Peanut Butter Chocolate Baked French Toast (Printable)

Bread cubes soaked in a rich peanut butter and chocolate custard, then baked until golden and set. A protein-packed morning delight.

# What you need:

→ Bread

01 - 8 cups whole grain or brioche bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (day-old preferred)

→ Custard

02 - 6 large eggs
03 - 2 cups skim milk or unsweetened almond milk
04 - 1/2 cup natural creamy peanut butter
05 - 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
06 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar or coconut sugar
07 - 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt (2% or higher)
08 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
09 - 1/2 teaspoon salt

→ Toppings

10 - 1/3 cup dark chocolate chips
11 - 2 tablespoons chopped roasted peanuts
12 - Maple syrup or honey for serving

# How to make it:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - Spread bread cubes evenly in the prepared baking dish in a single layer.
03 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, peanut butter, cocoa powder, brown sugar, Greek yogurt, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and fully combined.
04 - Pour custard mixture evenly over bread cubes. Gently press bread down to ensure all pieces absorb the custard liquid.
05 - Allow mixture to sit for 10 minutes at room temperature for proper absorption.
06 - Sprinkle chocolate chips and chopped peanuts evenly over the top of the mixture.
07 - Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes until custard is set and top is puffed and lightly crisp.
08 - Let cool for 5 minutes before slicing. Serve warm, drizzled with maple syrup or honey as desired.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like chocolate peanut butter cake but with enough protein to actually keep you full until lunch.
  • You prep it in 15 minutes, then the oven does the work while you pour coffee and exist like a human being.
  • One pan feeds six people, which means minimal cleanup and maximum points with whoever's joining you.
02 -
  • Using day-old bread is not optional—fresh bread will turn mushy and fall apart, while slightly stale bread holds its shape and creates better texture contrast.
  • The custard continues cooking even after you pull it from the oven, so don't wait until it looks completely firm or you'll end up with scrambled eggs on top and sadness in your heart.
03 -
  • Whisk the custard mixture thoroughly for at least a full minute to ensure the peanut butter and cocoa powder dissolve completely—lumps will bake as hard nuggets rather than blending in.
  • The 10-minute soak after pouring is non-negotiable; it's the difference between bread that's soaked and bread that's still slightly dry in the center, and that small step changes everything about the final texture.
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