Baked French Toast Casserole
Soft Hawaiian bread soaked in a cinnamon-vanilla custard and topped with a buttery brown sugar streusel. No overnight soak needed, ready in about an hour.
Servings: 4 servings
Ingredients
French Toast:
- Butter or nonstick spray for greasing the pan
- 8 ounces Kings Hawaiian Bread (half a loaf) torn or cut into 1-inch pieces
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/4 cup nonfat milk
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Streusel Topping:
- 1/4 cup flour
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup cold butter cut into small pieces
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease an 8x8-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
- Add the bread pieces to the baking dish, filling it to the top.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon until fully combined. Pour evenly over the bread. Press the bread down firmly so all pieces soak up the custard.
- In a small bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle evenly over the bread.
- Bake uncovered for 40-50 minutes, until the top is golden and the center is set. It should not jiggle when shaken. Let rest 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
- Bake time and texture: 50 minutes gives a firmer, less custardy result. Pull it at 40-45 minutes for a softer, bread pudding-style texture. Either way, the eggs are fully cooked.
- Bread options: Hawaiian bread is the best choice for its sweetness and sturdy texture. French bread, brioche, or challah all work well. Avoid soft sandwich bread; it soaks up too much liquid and turns mushy.
- Make it the night before: Assemble through the streusel step, cover tightly, and refrigerate overnight. Bake in the morning and add 5-10 minutes to the bake time.
- Double the recipe: Easily doubled for a 13x9-inch baking dish. Makes 8-10 servings.
- Cream cheese variation: Layer half the bread in the pan, pour half the custard over it, then add spoonfuls of sweetened cream cheese (softened cream cheese mixed with a little powdered sugar and a splash of milk). Top with the remaining bread and custard before adding the streusel.
- Storage: Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a 350°F oven covered with foil. Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months; thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Nutrition
Calories: 587kcal | Carbohydrates: 84g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 21g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 227mg | Sodium: 428mg | Potassium: 248mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 56g | Vitamin A: 753IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 169mg | Iron: 5mg
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