French Toast Casserole

Course Breakfast, Brunch

Cuisine American, Western

Diet Vegetarian

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 35

Servings

Calories 709kcal

Author Bintu Hardy

Equipment

Ingredients

10 cups (1kg) cubed French bread about 1 large loaf (or sourdough or ciabatta)
½ cup (75g) chopped pecans or other nuts

To make the custard:

5 eggs
1 ½ cups (354ml) milk
¼ cup (55g) sugar
1 teaspoon orange zest
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt

To make the topping:

4 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
3 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
⅛ teaspoon salt

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F / 190 degrees C / gas 5. Slice your bread into 1-inch cubes, leaving the crust on.
Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish. Add about half of the bread cubes in an even layer on the bottom of the dish. Sprinkle half of the pecans on the top of the bread. Repeat with the remaining bread and pecans.
In a small bowl, make the custard. Start by whisking the eggs together, then whisk in the milk, sugar, orange zest, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1⁄4 teaspoon of nutmeg, and 1⁄4 teasoon salt. Pour evenly over the bread.
In another small bowl, make the topping by combining together the butter and brown sugar, then stir in 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1⁄4 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1⁄8 teaspoon of salt. Drizzle evenly over the bread.
Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 30-35 minutes, or until the top of the casserole is browned. Some of the tallest bread chunks will turn dark brown and all of the bread should be baked and crispy.
Let the casserole cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve with maple syrup and powdered sugar on top, if desired.

Notes

- Select a sturdy bread like French, sourdough, or ciabatta. Slightly stale or day-old bread works best, as it can absorb the custard without becoming too mushy.
- When cubing the bread, try to keep the pieces of similar size to ensure even soaking and cooking.
- If you're adding nuts or other mix-ins like chocolate chips or berries, sprinkle them evenly over the bread cubes for a balanced distribution of flavors.
- The best part of this recipe is that you can prepare it the night before. After assembling the casserole, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate it. This allows the bread to soak up the custard overnight.
- Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread, making sure every piece gets soaked. You can gently press down on the bread cubes to help with absorption.
- Use an appropriately sized baking dish to ensure the casserole has enough room to expand while baking without overflowing. A 9x13-inch dish is commonly used for this recipe.
- When making the topping, ensure it's well-mixed and spread evenly over the casserole for a balanced, sweet crunch.
- When baking, cover the casserole with foil for the first part of the baking time. This helps the custard set without browning too quickly. Remove the foil for the last part of the baking time to get that golden crust.
- Keep a close eye on the casserole toward the end of the baking time to prevent it from becoming dry. It should be moist and slightly custardy in the center.
- Let the casserole rest for a few minutes after taking it out of the oven. This allows the custard to set further and makes it easier to slice.
- Enhance your French Toast Casserole by serving it with maple syrup, fresh fruit, a dusting of powdered sugar, or a dollop of whipped cream for added decadence.
- Storage - keep leftovers in an airtight container inside the fridge for 3 days.

Nutrition