Description
Overnight french toast casserole brings comfort to weekend breakfast tables with rich, custardy bread layers. Maple syrup and cinnamon create a luxurious morning meal that delights families gathered around the table.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 loaf French bread or brioche, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 10 cups/2.4 L)
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups (480 ml/16 fl oz) whole milk
- ½ cup (120 ml/4 fl oz) heavy cream
- ½ cup (100 g/3.5 oz) packed brown sugar
- ¾ cup (150 g/5.3 oz) granulated sugar
- ¼ cup (55 g/1.9 oz) packed brown sugar
- 2 tsps vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg (optional)
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup (65 g/2.3 oz) all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup (50 g/1.8 oz) granulated sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ cup (115 g/4 oz) unsalted butter, cold and cubed
- Maple syrup
- Powdered sugar
- Fresh berries
Instructions
- Preparation: Lavishly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter, then meticulously arrange bread cubes to create a uniform foundation, ensuring complete surface coverage.
- Custard Creation: Vigorously whisk eggs, milk, cream, sugars, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a spacious bowl until the mixture transforms into a silky, homogeneous liquid with no visible ingredient separation.
- Infusion Process: Delicately pour the custard over bread cubes, gently pressing to facilitate complete liquid absorption, guaranteeing each bread piece becomes thoroughly saturated with the aromatic mixture.
- Flavor Development: Hermetically seal the casserole with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, allowing the ingredients to harmonize and develop profound, complex flavor profiles.
- Crumble Topping: Combine brown sugar, granulated sugar, flour, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Integrate cold butter using fingertips until the mixture achieves a rustic, crumbly consistency reminiscent of freshly fallen snow.
- Baking Ritual: Elevate the oven temperature to 350°F. Retrieve the casserole from refrigeration and generously distribute the crumble topping, creating a textural landscape across the surface.
- Culinary Transformation: Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes, watching for a golden-brown exterior and a perfectly set custard center that signals impeccable doneness.
- Presentation: Allow the casserole a brief resting period, then embellish with a maple syrup drizzle, powdered sugar dusting, or a cascade of vibrant seasonal berries to elevate the sensory experience.
Notes
- Bread Selection Matters: Choose day-old or slightly stale bread like brioche or challah for better absorption and richer texture. Avoid fresh, soft bread that can become mushy.
- Soak Strategically: Press bread gently during custard pouring to ensure even liquid distribution, preventing dry spots and creating consistent moistness throughout the dish.
- Temperature Control: Let casserole sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes before baking to promote even cooking and prevent cold center areas.
- Customize Dietary Needs: Swap whole milk with almond or oat milk for lactose-free version. Use gluten-free bread and flour for celiac-friendly adaptation. Replace sugar with monk fruit sweetener for low-carb option.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: Overnight (or at least 4 hours)
- Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 7
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 1 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg