Ingredients
For the Apples:
- 3 large apples, peeled, cored & diced
- 2 Tbsp maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp butter
- 1 tsp cinnamon
For the French Toast Casserole:
- 1 large loaf of bread (16 oz), cut into 1 inch cubes
- 1 cup fresh cranberries
- 8 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- ⅓ cup maple syrup
- 1 Tbsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- ⅛ tsp salt
For the Cinnamon Streusel:
- 8 Tbsp cold butter
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- ⅔ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ⅛ tsp salt
Instructions
- Saute the Apples: Melt the butter in a large pan over medium heat. Add the diced apples, maple syrup, and cinnamon. Stir to combine and cook until the apples are just tender, about 3-4 minutes, stirring often. Once cooked, set aside to cool.
- Whisk the Egg Batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs. Add the milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk again until the mixture is smooth and well combined.
- Assemble the Casserole: Spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick spray or grease it with butter. Spread half of the bread cubes evenly over the bottom of the dish. Top with half of the sautéed apples and half of the fresh cranberries. Pour half of the egg batter evenly over the layers. Repeat with the remaining bread, apples, cranberries, and pour the rest of the egg mixture to cover all the bread pieces thoroughly.
- Refrigerate: Cover the casserole tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 1 hour up to overnight. The longer it sits, the more custard-like and flavorful it becomes.
- Make the Streusel: In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Cut the cold butter into the mixture using a fork or pastry cutter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Cover and keep chilled in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Bake the Casserole: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the foil from the casserole and sprinkle the cinnamon streusel evenly over the top. Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden and toasted and the casserole is cooked through.
- Serve: Remove from the oven, let it cool slightly, slice into portions, and serve warm with additional maple syrup if desired.
Notes
- You can prepare the casserole the night before for a convenient breakfast option.
- Ensure the bread cubes are well coated with the egg mixture for the best custardy texture.
- Use firm apples like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith to maintain texture during sautéing.
- Fresh cranberries provide a nice tart contrast, but you can substitute with dried cranberries if unavailable.
- For a richer flavor, consider using half-and-half instead of milk.
- Make sure the butter used in streusel is cold to achieve the crumbly texture.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
