French Toast Strata
Transform your mornings with this indulgent French Toast Strata, a crowd-pleasing baked breakfast casserole that’s equal parts comforting and elegant. Made with rich and custardy layers of day-old bread—think French bread, challah, or brioche—and infused with a luscious blend of eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and a touch of vanilla, this dish is perfect for everything from weekend brunches to holiday mornings. Baked to golden perfection, it boasts a fluffy interior with delightfully crisp edges. Garnish with a dusting of powdered sugar and drizzle generously with maple syrup for a decadent finish. With minimal prep and the ability to feed a group, this make-ahead-friendly recipe is your new go-to for effortless entertaining.
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 8 cups, cubed day-old bread (French bread, challah, or brioche)
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 0.5 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 0.25 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 0.25 teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon butter (for greasing the dish)
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar (optional, for garnish)
- to taste maple syrup (optional, for serving)
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish generously to prevent sticking.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
Add the cubed day-old bread to the bowl with the egg mixture. Toss gently to ensure all the bread is evenly coated with the custard.
Transfer the bread mixture to the prepared baking dish, spreading it evenly across the surface. Press the bread down lightly to ensure it absorbs the custard mixture.
Let the strata sit for 10 minutes at room temperature to allow the bread to soak up more of the custard.
Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is just set. If the top browns too quickly, tent it with aluminum foil during the last 10 minutes of baking.
Remove the strata from the oven and let it cool for 5 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired.
Serve warm with maple syrup on the side for drizzling.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
380 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 19.1 g | 24% | |
| Saturated Fat | 10.3 g | 51% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 187 mg | 62% | |
| Sodium | 342 mg | 15% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 38.5 g | 14% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 0.9 g | 3% | |
| Total Sugars | 20.4 g | ||
| Protein | 9.9 g | 20% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.6 mcg | 8% | |
| Calcium | 110 mg | 8% | |
| Iron | 1.7 mg | 9% | |
| Potassium | 176 mg | 4% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
