Apple French Toast Casserole
Don't want to wake up at 5am to make breakfast for the clan? Try this make-ahead Apple French Toast Casserole! Assemble everything the night before and just pop it in the oven the next morning. Easy and delicious.
Servings: 12 servings
Ingredients
- 4 tablespoons salted butter
- 6 large granny smith apples, peeled and sliced very thin
- ¾ cup light brown sugar, packed
- 2 tablespoons apple cider
- 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- pinch table salt
- 1 loaf French bread, sliced to 1-inch thick (8-10 slices)
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ¼ cups milk, I use whole
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ⅛ teaspoon table salt
Instructions
- In a large heavy skillet, combine butter and apples over medium heat. Allow butter to melt, cooking and stirring for 5 minutes.
- Add brown sugar, cider, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, nutmeg, and pinch of salt. Cook and stir 7 minutes or until apples are tender and sauce is thickened. Spread mixture into a 9x13 baking dish.
- Layer bread slices over the apples, covering the entire surface. Trim pieces of bread to fit, if needed.
- In a bowl, beat eggs until foamy. Whisk in the milk, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until well combined.
- Slowly and gently pour egg mixture over the bread slices, taking time to let the liquid soak through tops of bread to ensure even coating.
- Press down lightly on bread to ensure soaking. Cover dish with plastic wrap and chill 8 hours or overnight.
- Remove casserole from fridge 30 minutes before baking; meanwhile, preheat oven to 350F. Bake uncovered 35-40 minutes or just until bread tops are golden and the edges are crisp.
- Allow casserole to rest 10-15 minutes at room temp before cutting into it. To serve, carefully cut individual servings and invert pieces so the apples face up. Serve with maple syrup.
Notes
- This apple french toast casserole is delicious both warm and at room temperature.
- Use a sturdy loaf of French bread sliced about 1 inch thick so it can hold up to the custard without falling apart.
- I recommend going with Granny Smith apples for the best texture and a hint of tartness that balances the sweet custard.
- Let the dish sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes before baking so it bakes evenly.
- Bake just until the tops are golden and the edges are crisp to avoid overbaking and drying it out.
- Flip the servings when plating so the caramelized apples are on top, for a beautiful and tasty presentation.
- This recipe is part of our Apple Recipes Collection.
Nutrition (per serving)
Calories: 296kcal | Carbohydrates: 53g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 75mg | Sodium: 297mg | Potassium: 261mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 32g | Vitamin A: 309IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 2mg