The best French toast casserole is a delightful blend of soft, custardy bread infused with rich vanilla and a hint of cinnamon, topped with a sweet, crunchy crust. Ready in under an hour, this casserole transforms your morning with its warm, inviting aroma and mouth-watering taste.
1loaf French breadchallah, or French country bread
8large eggs
1 1/2cupswhole milk
1cupheavy cream
1/2cuplight brown sugarpacked
1tablespoonvanilla extract
1teaspoonground cinnamon
1/2teaspoonnutmeg
1cupberriesoptional; can be fresh or frozen, in small pieces
Topping:
1/2cuplight brown sugarpacked
1/2cupsalted buttersoftened
2tablespoonsall-purpose flourspooned and leveled
1teaspoonground cinnamon
Optional toppings:
Fresh fruit
Maple syrup
Powdered sugar
Instructions
Preheat the oven to 350° Fahrenheit.
Spray a 9x13 inch baking pan with nonstick spray. Slice and cube the bread into 1-inch pieces. Spread the bread in the prepared baking dish and set aside.
In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg until smooth, ensuring no lumps remain. Pour this mixture over the bread, ensuring all pieces are well saturated.
For the topping, mix the brown sugar, softened butter, flour, and cinnamon in a separate bowl until well combined. The texture should resemble wet sand.
If using, add the desired fruit (e.g., blueberries, raspberries, or sliced strawberries) by pushing them into the casserole. Then, sprinkle the prepared topping evenly over it.
Bake in the preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown.
Once the casserole is golden brown and set, remove it from the oven. Let it rest for a few minutes to firm up slightly. Then, serve hot, garnished with your choice of toppings like syrup, fresh fruit, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar.