French Toast Bake Casserole Recipe
This French Toast Bake Casserole is a delightful and comforting breakfast or brunch dish featuring cubes of French bread soaked in a rich mixture of eggs, milk, cream, sugars, and spices. Topped with a buttery crumble, it bakes to a golden, crisp finish while remaining soft and custardy inside. Perfect for serving 6 to 8 people, this recipe combines classic flavors with a fuss-free baking method.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 6–8 servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: French
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 loaf (approximately 450 g) French bread, or Texas Toast, cut into 2 cm cubes
- 8 large eggs
- 480 ml whole milk
- 120 ml heavy cream or half-and-half
- 200 g brown sugar, divided
- 50 g granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) vanilla extract
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon (0.5 g) ground nutmeg
Topping Ingredients
- 65 g plain flour
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 g) salt
- 113 g unsalted butter, cold, cut into small cubes
Instructions
- Prepare Baking Dish and Oven: Lightly coat a 23 x 33 cm (9 x 13 inch) baking dish with non-stick spray to prevent sticking, and preheat your oven to 175°C (350°F) to ensure even cooking.
- Mix Egg Mixture: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, 50 g granulated sugar, 100 g brown sugar, vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons of cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until the mixture is smooth and fully blended.
- Combine Bread with Egg Mixture: Gently fold the 2 cm bread cubes into the egg mixture, turning carefully to coat all the bread pieces thoroughly so they absorb the custard-like liquid evenly.
- Prepare Crumble Topping: In a medium bowl, mix the plain flour, remaining 100 g brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold cubed butter and incorporate it using a fork or pulse briefly in a food processor until the mixture forms coarse crumbs resembling small pea-sized pieces.
- Assemble Casserole: Transfer the soaked bread and egg mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the surface to create a crisp, sweet finish.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until the topping is golden and crisp, and the center is set with no excess moisture visible.
Notes
- Ensure bread cubes are fully soaked in the egg mixture for a soft, custardy texture inside.
- Allow the casserole to cool slightly before slicing and serving to help it set and make clean slices.
- This dish can be prepared a day in advance by assembling and refrigerating overnight, then baked fresh the following morning.
Find it online: https://zaracooking.com/french-toast-bake-casserole-recipe/
