Need a straightforward brunch dish that’s spectacular sufficient to serve on a vacation? This in a single day French toast casserole recipe has entered the chat. Assemble it previous to Christmas morning, Mom’s Day—or any time you anticipate an early wave of company. The subsequent day, roll off the bed, brush the highest with melted butter, slide it into the oven, and quiet down along with your espresso.
We suggest utilizing challah, brioche, or Pullman over extra crusty French bread or sourdough for a young bread-pudding-like casserole. We like fats slices right here (à la precise French toast) as a substitute of bread cubes to distinguish it from that carby, custardy dessert. We additionally just like the pairing of cinnamon with heat, floral cardamom right here, however in case you don’t have any, a touch of vanilla extract will just do high-quality.
When you’re an early riser, you may prep the casserole the identical day you propose to serve it—but it surely does want not less than 2 hours within the fridge, so don’t rush it. The milk combination wants time to completely hydrate the bread as a way to develop candy, crispy (not dry) edges within the oven, and a puffy, custardy (not soggy) inside.
One of the best ways to serve a baked French toast casserole is on a buffet with a number of toppings. We’re a fan of tangy crème fraîche and maple syrup, however you might put out a blueberry compote and salty butter pecans, caramelized apples and whipped cream, a batch of poached eggs and chili crisp, or just mud it with powdered sugar and name it a day.
When you’re internet hosting a big celebration, add one other breakfast casserole to your menu, like a tacky egg bake with sausage, or go along with any of our greatest breakfast recipes as a substitute.
