Description
Weekend mornings come alive with baked French toast, turning simple ingredients into pure breakfast magic for your family. Crispy edges, creamy centers, and a sprinkle of cinnamon make this easy dish a morning champion that disappears faster than you can pour coffee.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 8 Eggs
- 1 Package French bread
- 2 Cups Milk
- ½ Cup Heavy cream
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ Cup Brown sugar
- 2 Tablespoons Vanilla extract
- Butter
Topping Ingredients:
- ½ Cup Flour
- ½ Cup Brown sugar
- 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon
- ¼ Teaspoon Salt
- Flaked Nutmeg
- 1 Stick Cold butter
- 1 Cup Fresh blueberries
- Warm syrup
- Butter
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly with 2 tablespoons of softened butter using a pastry brush.
- Slice the French bread into 1-inch cubes. Arrange the bread cubes evenly across the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
- Whisk 8 large eggs in a large mixing bowl. Add 2 cups whole milk, ½ cup heavy cream, ½ cup brown sugar, and 2 tablespoons vanilla extract. Blend the mixture until smooth and well combined.
- Pour the egg mixture directly over the bread cubes, ensuring every piece gets saturated. Press down gently so the bread absorbs the liquid.
- Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight.
- Prepare the crumb topping by combining ½ cup flour, ½ cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon salt, and a pinch of nutmeg in a medium bowl.
- Cut 1 stick of cold butter into small cubes. Use a pastry cutter to blend the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and sprinkle the crumb topping evenly across the surface.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the French toast casserole for 45-60 minutes, depending on your desired texture. For a softer consistency, bake 45 minutes; for a firmer pudding-like texture, bake 60 minutes.
- Once baked, let the casserole rest for 10 minutes. Serve warm with a drizzle of maple syrup, a pat of butter, and a handful of fresh blueberries on top.
Notes
- Overnight refrigeration helps bread fully absorb the custard mixture, creating a more luxurious texture and deeper flavor profile.
- Select day-old or slightly stale bread like brioche or challah for the best absorption and richness in your French toast casserole.
- Ensure your baking time matches your preferred texture, with 45 minutes delivering a soft consistency and over an hour producing a crispy top layer.
- For dietary adaptations, substitute dairy milk with almond or oat milk, and use gluten-free bread to accommodate different nutritional needs.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes to 1 hour
- Category: Baked
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 423 kcal
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 210 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 195 mg