Back in early December, I began to think about a casserole that would be perfect for Christmas morning. At some point, I came up with the idea to combine a french toast casserole with apple crisp. Those flavors together just seemed INCREDIBLE!
There are already a number of terrific recipes out there. And while whole milk, cream, and crusty french or sourdough bread are terrific for a special family brunch, they do not equal a healthy breakfast. I just can’t eat that way! Luckily, there are ways to create a scrumptious french toast casserole, that can still be a healthy start to your day. I even turned it up a notch by giving a nod to apple crisp.
First, I tried apples and streusel, topped with french toast casserole. It worked…but the apples sort of steamed. It wasn’t a major problem, but there was a bit of excess liquid on the bottom when I served my first piece. After sitting in the fridge for a bit, the extra liquid seemed to mostly absorb into the bread.
Most recently, I went with whole-grain french toast casserole, TOPPED with diced apples and a lighter streusel topping.
Double the C, double the S…because it was a SUCCESS!
60 minutes + leave in fridge for a few hours up to overnight before baking
Baked Apple Crisp French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 loaf whole grain bread (I used whole wheat)
- 6 eggs
- 2 c. milk
- 3 - 4 Tbsp. orange juice
- 1 - 2 tsp. vanilla
- 1/2 tsp. cinnamon
- 5 - 6 medium apples, peeled & diced
- 2 - 3 Tbsp. orange juice
- 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
- STREUSEL TOPPING
- 1/2 c. brown sugar
- 1/8 tsp. cinnamon
- 3 Tbsp. butter, diced
Instructions
- Cut or tear the bread. Then, place in a greased 9x13 baking dish. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, orange juice, vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour over the bread. Next, let sit in the fridge for a few hours, best if overnight.
- The next morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Dice the apples. Then, mix apples in a medium bowl with the orange juice and cinnamon. Distribute apples over the french toast.
- In a small bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon. Then, blend in the butter using a pastry blender or a fork. Sprinkle over the casserole. Bake for 45 minutes (softer texture) or up to an hour. If desired, serve with powdered sugar, maple syrup, or a drizzle of caramel.