By Culinary.Net | Contributor
Give your brunch a delightful upgrade with this French Toast Casserole, a fun take on a traditional breakfast dish. This casserole features a delicious contrast of crispiness on the outside and a tender, moist interior. Baked to perfection, it’s filled with the inviting scents of maple syrup and pecans, enticing everyone in the home to dig in. It’s a simple recipe that can be whipped up fresh in the morning or prepared ahead of time, so you can just add the finishing touches before it hits the oven.
French Toast Casserole
1 loaf French bread (approximately 1 1/2 pounds), cut into 1-inch pieces
5 large eggs
1 1/2 cups milk (unsweetened)
2 tablespoons brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
Maple syrup, for serving
Topping:
2 tablespoons unsalted butter or coconut oil, melted
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup pecans, chopped
1 cup frozen strawberries
1 cup frozen blueberries
Confectioners’ sugar, for dusting
Start by greasing a 9-by-13-inch baking dish. Place the bread cubes into the dish. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Pour this mixture evenly over the bread cubes.
If you prefer to prepare the casserole in advance, cover the dish and refrigerate it overnight. If you’re ready to bake it right away, allow the mixture to sit at room temperature for 30 minutes, so the bread can absorb the egg mixture.
Preheat your oven to 350°F.
For the topping: Drizzle the casserole with melted butter, then sprinkle with brown sugar and pecans. Add the strawberries and blueberries on top.
Cover the dish and bake for 35 minutes, then remove the cover and bake for an additional 10-20 minutes, until the topping turns golden and the egg mixture is mostly set.
Once baked, remove the dish from the oven, loosely cover it with foil, and let it rest for 10 minutes. Just before serving, dust with confectioners’ sugar and offer maple syrup on the side.
Explore more recipes to elevate your brunch gatherings atCulinary.net.
