Description
French Toast Casserole – rich, custardy, and topped with a cinnamon-sugar crumble. Perfect for brunch or holidays.
Ingredients
Scale
French Toast:
- 1 loaf sourdough bread (or brioche, challah, or French bread)
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup sugar
Topping:
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces
Instructions
- Cut the bread: Start by cutting your loaf into 1-inch cubes. Trust me, the size matters! If the cubes are too small, they can turn mushy. Scatter them evenly in a greased 9-x-13-inch baking dish.
- Make the custard: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, vanilla, and sugar. You want everything well-combined but not too frothy. Pour this mixture evenly over the bread cubes. Don’t worry if it looks like a lot of liquid—it will soak in beautifully overnight.
- Refrigerate: Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, though overnight is ideal. This gives the bread plenty of time to absorb the custard. (Pro tip: If you’re in a rush, you can bake it after just 2 hours, but the texture won’t be quite as rich.)
- Make the topping: In a bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Then, cut in the cold butter until the mixture is crumbly. You can do this with your hands, a fork, or a pastry cutter. I like to make the topping the night before as well and store it in a resealable bag in the fridge.
- Bake: When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F. Sprinkle the crumble topping evenly over the casserole and bake for 45-60 minutes. If you like a softer texture, pull it out closer to 45 minutes. For a firmer, more set casserole, leave it in the full hour.
Notes
If by some miracle you have leftovers, this casserole stores really well. Let it cool completely before transferring it to an airtight container. It will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. When you’re ready to reheat, simply pop a slice in the microwave for about 30 seconds, or warm it in the oven at 300°F for 10-15 minutes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-60 minutes
- Category: Breakfast