Baked French Toast Casserole. Challah bread soaked in a rich sweet custard with sweet cream cheese and topped with a brown sugar streusel topping. An easy overnight french toast recipe.
1loafChallah, Brioche, or French Bread (14-16 ounces)
6largeEggs
2cupsWhole Milk
3/4cupBrown Sugar
2 teaspoonsVanilla Extract
Sweet Cream Cheese:
4-8ouncesCream Cheese(softened, use 4-8 ounces depending on preference)
1-2TablespoonsPowdered Sugar
Brown Sugar Streusel Topping:
1/2cupBrown Sugar
1/4cupFlour
4TablespoonsCold Butter(cut into small pieces)
1/2teaspoonCinnamon
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Start with your favorite type of bread -- challah, brioche, or french bread. Cut it into bite-size pieces. It is best to use day-old bread since it is drier and will be sturdy enough to hold up to the custard. Place in a 9 x 13 baking dish.
Make a custard by whisking together eggs, whole milk, brown sugar, and vanilla in a medium-size bowl. Pour custard over the bread.
Sweet Cream Cheese Filling:
In a small bowl, stir together softened cream cheese and powdered sugar. Drop dollops of cream cheese on top of the french toast.
Brown Sugar Streusel Topping:
In a small bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour, and cold butter. If you want to add a touch of spice, add 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon. Crumble over the top of the bread.
Cover the baking dish with foil for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for 15-20 minutes, or until the french toast is set. Serve with real maple syrup and fresh fruit.