Start by preparing your baking dish. Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking pan with cooking spray to ensure nothing sticks and your French toast comes out easily.
Next, take your French bread and tear it into chunks or cut it into cubes. Place these pieces evenly in the prepared pan. This step is crucial as it creates the foundation of your dish.
In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs and milk. Whisk them together until well integrated.
In a separate small bowl, mix the granulated sugar and orange zest. Use your fingers to rub the sugar and zest together; this releases the oils in the zest and makes the mixture fragrant and tasty. Then, add this to the egg mixture.
Pour in the vanilla extract and sprinkle in the cinnamon. Stir everything together until thoroughly combined, creating a creamy custard.
Now, pour this delicious custard evenly over the chunks of bread in the baking pan. This ensures every piece gets coated in that luscious mixture.
In a medium bowl, combine the strawberries and rhubarb. Spread this fruity mixture evenly over the custard-soaked bread. Use a spoon to gently poke the strawberries and rhubarb down into the bread. This helps them to mix and meld together while baking.
Cover the pan with plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator. The longer it sits, the more the bread will soak up the custard. Ideally, let it rest for several hours or overnight.
When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. This ensures an even bake and helps achieve that golden top.
In a separate bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, another teaspoon of cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold butter pieces and use a fork or your hands to cut the butter into the dry mixture until it resembles sand with a few pea-sized chunks.
Remove the French toast from the refrigerator and sprinkle the crumb mixture evenly over the top. This step adds a delicious crunch to your dish.
Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 55 minutes. You’ll know it’s done when the French toast is set and the top is a beautiful golden brown.
Once baked, serve the Strawberry Rhubarb Baked French Toast warm, drizzled with maple syrup. Enjoy every comforting bite!
