Description
A rich and crowd-pleasing baked French toast casserole that is soft in the center with a lightly crisp top, perfect for brunch or holiday mornings. Made with a custard-soaked bread base and a crumbly brown sugar topping, this dish can be customized with berries, nuts, or cream cheese for added flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Base
- 1 loaf French bread (or brioche), cut into 1-inch cubes
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
Optional Add-Ins
- 1 cup fresh berries
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
- 4 oz cream cheese cubes
Topping
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 4 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
Instructions
- Prepare dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly to prevent sticking. Evenly distribute the 1-inch bread cubes across the dish to form the base layer.
- Mix custard: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Combine: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes in the baking dish. Gently press down to ensure the bread absorbs the custard fully. Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours; overnight refrigeration is ideal for best results.
- Make topping: In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in the cold, cubed butter with a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture becomes crumbly and unevenly sized crumbs form.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the casserole from fridge and sprinkle the prepared crumb topping evenly over the custard-soaked bread. Bake in the oven for 40–50 minutes until the center is set and the topping is golden brown.
- Serve: Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes after baking. Serve warm, garnished with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh fruit as desired for an added touch of sweetness and flair.
Notes
- For a softer texture, cover the casserole with foil for the first 25 minutes of baking, then uncover to finish.
- For a crispier top, broil the casserole for 1–2 minutes at the end of baking, watching carefully to avoid burning.
- Leftovers can be reheated in the oven or air fryer without losing texture and flavor.
