Description
This Overnight French Toast Casserole is a delightful make-ahead breakfast dish featuring thick slices of French bread soaked in a rich custard mixture, topped with a buttery brown sugar topping, and baked to golden perfection. Perfect for holiday mornings or weekend brunches, it combines the flavors of vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg for a warm comforting treat.
Ingredients
Scale
French Toast Base
- 1 loaf French bread or thick Texas toast
- 8 eggs
- 2 cups half and half
- ½ cup milk
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
Topping
- 1½ sticks butter, softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tbsp light corn syrup (optional)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preparation: Grease a 9″x13″ baking dish. Slice the French bread into 1-inch thick slices and arrange them in rows in the baking dish, making sure they fit snugly.
- Mix Egg Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half and half, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
- Soak Bread: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the arranged bread slices, ensuring each slice is well-coated. Cover the dish and refrigerate it overnight to allow the bread to absorb the custard fully.
- Preheat Oven and Flip Bread: The next day, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Flip each slice of bread over gently in the baking dish to distribute the custard evenly throughout before continuing.
- Prepare Topping: In a small bowl, mix softened butter, packed light brown sugar, optional light corn syrup, ground cinnamon, and ground nutmeg until combined into a spreadable topping.
- Add Topping and Bake: Spread the prepared topping evenly over the soaked bread slices. Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until the casserole is puffed, golden brown, and cooked through.
Notes
- Using day-old bread or slightly stale bread gives the best texture as it soaks up the custard better.
- The corn syrup in the topping is optional but helps achieve a glossy, crackly surface.
- Feel free to add a pinch of salt in the topping to balance the sweetness.
- For added flavor, consider serving with fresh fruit, maple syrup, or powdered sugar.
- Ensure to refrigerate overnight to maximize custard absorption and flavor melding.
