Our Brioche French Toast Casserole is the perfect recipe for hassle-free lazy weekend mornings or special occasions. What could be better than streusel topped buttery brioche in a velvety custard, served with a pat of sweet & salty maple butter? Not much!
1poundbrioche bread, stale or dried, cut into cubes (see notes)
5large eggs
2-1/2cupswhole milk
2tablespoonmaple syrup
1tablespoonvanilla extract
¼teaspoonground nutmeg
¼teaspoonkosher salt
Streusel Topping
6tablespoonall purpose flour
3tablespoonbrown sugar
½teaspoonground cinnamon
3tablespoonunsalted butter, melted
Maple Butter
½cupunsalted butter, softened
2tablespoonmaple syrup, or more, to taste
Instructions
Butter a 2-1/2 to 3-quart baking dish. (Most 9x13-inch casseroles are 3 quarts.)
Add the cubed brioche to the baking dish in an even layer.
Combine eggs, whole milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, ground nutmeg and 1/4 tsp of kosher salt until the eggs & nutmeg are well incorporated. (Whisk vigorously, use an immersion blender, or use the low setting on a regular blender.)
Pour the custard slowly and evenly over the brioche. The bread will not be fully submerged. With the back of a spatula or spoon, gently press any dry areas so the bread will make contact with the custard thus encouraging it to begin wicking up the liquid.
Cover the dish and refrigerate overnight (or for at least 2 hours). The custard will fully absorb with time.
Preheat oven to 350°F.
In a small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar and cinnamon with a pinch of kosher salt. Pour in the melted butter and stir with a fork until it resembles wet sand. Dollop bits of streusel over the top of the casserole.
Bake for 45-55 minutes, until it is puffed up and golden brown around the edges. (Timing will vary based on the size/shape of your baking dish and your oven. The internal temperature in the center should be somewhere between 175-190°F. )
While the casserole bakes, make the maple butter: place softened butter in a medium bowl. Add 2 tbsp of maple syrup and a pinch of kosher salt. With a handheld electric mixer, whip together until smooth. Taste and whip in more maple syrup to taste, a teaspoon at a time.
Notes
Cubing brioche – Use a sharp bread knife to gently cube the brioche so as not to crush the bread. The brioche I get is pre-sliced into 3/4-in slices. I stack a few slices, then cut them in 3 equal sticks; rotate that 90 degrees and repeat so I get 9 cubes out of each slice. If you get a whole loaf, cut into 1-inch cubes or slightly larger.
Drying out fresh bread – To dry out the brioche, spread cubes across two baking sheets and bake in a 200°F oven for 20 minutes, then cool. Or, leave on the counter for 24+ hours.
Storing leftovers – Transfer leftovers to a single container or individual airtight containers and refrigerate for up to 3 days.
Reheating leftovers – To reheat the whole lot, cover with foil and reheat in a 350°F oven until warmed through. Individual servings are too easy to pop in the microwave for a minute or two for a quick breakfast.
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