If you like French toast, chances are you'll like French toast casserole. Like French toast, French toast casserole is a great way to use up leftover bread before it gets too stale. The best thing about French toast casserole, besides the taste, of course, is that it is very simple to prepare. Instead of frying each slice individually, you can bake up to an entire loaf of bread at once. You can even prepare the casserole the night before, for an almost effortless hot breakfast in the morning.
Instructions
1. Tear your bread into bite-sized pieces in a casserole dish. Tearing the bread is not strictly necessary, but it makes the casserole easier to cook evenly, serve, and eat. You can use pretty much any amount of bread, as long as you have a big enough dish and enough eggs and milk. The dish you use should be sized so that you have from one to about three layers of bread covering the entire surface.
2. Create the egg mixture. A good rule of thumb is to use one egg and a quarter cup of milk or cream for every three or four slices of bread. Crack the eggs into a large bowl and use a fork to whip together with the milk or cream. Stir in a dash of salt and a teaspoon or so of vanilla.
3. Add the bread cubes to the egg mixture and stir, coating evenly.
4. While the bread is in the egg mixture, grease your casserole dish. Pour the mixture into the dish.
5. If you want to add butter, chop a few tablespoons of cold butter into small pieces and sprinkle over the top of the casserole. When it bakes, this will help to create a crispy, golden layer like the one you would get by pan frying individual pieces of French toast. On the other hand, the casserole is still delicious without the butter, and of course this is a lower fat option.
6. You can bake the casserole now or let it sit for a while, even overnight in the refrigerator. When you're ready, preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake the French toast casserole for about 45 minutes, or until the top starts to brown slightly. Serve warm with maple syrup or whatever you would use to top traditional French toast.
Tags: French toast, French toast casserole, toast casserole, casserole dish, like French toast, milk cream