Description
Maple bacon french toast casserole delivers a mouthwatering breakfast experience that blends sweet and salty flavors. Crispy bacon, rich maple syrup, and perfectly soaked bread create a delightful morning meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread and Meat:
- 1 loaf challah or brioche bread, cut into 1/2-inch-thick slices (approximately 1 pound / 454 grams)
- 4 slices bacon, chopped
Dairy and Eggs:
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) half-and-half
- 2 cups (8 ounces / 226 grams) grated Gruyere cheese
Seasonings and Sweeteners:
- 1/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon (75 milliliters) maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Air-dry bread slices on a wire rack for 2 hours at room temperature to develop a slightly stale texture, enhancing the casserole’s absorption capacity.
- Carefully layer bread in a greased 3-quart baking dish, creating an artful, slightly overlapping arrangement to maximize coverage.
- Craft a luxurious custard base by whisking eggs, half-and-half, Gruyere cheese, maple syrup, cinnamon, salt, and pepper until smooth and fully integrated.
- Gently cascade the custard mixture over bread slices, ensuring complete and even saturation, then delicately press down to submerge bread completely.
- Seal the dish with plastic wrap and allow flavors to meld in the refrigerator for a minimum of 4 hours or preferably overnight.
- Heat oven to 375°F (190°C), removing plastic wrap and generously scattering crispy chopped bacon across the casserole’s surface.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until the top achieves a golden-brown hue and the center sets with a gentle firmness.
- Elevate the presentation by drizzling remaining maple syrup just before serving, creating a glistening, appetizing finish.
Notes
- Let bread air-dry thoroughly to achieve the perfect texture and prevent sogginess during baking.
- Experiment with different bread types like challah or brioche for a richer, more luxurious breakfast casserole.
- Prep the casserole the night before to save time and allow flavors to meld together beautifully in the refrigerator.
- Customize by adding nuts or swapping Gruyere for another melty cheese like sharp cheddar for unique flavor variations.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 4 hours
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dinner, Snacks
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 455
- Sugar: 10 g
- Sodium: 490 mg
- Fat: 29 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 34 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 15 g
- Cholesterol: 200 mg