Barefoot Contessa Baked French Toast Casserole
This baked French toast casserole is a breakfast classic made with thick slices of bread soaked in a creamy custard mixture, baked to perfection, and topped with a sweet streusel. Ina Garten’s recipe simplifies the process, making it easy to prepare ahead of time for stress-free mornings.
- Prep Time: 15
- overnight refrigeration: 120
- Cook Time: 50
- Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 6
- Category: Breakfast/Brunch
- Method: Baking
Ingredients
For the French Toast
- Challah or brioche bread – 1 loaf (about 10 cups), sliced into thick pieces
- Eggs – 8 large
- Whole milk – 2 cups
- Heavy cream – 1 cup
- Granulated sugar – ½ cup
- Brown sugar – ¼ cup
- Vanilla extract – 1 tbsp
- Ground cinnamon – 1 tsp
- Nutmeg – ¼ tsp
For the Streusel Topping
- All-purpose flour – ½ cup
- Brown sugar – ½ cup
- Ground cinnamon – 1 tsp
- Salt – a pinch
- Unsalted butter – ½ cup (1 stick), cold and cut into small cubes
Optional Toppings
- Maple syrup – for drizzling
- Fresh berries – for garnish
- Powdered sugar – for dusting
Instructions
- Prepare the Bread: Lightly grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray. Arrange the bread slices in the dish, overlapping slightly.
- Make the Custard: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg until smooth.
- Soak the Bread: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread slices, ensuring every piece is well-coated. Press down gently to help the bread absorb the custard. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight for best results.
- Prepare the Streusel: In a medium bowl, mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add the cold butter cubes and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to combine until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Refrigerate until ready to use.
- Bake the Casserole: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the casserole from the fridge and sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the bread. Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is golden and the custard is set.
- Serve and Enjoy: Let the casserole cool for 5-10 minutes before serving. Garnish with powdered sugar and fresh berries, and serve with maple syrup on the side.