King Cake French Toast Bake with Mardi Gras Glaze

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 festive twist on French toast bake inspired by the iconic Mardi Gras king cake, featuring cinnamon-spiced brioche and a vibrant glaze in purple, green, and gold. This French-inspired Mardi Gras recipe, ready in about 65 minutes, layers brioche bread, large eggs, whole milk into a dessert worth slowing down for — great for weekend baking, holiday tables, or any time you want a sweet payoff at the end of a meal. Each serving lands at about 380 calories and feeds 8, so it slots into a weekend bake or a special-occasion dessert tray. 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: 15 min Cook: 50 min Serves 8 French cuisine 380 cal/serving

Build a week of meals around this recipe → Shop this recipe on Instacart → Shop equipment ↓

Ingredients

1 loaf (about 16 oz), cubed brioche bread
8 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp pure vanilla extract
2 tbsp, melted unsalted butter
1 cup powdered sugar
3 tbsp milk (for glaze)
a few drops purple food coloring
a few drops green food coloring
a few drops golden yellow food coloring

The bakeware we’d bake this in → Best Bakeware Sets in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Affiliate disclosure: AislePrompt may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through Amazon links, at no additional cost to you. See our policy →

Equipment for this recipe

Tools this recipe's steps call for, with a link to each on Amazon.

More Bakeware & baking tools → Shop all kitchen tools →

Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish lightly with 1 tbsp unsalted butter. Place 16 oz cubed brioche bread evenly in the dish.
Step 2: In a large bowl, whisk together 8 large eggs, 2 cups whole milk, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 2 tsp ground cinnamon, 1 tbsp pure vanilla extract, and 1 tbsp melted unsalted butter until fully combined and smooth.
Step 3: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the cubed brioche in the baking dish, pressing down gently to soak the bread. Cover with foil and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or overnight for best results.
Step 4: Remove the foil and bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until the custard is set and the top is golden brown and slightly crisp.
Step 5: While baking, prepare the Mardi Gras glaze by dividing 1 cup powdered sugar into three small bowls. Add 3 tbsp milk to each and mix until smooth. Tint each bowl with purple, green, and golden yellow food coloring respectively until vibrant.
Step 6: Once the French toast bake cools for 10 minutes, drizzle the three colored glazes in stripes or swirls across the top, letting them slightly blend for a festive Mardi Gras look. Serve warm.