Description
This Baked Brioche French Toast Casserole is a delicious and comforting breakfast dish featuring thick slices of brioche soaked in a flavorful custard infused with orange zest and vanilla. Baked until golden and topped with coarse sugar, it is perfect served warm with maple syrup for a cozy start to your day.
Ingredients
Scale
Bread
- 1 brioche bread loaf (500 g), thickly sliced
Custard
- 4 large eggs
- 50 g light brown sugar
- 1 zest of a large orange
- 80 ml orange juice
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon fine salt
- 1½ cups milk
Topping and Preparation
- 30 g butter
- 12 g coarse sugar (demerara sugar)
Instructions
- Prepare the Bread: Slice the brioche bread into 1.5 cm (0.6 inch) thick slices, yielding about 12 to 14 slices. Cut each slice diagonally in half to make triangles.
- Make the Custard: In a medium bowl, whisk together the 4 large eggs with 50 g light brown sugar, the zest and juice of one large orange, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, ½ teaspoon fine salt, and 1½ cups milk until fully combined.
- Grease the Casserole Dish: Butter a 22 x 33 cm (9×13 inch) casserole dish thoroughly on the base and sides, saving some butter to dollop around the base later.
- Soak the Bread: Fully submerge each brioche triangle into the custard mixture and place them in the casserole dish with the pointed ends facing up, lining them neatly. Pour any remaining custard over the bread.
- Let Soak: Allow the bread and custard to stand at room temperature for 30 minutes to enable the flavors to meld and custard to soak through.
- Add Topping: Sprinkle 12 g coarse sugar evenly over the top of the soaked bread for a crunchy topping.
- Bake the Casserole: Bake in a preheated oven at 165°C (340°F) for 30 minutes or until the top is lightly golden and set.
- Rest and Serve: Remove from the oven and let the casserole stand for 10 minutes before serving warm, ideally drizzled with maple syrup for extra sweetness.
Notes
- Use day-old or stale brioche bread to prevent it from falling apart when soaked in custard. Fresh bread can be toasted before slicing.
- Allowing the bread to soak for 30 minutes helps infuse the flavors and ensures a moist texture.
- Serve the French toast casserole warm out of the oven for the best taste experience.
- To store leftovers, cover the casserole with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 5 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.
- This casserole freezes well; prepare in a freezer-safe dish, wrap tightly with plastic wrap and foil, and freeze up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking.
- Step-by-step photos are available on the original blog post to guide you through the process.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 280 kcal
- Sugar: 12 g
- Sodium: 250 mg
- Fat: 12 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 32 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 140 mg
