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Baked Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole

Golden baked apple cinnamon french toast casserole made with cubed buttery brioche, spiced caramelized Honeycrisp apples, and a crisp brown sugar pecan streusel topping. Infused with rich vanilla custard, this make-ahead breakfast bake delivers decadent bakery flavor with effortless morning assembly.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Holiday Breakfast
Cuisine: American, Bakery Comfort
Calories: 385
Ingredients Method Nutrition

Ingredients
  

Brioche Base & Spiced Apples
  • 1 loaf brioche bread day-old, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 3 large Honeycrisp or Granny Smith apples peeled and diced 1/2-inch
  • 2 tbsp unsalted butter for sautéing apples
  • 2 tbsp maple syrup grade A amber
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon for apple coating
  • 0.25 tsp ground nutmeg freshly grated
Rich Vanilla Custard
  • 8 large eggs room temperature
  • 2 cups whole milk or half-and-half
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream for silkiness
  • 0.33 cup dark brown sugar packed
  • 2 tsp pure vanilla extract pure Madagascar bourbon
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon for custard flavor
  • 0.25 tsp kosher salt balances sweetness
Crisp Brown Sugar Cinnamon Streusel
  • 0.5 cup all-purpose flour streusel foundation
  • 0.5 cup light brown sugar packed
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon warm spice
  • 0.25 cup unsalted butter chilled and cubed
  • 0.33 cup pecans chopped for crunch

Method
 

Bread Prep & Sautéed Apples
  1. Prep Bread & Baking Dish: Grease a 9x13-inch ceramic baking dish with butter. Arrange half of the cubed brioche bread in an even layer across the bottom of the dish.
  2. Caramelize Spiced Apples: In a large skillet over medium heat, melt 2 tbsp butter. Add the diced apples, 2 tbsp maple syrup, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 tsp nutmeg. Sauté for 5 to 6 minutes until tender-crisp and fragrant. Remove from heat and spread evenly over the bread cubes, then top with the remaining brioche cubes.
Whisk Custard & Soak
  1. Whisk the Custard: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and kosher salt until completely smooth and frothy.
  2. Pour & Rest: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread and apples, gently pressing down on the top cubes with a spatula so all bread absorbs the liquid. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (or overnight up to 12 hours for the ultimate custard texture).
Streusel & Baking
  1. Make Streusel Topping: In a small bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Cut in cold cubed butter with a pastry cutter or your fingertips until coarse, pea-sized crumbs form. Stir in chopped pecans.
  2. Bake to Golden Perfection: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Uncover the casserole and scatter the streusel evenly over the top. Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until puffed, golden-brown, and a knife inserted into the center emerges clean and custardy.
  3. Rest & Garnish: Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes to set before slicing. Dust with powdered sugar, drizzle with warm pure maple syrup, and serve warm.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 385kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 9gFat: 16gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 165mgSodium: 340mgPotassium: 210mgFiber: 4gSugar: 26gVitamin A: 520IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 120mgIron: 2.4mg

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