Description
Hearty French bread casserole blends comfort and flavor from classic French cuisine. Rich ingredients combine seamlessly, creating a delightful meal that nourishes and satisfies. You will love this simple yet elegant dish.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 loaf crusty sourdough or French bread
- 8 eggs
- 2 cups (473 ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (118 ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
- ½ cup (100 g) firmly packed brown sugar
- 2 tbsps vanilla extract
- ½ cup (63 g) all-purpose flour
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- Freshly grated nutmeg, to taste (optional)
- ½ cup (113 g) cold butter, cut into small pieces
- Butter, for greasing the baking pan and serving
- 1 cup (150 g) fresh blueberries, for serving
- Warm syrup, for serving
Instructions
- Prep Foundation: Preheat oven to 350°F. Generously butter a 13-by-9-inch baking dish to create a non-stick surface for the casserole.
- Custard Fusion: Whisk eggs, milk, cream, sugars, and vanilla in a large bowl until harmoniously blended. Tear bread into rustic chunks, arranging them across the buttered pan. Pour custard mixture over bread, ensuring complete saturation. Cover and refrigerate for 8-12 hours, allowing bread to deeply absorb the luxurious liquid.
- Crumble Construction: In a separate bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg. Integrate chilled butter using fingertips or a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse, sandy texture. Refrigerate the crumb topping until ready to use.
- Baking Transformation: Remove casserole from refrigerator and evenly distribute the crumb topping across the bread surface. Bake covered with foil for 45-55 minutes, creating a moist, perfectly cooked foundation.
- Final Flourish: Uncover the casserole and continue baking for 15-20 minutes until the top achieves a golden, crisp landscape. Rest for 10 minutes before serving. Elevate the dish with a pat of softened butter, warm maple syrup drizzle, and a scatter of fresh blueberries for a decadent finish.
Notes
- Overnight Soak Secrets: Let bread absorb custard for 8-12 hours to develop deep, rich flavors and create a luxurious, custardy texture that melts in your mouth.
- Butter Coating Technique: Generously grease the pan with unsalted butter to prevent sticking and add a subtle, rich undertone to the entire dish.
- Crumb Topping Precision: Work quickly with cold butter and use a pastry cutter or fingertips to create a perfectly crumbly, sandy texture that ensures a crispy, golden-brown finish.
- Resting Rule: Allow the casserole to rest for 10 minutes after baking, which helps set the custard and makes serving easier, creating a more refined and cohesive dessert experience.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: Breakfast, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 40 g
- Sodium: 300 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 320 mg