Break your fast with this mouthwatering easy French toast casserole! This breakfast is the perfect warm, inviting, family-friendly meal you’ll love to be a part of your family tradition. The smell in the kitchen, the warmth from the oven, this is the perfect Christmas morning breakfast.
With this French toast casserole, you can skip the hassle of standing by the skillet and pan-frying each slice of French toast casserole. Instead, you combine everything in a casserole dish and let the oven do all the work! The thing about the recipe is that you can assemble the casserole overnight and bake it in the morning. You will get a soft and custardy and an extra crunchy toasted topping. You will experience one of the yummiest breakfasts you’ll ever sink your fork in! No dipping or flipping and frying! Comfort food doesn’t get any better than this!
What is Easy French Toast Casserole?
This dish is bread soaked in beaten egg mixture, baked in the oven, and topped with an icing sugar glaze. This dish is a sweet relative of bread pudding. It is a breakfast and dessert dish.
Facts
- Some people recommend slicing the bread overnight before letting it dry out a bit to keep the bread from absorbing too much egg and get soggy.
- In Britain, french-toast is also term; eggy bread, gypsy bread, or French-fried bread.
- People in New Zealand eat French toast casserole with banana, bacon, and maple syrup.
- Australians have a savory version of French toast casserole with cheese and tomato sauce.
- The French consider pain perdu a dessert, not a breakfast food.
- Maple syrup is a superfood. It has some antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties like green tea.
Origin
The birthplace of French toast casserole is not defined. Long before it was called French toast casserole, similar recipes were around the world. The French did not invent French toast casserole. The Americans named the dish “French Toast” because French immigrants in America popularized it. One of the earliest versions of French toast casserole has been traced back to the Roman Empire. The name “French toast” was first used in England in the 17th century.
The dish is called” pain perdu” in France meaning, “lost bread” because it consists of stale loaves of bread. In the United States, French toast casserole is in restaurants with butter, powdered sugar, and maple syrup. The possibilities are endless. Southwestern and western United States cooks prefer sourdough bread in their French toast casserole. In some Jewish- American communities in the New York area, people use leftover challah bread from Sabbath dinner for their French toast casserole Sunday mornings. Today, French toast casseroles are in almost every western culture on earth.
When should you eat French toast casserole?
The easy French toast casserole is excellent for breakfast, but you can have it for lunch, midday snack, dinner, and dessert as well. This recipe is also a popular treat at Easter, Christmas, mother’s day, thanksgiving morning, and even the 4th of July celebrations. A must-try no matter the season!
What pairs with French toast casserole?
Sweet and delicious toast bread serves best with just about anything. The most popular toppings include maple syrup, whipped cream, yogurt, ice cream, nuts, peanut butter, powdered sugar, jam, jelly, honey, apple sauce, and fruits.
How the ingredients work
Maple syrup – This is a healthy sweetener option.
Egg binds the ingredients together as the protein coagulate or denatures.
French bread – This is a dense bread that absorbs moisture well and will not be soggy after baking.
Milk – Egg and milk are an essential component of the custard-based that gives the French Toast a tender richness.
How is it done?
You can make this recipe straight away, but for a hassle-free morning, assemble it overnight and bake it in the morning. It allows the bread more time to absorb the milk, making the inside of the baked casserole more decadent and custardy.
Here is what to do: Grease a large casserole dish and assemble the bread cubes evenly. Set aside. Meanwhile, combine the custard mixture of eggs, milk, vanilla sugar, and heavy cream, pour evenly over the bread. In a separate bowl, combine ingredients for the topping, sprinkle mixture over the bread evenly, cover well and refrigerate overnight. The next day, uncover, bake for 50 – 60 minutes. Enjoy with sugar glaze or maple syrup!
Why should you eat this French toast casserole?
This recipe is so easy to make. The flavors made with crusty French bread, eggs, milk, and vanilla are divine. French toast casserole works well for all occasions. The Holiday favorite and traditional weekend breakfast!
Terms
- Casserole dish: This is a ceramic or glass baking dish that withstands high heat in the oven.
- Overnight – This Means the mixture should stay in the refrigerator for the duration of the night.
- Bake – A method of preparing food using dry heat in an oven.
Question and answer
- Which bread is best for French toast casserole?
I highly recommend French bread. It is best if the bread is dry and not too soft. It allows it to soak up the custard from the casserole better and prevent the French toast casserole from becoming too soggy. You could also use sourdough, Italian bread, or brioche instead.
- How to bake French toast casserole?
When ready to bake in the morning, remove the dish for at least 20 minutes from the refrigerator before baking.
Closure
You can add your flavor and flair to your French toast casserole. It has made its mark in history as one of the most popular dishes in the world. I dear you, to try this baked casserole French toast that will not only save time in the morning but satisfy your cravings. Your family will be requesting more!
Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe
Easy French Toast Casserole prepared overnight soaks up all the flavors combined. French Toast you can serve to your family or large gatherings. Excellent with Powder Sugar Glaze!
Ingredients
- 1 loaf, about 15 oz. French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups milk, 2 % or whole milk
- 8 eggs (large)
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tbsp. maple syrup
For the topping
- ½ cup butter, cold and cut into small cubes
- 1 cup all-purpose flour
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ tsp salt
Instructions
The night before
- Grease a 9x13” casserole dish and place cubed
bread in an even layer in the dish. Set aside. - In a large bowl, whisk together milk, eggs,
heavy cream, maple syrup, sugar, and vanilla extract. Stir until the mixture is pale yellow. Pour egg mixture over the bread, trying to coat each piece of bread. - In a separate bowl, combine the ingredients
for the topping use a pastry cutter or a fork to combine, until the mixture becomes coarse and crumbly. Sprinkle mixture over the bread evenly. Wrap with plastic wrap and put in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 4 hours.
In the morning
- Pre heat oven to 350F. Bake unwrapped
casserole for 50 – 60 minutes, or until the middle of the casserole is set. If the top begins to brown too quickly, lightly lay a piece of foil over the top and continue baking until done. - let it cool for a few minutes before slicing and enjoy!
Notes
If desired, you can make a powdered sugar glaze to top your casserole. In a small bowl, combine 1 cup of powdered sugar with 1 tbsp. of milk and whisk until combine. Gently drizzle over casserole.
Nutrition Information:
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 299kcalSaturated Fat: 9ggCholesterol: 147mgmgSodium: 183mgmgCarbohydrates: 33ggProtein: 6gg
