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Easy Christmas Morning Baked French Toast Casserole

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A make-ahead baked French toast casserole with a rich, silky custard and buttery streusel topping. Perfect for a stress-free Christmas morning brunch that tastes like a warm hug.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 loaf (16-18 oz) day-old brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 8 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ¾ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • ½ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • Warm maple syrup, for serving
  • Powdered sugar, for dusting
  • Fresh berries (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cube the bread: Cut the brioche or challah into 1-inch cubes. Spread evenly in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. Make the custard: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 8 eggs until smooth and slightly frothy. Add milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk until fully combined.
  3. Pour and soak: Pour the custard evenly over the bread cubes. Gently press the bread down with a spatula to coat. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
  4. Make the streusel: In a small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add cold cubed butter. Use a pastry cutter or two forks to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized butter pieces. Stir in nuts if using. Cover and refrigerate until morning.
  5. Bake the casserole: Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove casserole from fridge and let sit for 15 minutes. Remove plastic wrap and sprinkle streusel topping evenly over the top. Bake for 45-50 minutes, until golden brown and center is set but slightly jiggly. A knife inserted in the center should come out mostly clean.
  6. Rest and serve: Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before cutting. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm with maple syrup and fresh berries.

Notes

For best results, use day-old bread and let it soak for a full 8 hours. If the top browns too quickly, tent with foil for the last 10-15 minutes. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow the custard to set.

Nutrition

Keywords: baked French toast casserole, Christmas breakfast, make-ahead brunch, overnight French toast, holiday brunch recipe

Find it online: https://dinadishes.com/easy-christmas-morning-baked-french-toast-casserole/