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Fluffy Overnight French Toast Bake with Brown Sugar Streusel

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A comforting and indulgent overnight French toast bake featuring a custard-soaked brioche or challah base topped with a buttery brown sugar streusel. Perfect for easy, cozy weekend breakfasts or brunches.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups cubed brioche or challah (day-old preferred)
  • 8 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¾ cup all-purpose flour (or almond flour for gluten-free option)
  • ½ cup packed light brown sugar
  • ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed
  • ¼ cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
  • ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Cube about 8 cups of brioche or challah into roughly 1-inch pieces. Spread evenly in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together 8 large eggs, 2 cups whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, and ½ teaspoon salt until fully combined and slightly frothy.
  3. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes, pressing gently to ensure all pieces are soaked. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight or for at least 6 hours.
  4. In a medium bowl, combine ¾ cup all-purpose flour, ½ cup packed light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, and ¼ cup chopped nuts if using. Cut in ½ cup cold unsalted butter with a pastry cutter or fork until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Keep refrigerated until ready to use.
  5. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the French toast bake from the fridge, uncover, and sprinkle the streusel evenly over the top. Cover loosely with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
  6. Remove foil and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until streusel is golden brown and custard is set (a knife inserted should come out clean).
  7. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with maple syrup or fresh fruit if desired.

Notes

Use day-old brioche or challah for best custard absorption. Cold butter in streusel ensures a crisp topping. If streusel browns too quickly, tent with foil. Overnight soaking is key for fluffy texture but 2-3 hours minimum works. For dairy-free, substitute milk and cream with oat milk and coconut cream, and use dairy-free butter. Gluten-free option available by using gluten-free bread and almond or oat flour for streusel.

Nutrition

Keywords: overnight French toast bake, brown sugar streusel, easy breakfast, brunch recipe, custard soaked bread, brioche French toast, challah French toast, make ahead breakfast

Find it online: https://piperplate.com/fluffy-overnight-french-toast-bake-with-brown-sugar-streusel-recipe-made-easy/