Oven French Toast Recipe

Toast:
¼ cup (1/2 stick) butter, melted
8 thick slices French or Italian bread
4 eggs
2/3 cup orange juice
¼ cup sugar
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
½ cup chopped pecans

Syrup:
1/4 cup (1 stick) butter
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup sugar

1. To prepare toast, pour melted butter into a 13 x 9-inch glass baking pan. Tilt pan to coat the bottom evenly. Arrange bread slices in a single layer in the pan.
2. Whisk eggs in a medium bowl until well beaten. Add orange juice, sugar, vanilla and nutmeg. Whisk until well blended. Pour over bread, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 350F.
4. Remove plastic wrap from pan and bake, uncovered, 20 minutes. Sprinkle pecans over top and bake 10 minutes longer.
5. To prepare syrup, melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add orange juice and sugar. Cook until thoroughly heated and the sugar has dissolved. Do not boil. Serve with French toast. Serves 8.

Tips From Our Test Kitchen: For additional orange flavor, add ¼ teaspoon grated orange zest to the syrup.

Nutritional facts per serving: 420 calories, 20g fat, 12g protein, 50g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, 530mg sodium.