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How To Make French Toast Casserole - Easy Overnight Brunch for a Crowd

French toast casserole gives you everything you love about classic French toast, without standing at the stove flipping slices. You prep it once, then your oven does the work. It is the kind of breakfast that feels special, but stays low-stress. With this recipe, we start off with a buttery brown sugar layer that melts into a caramel-like sauce as the casserole bakes. Then you add bread pieces soaked in a simple egg custard. A cinnamon sugar topping finishes it with that familiar French toast flavor.
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Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Method

Ingredients
  

  • 1 cup brown sugar ( for the custard base )
  • ½ cup unsalted butter ( for the custard base )
  • 8 oz crusty French bread ( cut into bite-sized pieces )
  • 2 cups milk
  • 6 large eggs
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
Topping
  • 1 tbsp brown sugar, or to taste
  • ¼ tsp ground cinnamon

Method
 

  1. Melt butter in a small saucepan over medium heat.
  2. Stir in brown sugar until it dissolves and looks glossy. This will make caramel base
  3. Pour the caramel mixture into a greased 9×13 baking dish and spread it out.
  4. Cut the French bread or brioche bread into bite-sized pieces
  5. Scatter bread pieces evenly over the caramel layer.
  6. In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla until smooth
  7. Pour custard evenly over the bread.
  8. Press the bread down gently so that all even the top layer starts absorbing the custard right away.
  9. Cover tightly with foil or a lid and chill overnight for the best texture
  10. Remove from fridge 30-minutes before baking and preheat oven to 350°F.
  11. Mix brown sugar and cinnamon, then sprinkle it evenly over the top.
  12. Bake until golden and set, about 50 to 60 minutes. ( If the top browns too fast, cover it with foil for the last part of baking )
  13. Once timer is up, pull from oveen and rest 15 to 20 minutes
  14. Serve and enjoy