Print

Crispy Baked French Toast Casserole with Streusel Topping

crispy baked french toast casserole - featured image
Print Recipe

A comforting and easy breakfast casserole featuring crispy edges, a custardy center, and a buttery streusel topping. Perfect for busy mornings or special brunches.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups day-old bread, cubed (preferably brioche, challah, or French bread)
  • 6 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar (67 grams)
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cubed (113 grams)
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour (120 grams)
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (100 grams)
  • 1/3 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans, optional)
  • Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)

Instructions

  1. Cube about 8 cups (around 10 ounces/280 grams) of day-old bread into roughly 1-inch pieces. Toss them into your baking dish and set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together 6 large eggs, 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk, 1/3 cup (67 grams) granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until smooth and frothy, about 1-2 minutes.
  3. Pour the custard evenly over the bread cubes in the baking dish. Using a spatula, gently press the bread down so each piece absorbs the custard. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
  4. In a medium bowl, mix 1 cup (120 grams) all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup (100 grams) packed brown sugar, and 1/3 cup chopped nuts (optional). Add 1/2 cup (113 grams) cold cubed unsalted butter. Using a pastry cutter or two forks, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs with pea-sized bits of butter.
  5. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the soaked bread.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the casserole for 40-45 minutes until the custard is set and the streusel topping is golden brown and crisp.
  7. Let the casserole cool for 10-15 minutes before serving. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

Notes

Let the bread soak for at least 10 minutes to ensure a custardy center without sogginess. Use cold butter for the streusel to achieve a crumbly texture. Tent with foil if topping browns too quickly. For gluten-free, use gluten-free bread and almond flour for streusel. For dairy-free, substitute milk with plant-based milk and butter with coconut oil.

Nutrition

Keywords: French toast casserole, baked French toast, streusel topping, breakfast casserole, easy breakfast, brunch recipe, comfort food

Find it online: https://realityeats.com/crispy-baked-french-toast-casserole-with-streusel-topping-recipe-easy-and-best-breakfast-idea/