High-Protein Vanilla Brioche French Toast Bake
Golden brioche bread baked in a spiced vanilla custard made rich with eggs, egg whites, and protein powder. Maple-sweetened and effortlessly sliceable for simple weekday meal prep.
Prep
15 min
Cook
40 min
Total
65 min
Makes
5 servings
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Cortney + Lila
Cortney created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthSteadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Comfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
15 min
Cook
40 min
Total
65 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Oven · Whisk · Mixing bowl · Knife and cutting board
Time saver
Prep the vegetables and measure pantry ingredients earlier in the day to shorten cook time.
Do these three things first
- 1Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and light grease an 8x11-inch (20x28cm) baki…
- 2Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 3Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 9 steps complete
Next: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and…
- 01
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and…
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and light grease an 8x11-inch (20x28cm) baking dish with oil or butter.
Tap card to mark done - 02
Cut 7
Cut 7.5 slices of brioche bread into 1-inch (2.5cm) cubes and spread them evenly in the prepared baking dish.
Tap card to mark done - 03
Whisk together 5 eggs
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 5 eggs, 1.25 cups liquid egg whites, 1.25 cups milk, 2.5 scoops vanilla protein powder, 2.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon, and 1.25 teaspoons vanilla extract until completely smooth and combined without protein powder lumps.
Look for: completely smooth and combined without protein powder lumps
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Pour the custard mixture evenly over the…
Pour the custard mixture evenly over the brioche cubes in the baking dish, using a spatula to gently press the bread down so every piece absorbs the liquid.
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Let the dish sit at room temperature…
Let the dish sit at room temperature for 10 minutes so the brioche absorbs the egg custard completely.
Allow: 10 minutes
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Drizzle 5 tablespoons of maple syrup evenly…
Drizzle 5 tablespoons of maple syrup evenly across the top of the soaked bread cubes.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
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Transfer the dish to the middle rack…
Transfer the dish to the middle rack of the preheated oven and bake for 35 to 40 minutes, until the center is set, the edges are lightly puffed, and the top turns golden brown.
Look for: the center is set, the edges are lightly puffed, and the top turns golden brown
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Remove the casserole from the oven and…
Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool in the dish for 10 minutes before slicing into 5 equal portions.
Allow: 10 minutes
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Serve warm immediately
Serve warm immediately, or allow to cool completely, transfer individual slices to airtight containers, and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Ready when: everything is assembled and ready to enjoy
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