Hot Cross Bun French Toast Bake

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-04-25 · Updated 2026-04-25

How this recipe was made — this recipe was drafted by AislePrompt's AI-assisted pipeline from technique templates and USDA-sourced nutrition data, and published by AislePrompt Editorial — see how AislePrompt recipes are developed and reviewed.

A cozy Easter brunch dish that transforms spiced hot cross buns into a custardy, baked French toast with a cinnamon-vanilla sauce. This American-inspired brunch recipe, ready in about 75 minutes, combines hot cross buns, large eggs, whole milk into a breakfast that fuels the morning without the midday crash — make-ahead-friendly and balanced enough to anchor the first meal of the day. Each serving lands at about 350 calories and feeds 8, so it sits comfortably in a weekly breakfast rotation alongside fruit, yogurt, or coffee. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Prep: 30 min Cook: 45 min Serves 8 American cuisine 350 cal/serving

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Ingredients

6, halved hot cross buns
6 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp melted unsalted butter
for dusting powdered sugar
optional, for serving maple syrup

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter. Arrange 6 halved hot cross buns cut-side up in the dish, slightly overlapping.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together 6 large eggs, 2 cups whole milk, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/3 cup granulated sugar, 2 tsp vanilla extract, 1 tsp ground cinnamon, and 2 tbsp melted unsalted butter until smooth and frothy.
Step 3: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the hot cross buns, pressing down gently to soak the bread. Let sit at room temperature for 20 minutes to absorb.
Step 4: Bake uncovered in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes until puffed, golden, and a knife inserted comes out clean.
Step 5: Remove from oven and cool 10 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm with optional maple syrup.