French Toast Casserole Recipe

French bread: The base of the casserole, providing structure and absorbing the egg mixture.

Eggs: Bind the ingredients together and add richness.

Milk: Adds moisture and helps create a custard-like texture.

Heavy cream: Adds richness and a creamy texture to the casserole.

Sugar: Sweetens the dish.

Brown sugar: Adds a deeper, caramel-like sweetness.

Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor.

Cinnamon: Adds warmth and spice.

Salt: Balances the sweetness and enhances the flavors.

When preparing the egg mixture, ensure you whisk thoroughly to fully incorporate the sugar and spices. This will help distribute the flavors evenly throughout the casserole. Additionally, when soaking the bread cubes, gently press them down with a spatula to ensure they absorb the custard mixture completely, resulting in a richer and more uniform texture.

• french bread - Substitute with brioche: Brioche is rich and buttery, which adds a delightful flavor and texture to the casserole.

• french bread - Substitute with challah: Challah is slightly sweet and has a soft texture, making it a great alternative for a tender casserole.

• eggs - Substitute with flax eggs: Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water per egg. This is a good vegan alternative that helps bind the ingredients.

• milk - Substitute with almond milk: Almond milk is a dairy-free option that still provides a creamy texture.

• milk - Substitute with oat milk: Oat milk is another dairy-free alternative that has a slightly sweet flavor, complementing the dish well.

• heavy cream - Substitute with coconut cream: Coconut cream is a rich, dairy-free alternative that adds a subtle coconut flavor.

• heavy cream - Substitute with evaporated milk: Evaporated milk is less rich but still provides a creamy texture without the extra fat.

• sugar - Substitute with honey: Honey adds a natural sweetness and a bit of floral flavor.

• sugar - Substitute with maple syrup: Maple syrup provides a rich, caramel-like sweetness that enhances the flavor of the casserole.

• brown sugar - Substitute with coconut sugar: Coconut sugar has a similar texture and a slightly caramel-like flavor, making it a good alternative.

• brown sugar - Substitute with date sugar: Date sugar is less processed and adds a natural sweetness with a hint of caramel.

• vanilla extract - Substitute with almond extract: Almond extract provides a different but complementary flavor, adding a nutty note to the dish.

• vanilla extract - Substitute with maple extract: Maple extract adds a rich, sweet flavor that pairs well with the other ingredients.

• cinnamon - Substitute with nutmeg: Nutmeg has a warm, slightly sweet flavor that can replace cinnamon in many recipes.

• cinnamon - Substitute with pumpkin pie spice: Pumpkin pie spice includes cinnamon along with other spices like nutmeg and cloves, adding a complex flavor.

• salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt has a slightly different mineral content, which can enhance the flavors more subtly.

• salt - Substitute with kosher salt: Kosher salt has larger crystals and a purer flavor, making it a good alternative.

• Allow the French toast casserole to cool completely before storing. This helps prevent condensation, which can make the casserole soggy.
• For short-term storage, cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place it in the refrigerator. It will stay fresh for up to 3-4 days.
• For longer storage, cut the casserole into individual portions and wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap. Then, place the wrapped pieces in a freezer-safe bag or container. This method ensures that you can easily grab a single serving whenever you want.
• Label the freezer-safe bag or container with the date to keep track of how long it has been stored. The French toast casserole can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
• When ready to enjoy, thaw the frozen casserole portions in the refrigerator overnight.
• To reheat, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the thawed casserole portions on a baking sheet and cover them with aluminum foil to prevent drying out. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until heated through.
• Alternatively, you can reheat individual portions in the microwave. Place a portion on a microwave-safe plate and cover it with a damp paper towel. Microwave on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking and stirring halfway through, until heated evenly.
• For an extra touch, sprinkle some powdered sugar or drizzle maple syrup over the reheated casserole before serving. Enjoy the deliciousness all over again!

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the leftover French toast casserole in an oven-safe dish. Cover it with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out. Bake for about 20 minutes or until heated through.

• For a quicker option, use the microwave. Place a portion of the casserole on a microwave-safe plate. Cover it with a microwave-safe lid or another plate to retain moisture. Heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure even heating.

• If you prefer a slightly crispy texture, use a skillet. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium heat and add a small amount of butter or oil. Place the French toast casserole slices in the skillet and cook for 2-3 minutes on each side until warmed through and slightly crispy.

• For an air fryer method, preheat the air fryer to 350°F (175°C). Place the casserole pieces in a single layer in the air fryer basket. Heat for 5-7 minutes, shaking the basket halfway through to ensure even heating.

• Baking dish: A large, deep dish used to hold the bread cubes and egg mixture while baking.

• Mixing bowl: A bowl used to whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugars, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt.

• Whisk: A utensil used to blend the egg mixture until smooth and well combined.

• Plastic wrap: Used to cover the baking dish while it refrigerates, ensuring the mixture soaks into the bread.

• Refrigerator: An appliance used to chill the casserole mixture for at least 2 hours or overnight.

• Oven: An appliance preheated to 350°F (175°C) to bake the casserole.

• Oven mitts: Protective gloves used to handle the hot baking dish when removing it from the oven.

• Cooling rack: A rack used to let the casserole cool for a few minutes before serving.

Prep ingredients ahead: Cut the french bread into cubes and measure out all ingredients the night before.

Use a large mixing bowl: Whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt in one go to save time.

Soak overnight: Let the bread cubes soak in the egg mixture overnight for a quick morning bake.

Preheat the oven early: Start preheating the oven while you take the casserole out of the fridge to save time.