French Toast Casserole

Warning: this post is dangerous if you are hungry or love indulgent breakfast food.

Seriously, this could be the engagement chicken of breakfasts.

I had a ladies brunch on Saturday morning for a Bible Study I attend and I made french toast casserole to take along.

I made this recipe up along the way using what I could find and a combination of a few different recipes. Here's what you need:

1 loaf of heavy, eggy bread (I used Texas toast, challah would be wonderful as well!)

7 eggs

2 cups milk

1/2 cup cream

1/3 cup sugar

1 tblsp vanilla

1 tblsp cinnamon

Topping:

1/4 c sugar

2 tblsp cinnamon

maple syrup

heavily butter the bottom of a glass 9 x 13 pan

cut or rip bread into bite size pieces, and lay in pan.

Whisk eggs, milk and cream well, then stir in sugar, vanilla and cinnamon

Pour VERY slowly and evenly over the bread, going over it all several times for an even soak.

Cover and refrigerate overnight.

in the morning take pan out of refrigerator, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar, and preheat oven to 350.

Cover casserole with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Remove foil, and drizzle maple syrup over the top (I used approximately 1/3 cup of Mrs. Butterworths--if you use real maple syrup, use less!)

Bake for 15 more minutes

Remove from oven, let sit for 5 minutes and serve warm (preferably, with bacon. and a latte)

here it is on my plate with some of the many other goodies these ladies brought along to the brunch. (veggie fritatta and lots of fruit!)

make this tonight for breakfast tomorrow. You won't regret it!

(ps. this recipe can easily be halved and baked in a 8x8 dish)