large eggs: provides the structure of the custard. Basically what turns the bread into French toast instead of just soggy bread.
• Whole milk: makes the custard creamy and helps soften the bread without making it too dense.
• Dark brown sugar: adds sweetness plus a deeper molasses flavor that pairs really well with the pecans and maple syrup. You can substitute light brown sugar or even granulated sugar in a pinch (but you’ll lose that depth).
• Pure vanilla extract: brings warmth and rounds out all the flavors so it tastes cozy and balanced.
• Ground cinnamon: adds that classic French toast warmth and enhances the natural sweetness of the oranges.
• Kosher salt: balances the sweetness and enhances all the other flavors so it doesn’t taste flat. Table salt can be used in place of kosher salt—just reduce slightly.
• Challah bread or brioche bread (sliced about 1.5 inches thick): the bread is key to the texture. A rich, slightly sweet bread that soaks up the custard but still holds its shape is the best. Challah is a Jewish braided bread that has a rich, slightly sweet flavor. Brioche is a similarly sweet French bread that’s butter, rich and tender. Texas toast or French bread are suitable substitutes.
• Granulated sugar: helps create that lightly crisp, caramelized top when it bakes. Honestly one of the best parts!
• Chopped pecans: add crunch and a toasty, nutty flavor that makes the dish feel more elevated and not just “plain French toast.”
• Unsalted butter: helps toast the pecans and creates a rich, silky base for the syrup.
• Maple syrup: the main sweetener and flavor base that brings everything together and gives that classic brunch feel.

Supplies:

• Rimmed sheet pan
• Large mixing bowl
• Whisk
• Shallow saucepan

How to Make Orange Pecan Baked French Toast

• Preheat oven to 400°F. Generously butter or grease a rimmed sheet pan and space thin orange slices on the pan, if desired. (Do not use parchment paper as the direct heat of the pan helps with the toasting of the bread as it bakes.)
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, orange zest, orange juice, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt.
• Soak the bread slices, one at a time, in the egg mixture for 10 seconds per side.

• Transfer to the prepared sheet pan.
• Sprinkle 1 teaspoon of sugar evenly over the top of the bread slices.
• Bake for about 25 minutes or until the bread starts to toast around the edges. Flip the bread over, sprinkle the other sides evenly with the remaining 1 teaspoon sugar and bake another 10 minutes until bread is golden and crisp all over.
• While the bread is toasting in the oven, prepare the syrup. Place the pecans in a shallow saucepan over medium heat. Add the butter and let pecans cook, stirring occasionally, until you can smell them start to toast, about 5 minutes. Reduce heat to low, add brown sugar and 1/4 cup syrup. Let simmer until a thick syrup forms.

When ready to serve, stir in remaining 1/4 cup maple syrup and transfer to a serving dish. If syrup is too thick, add more maple syrup to thin it out.

• To serve, place a piece of hot French toast on a plate and top with toasted pecan maple syrup. Enjoy!

Storage

Leftovers store beautifully, making it a great make-ahead option for busy mornings or relaxed weekends. Once the French toast has cooled completely, transfer the slices to an airtight container, layering with parchment paper if needed to prevent sticking. Store in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. For best results, keep the toasted pecan maple syrup in a separate container in the refrigerator so the bread doesn’t become soggy.

If you’d like to freeze the French toast, place the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet to freeze, then transfer to a freezer-safe bag once solid. This makes it easy to grab just what you need later.

When it comes to reheating, the goal is to bring back those golden, lightly crisp edges. Warm the French toast in a 350°F oven for 8–10 minutes, or pop individual slices in a toaster or toaster oven for a quick and easy option. You can also reheat slices in a skillet over medium heat with a small amount of butter to refresh that just-made texture. While the microwave works in a pinch, it tends to soften the bread rather than crisp it. To reheat the pecan maple syrup, warm it gently on the stovetop or in short microwave intervals, adding a splash of maple syrup or water if needed to loosen it to your desired consistency.

If you make my Orange Pecan Baked French Toast and post a pic to social, be sure to tag me on Instagram @thebakermama so I can see! If you’re on Facebook, be sure to join my Friends of The BakerMama group to connect and share all the fun and yummy recipes of mine that you make! 😍 I just love seeing how inspired and creative y’all get with the recipes and ideas I share. Enjoy!

Enjoy!

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