Apple Pie French Toast Bake

This delicious breakfast dish is perfect for a Mother’s Day brunch!  Skip the crowded restaurants and make this— just don’t forget to do the dishes!!

Apple Pie French Toast Bake

350 degrees-middle oven rack

8x8 dish-Serves 4-6

Ingredients:

1 tablespoon softened butter for dish

8-10 slices brioche bread 

6 eggs 

3 Tablespoons maple syrup

2 cups whole milk or half and half 

1 cup apples peeled and diced (about 2-3 apples) Fuji or Honeycrisp are great choices for apples

1 Tablespoon brown sugar

1 Tablespoon granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon apple pie spice

Streusel-mix together with a fork until crumb-like consistency forms.

4 Tablespoons softened butter

1/2 cup brown sugar 

1/2 cup all purpose flour 

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 

Pinch of salt

1/4 cup chopped pecans-optional 

Directions:

Butter an 8x8 casserole dish-set aside.

On a baking sheet, place brioche bread in a single layer, toast for 10-12 minutes in a low 200 degree oven-to lightly dry out the bread. Let bread cool, then slice into 1-2 inch squares. (If you have the time, you can simply leave bread out for a few hours-the bread should be slightly stale, but not crunchy-stale bread soaks up the milk and egg better.)

Place bread into the buttered casserole dish.

Peel and dice the apples (about 1 inch sized pieces) Toss the apples in a mixture of the brown sugar, granulated sugar and the apple pie spice. Add the coated apples to the bread.

In a large bowl, add 6 eggs, 2 cups milk and 3 Tablespoons of maple syrup.  Gently whisk until smooth.  Slowly pour the egg/milk/syrup mixture over the bread and apples.  Let the bread soak in the mixture for 3 minutes. Submerge any noticeably dry bread pieces.

Cover casserole with foil and bake in a preheated 350 degree oven for 40 minutes on the middle oven rack.  After 40 minutes, remove the foil, add the streusel crumb topping and bake, uncovered for 20 minutes more.

The finished Apple Pie French Toast Bake should be puffed, golden and reach and internal temperature of 170 degrees when baked.

Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes after removing from the oven. Slice and serve.  

It’s delicious plain, but you can add syrup, whipped cream or a drizzle of caramel sauce to make it extra delicious.

For a large crowd-double the recipe-and use a 9x13 casserole dish. 

This can be made ahead-and refrigerated overnight.  Bake time may take an extra 10 minutes.

Brioche bread is a delicious rich eggy bread... you can see the deep yellow color-it sort of looks like French toast already.

This is the bread I used... store bought from the regular bread section.  Some brioche breads will be whole loaves in the bakery department of some stores— you can slice those breads at home—either are great choices!