Description
This French Toast Casserole is a delightful breakfast or brunch dish featuring cubed French bread soaked in a rich blend of eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon, baked over a buttery brown sugar base to create a sweet, custardy, and golden-brown treat that's perfect for serving a crowd.
Ingredients
Base
- ½ loaf French bread (about 8 oz), cut into cubes
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
Custard Mixture
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided
Topping
- 1 tablespoon brown sugar
- Powdered sugar for topping (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Pan: Preheat your oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter a 13x9 inch baking pan thoroughly and set it aside to prepare for layering the casserole.
- Make Brown Sugar Butter Layer: In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the ½ cup of butter. When fully melted, stir in 1 cup of packed brown sugar until the mixture is smooth and the sugar has dissolved. Pour this mixture evenly into the prepared baking pan to form the bottom layer.
- Layer Bread Cubes: Evenly spread the cubed French bread over the brown sugar and butter mixture in the pan, ensuring all pieces cover the surface.
- Prepare Custard Mixture: In a medium bowl, whisk together 6 eggs, 2 cups milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Pour this egg mixture over the bread cubes in the pan, making sure that all the pieces are thoroughly saturated.
- Add Toppings: Sprinkle the remaining 1 teaspoon of cinnamon along with 1 tablespoon of brown sugar evenly over the top of the soaked bread cubes.
- Bake: Place the pan in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden brown and the custard is set. Remove from the oven once done.
- Serve: Optionally, dust the casserole with powdered sugar before serving. Enjoy this warm, sweet breakfast casserole!
Notes
- Using day-old bread or slightly stale French bread improves absorption of the custard mixture.
- Ensure that the bread cubes are well saturated with the egg mixture to avoid dry spots in the casserole.
- You can prepare the casserole the night before by assembling it, covering it, and refrigerating overnight before baking in the morning.
- Powdered sugar topping is optional but adds a nice decorative sweetness.
- For added texture, consider adding chopped nuts or dried fruit to the bread layer before adding custard.
