Description
Delicious slow cooker French toast casserole brings weekend brunch magic straight to your breakfast table. Warm cinnamon, sweet vanilla, and tender bread layers create a comforting morning feast that will delight everyone at the table.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 loaf french bread, cubed
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
Toppings and Finishing:
- 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 cup powdered sugar
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
Instructions
- Prepare the bread by cutting the French loaf into uniform, bite-sized cubes, ensuring each piece is roughly the same size for even soaking and cooking.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs thoroughly until they become light and frothy, creating a smooth base for the custard mixture.
- Gradually pour whole milk and heavy cream into the whisked eggs, stirring continuously to create a homogeneous liquid foundation for the casserole.
- Incorporate brown sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg into the egg mixture, blending until all spices and sugar are completely dissolved and evenly distributed.
- Grease the interior of the slow cooker generously with melted butter to prevent sticking and enhance flavor.
- Layer the bread cubes systematically inside the slow cooker, ensuring they are evenly spread and not compressed too tightly.
- Slowly pour the spiced custard mixture over the bread cubes, allowing liquid to seep through and saturate each piece completely.
- Drizzle remaining melted butter across the top of the casserole for additional richness and golden-brown potential.
- Cover and cook on low heat for 4-5 hours, or until the center is set and edges are slightly crispy and golden.
- Once cooking is complete, gently drizzle maple syrup over the casserole, creating a glossy, sweet finish.
- Dust the surface with powdered sugar for a delicate, elegant presentation.
- Optional: Sprinkle chopped pecans on top for added texture and nutty complexity.
- Let the casserole rest for 10-15 minutes before serving to allow flavors to meld and texture to stabilize.
Notes
- Prevent bread from becoming soggy by using day-old or slightly stale bread, which absorbs the custard mixture more effectively without falling apart.
- Enhance flavor complexity by experimenting with different bread types like brioche, challah, or cinnamon raisin bread for unique taste profiles.
- Create a gluten-free version by substituting regular bread with gluten-free alternatives and ensuring all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Reduce sugar content by using sugar substitutes like stevia or monk fruit sweetener, making the dish more diabetic-friendly and lower in calories.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 4-5 hours
- Category: Breakfast, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 18 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 14 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 10 g
- Cholesterol: 185 mg