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Cozy French Toast Bake Recipe Easy Homemade Cinnamon Streusel Topping

Cozy French Toast Bake - featured image
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A comforting and easy French toast bake with a soft custardy bread base and a crunchy cinnamon streusel topping, perfect for busy weekends or holiday mornings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups day-old brioche or challah, cubed
  • 8 large eggs, room temperature
  • 3 cups whole milk (or half-and-half for extra creaminess; dairy-free milk like oat or almond can be swapped in)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • 3/4 cup granulated sugar (divided: 1/2 cup for custard, 1/4 cup for streusel)
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

  1. Cube the day-old brioche or challah into roughly 1-inch pieces. Place them in your 9×13-inch baking dish, spreading them out evenly.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together 8 large eggs, 3 cups whole milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, and a pinch of salt until smooth and well combined.
  3. Slowly pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes in the baking dish. Gently press down the bread with a spatula or your hands to help it soak up the custard. Let it sit for 10-15 minutes to absorb fully; you can prep this part the night before and refrigerate.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1/4 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar, 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon, and 1/2 cup unsalted butter (melted). Mix with a fork or pastry cutter until the mixture forms coarse crumbs.
  5. Evenly distribute the streusel topping over the soaked bread and custard in the baking dish.
  6. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the baking dish on the middle rack and bake for about 45-55 minutes, or until the custard is set and the streusel is golden brown. Check doneness by inserting a knife into the center; it should come out clean.
  7. Let the bake cool for at least 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with maple syrup, fresh fruit, or a dusting of powdered sugar if desired.

Notes

Use day-old bread to prevent sogginess. Room temperature eggs and milk blend better. Let bread soak for at least 10 minutes or refrigerate overnight for best custard absorption. Tent with foil if streusel browns too quickly. Add nuts or fruit for variations. Can be made gluten-free or dairy-free with substitutions.

Nutrition

Keywords: French toast bake, cinnamon streusel, breakfast casserole, easy brunch recipe, overnight French toast, cozy breakfast, cinnamon topping

Find it online: https://bitefuljoy.com/cozy-french-toast-bake-recipe-easy-homemade-cinnamon-streusel-topping/