Caramel Apple French Toast Casserole
A couple of weeks ago we had a seriously epic weekend.
For one, my mom and aunt were in town which is always the best time. They are a tad obsessed with Lars (my aunt texted me today and said she missed his milk breath...) and I love watching them with him. They also confirm my feelings that everything he does is pretty much the most amazing thing ever done by a baby. So glad I was right about that 😉
Then there was the Twin Cities Marathon. This would have been a lot more epic if Marc had been able to run it but a lingering knee injury kept him out of the race. Still, marathon Sunday is one of my favorite days in the Twin Cities and this year was no different - a top 10 weather day, tons of people out cheering, and a marathon watching party with a pancake station and Bloody Mary's.
To top it all off, we headed out to Marc's hometown to go apple picking, wine tasting, and cook dinner for his mom's birthday with his parents, brother, sister-in-law, and our new nephew. Can I just say it's a little surreal for all of us to be together with two new babies?! It was the perfect ending to, like I said, an epic weekend.
Of course with apple picking comes a boat load of apples that requires a serious game plan to use them all up. First up, I made maple applesauce in the slow cooker (recipe coming soon!) which knocked my socks off.
This Caramel Apple French Toast Casserole, however, is a bit more indulgent than applesauce. But so, so good and so, so worth it.
Because a french toast casserole is really just bread pudding with perhaps a little less sugar. Since I am a huuuuuuge bread pudding fan, you know I'm all about french toast casseroles. With my lingering apple surplus and that nagging feeling inside of me wanting to make ALL THE FALL THINGS, I decided to make an apple french toast casserole.
We all absolutely loved this french toast casserole. I wasn't sure how Marc would like it, as he's not quite as into the fall flavors as I am (as in, he doesn't like pumpkin...GASP!) but he couldn't stop raving about it.
Another great thing about this french toast casserole is that it can be made the night before. So really, it's an overnight casserole, which is the best kind, because you can just roll out of bed and pop it in the oven. Then you let the oven do the work while you lounge around in your PJ's drinking coffee. Winning.
So how about you go off and have yourself an epic weekend, complete with this french toast casserole on Sunday morning? Sounds perfect to me!
Ingredients
- For the casserole:
- 10 cups french bread cubed
- 8 eggs
- 2 cups milk I used unsweetened vanilla almond milk
- ½ cup maple syrup
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon cloves
- For the apples:
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 3 medium apples peeled and diced
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- Crumb topping:
- ½ cup butter melted
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ cup flour
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Start by making the apples.
- Heat medium skillet over medium heat and melt butter.
- Add apples, brown sugar, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Cook apples until they are softened, about 7-10 minutes.
- Next, make the casserole.
- Spread cubed bread out in a 9x13" casserole dish that you have sprayed with cooking spray.
- Top with sautéed apples.
- In large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, maple syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves.
- Pour egg mixture over bread and apples.
- To make the topping:
- Combine melted butter, brown sugar, flour, pecans, cinnamon, and salt in medium bowl, mixing well to combine.
- Evenly distribute over casserole.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- The morning of, remove casserole from refrigerator and let sit at room temperature for 30 minutes.
- Once ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Bake in preheated oven, uncovered, for one hour.
- Serve immediately with maple syrup, caramel sauce, or powdered sugar.
- Enjoy!
Love that maple drizzle 🙂 This looks delicious, and I have a whole basket of apples from when I went apple picking 🙂
This baked French toast is downright pretty! I've been looking for one to make on holiday mornings, and this might be it. Yum!
Yay, sounds like an awesome weekend! Family time is the best! Love this french toast casserole! I can't get enough of the caramel apple combo! What a perfect breakfast!
My weekend was just made epic with plans to make this recipe. Caramel + apples + French toast = CANNOT WAIT.
Having visitors is definitely the best! And an excuse to make fabulous big breakfast like this! Really love this recipe 🙂