A creamy cinnamon custard soaks into challah bread chunks and diced apple overnight to create this creamy french toast casserole. Cream cheese is dolloped over top to balance the sweetness. If you want to be extra, serve this overnight breakfast casserole with a drizzle of maple syrup!
3cupsapplespeeled and chopped into ¼ to ½ in cubes-about 2 large apples
1loaf challah breadcut into 1-2 inch cubes and preferably day old
1 ½cupshalf and half
1cup2% milk
8eggs
⅔cupbrown sugar
1teaspoonvanilla extract
½teaspoonsalt
2teaspooncinnamon
¼teaspoonnutmeg
8ozcream cheesecut into ½ cubes, optional but highly suggested!
Maple syrup for servingoptional
Instructions
Spray a 9 x 13 or 3 qt baking dish with cooking spray.
Combine bread cubes and apples in a large bowl and mix to combine. Pour into the baking dish.
In the same bowl from the bread and apples whisk the eggs. Add half and half, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg and whisk until fully combined.
Pour the egg mixture over the apple and bread cubes, pushing down any cubes that aren’t fully submerged.
Top the casserole with cubes of cream cheese evenly. Cover with foil and place in the refrigerator overnight.
Remove the casserole from the refrigerator while preheating the oven to 350 degrees.
Bake for 25 minutes covered. Remove foil and continue baking for 25-35 minutes until golden brown on top and set in the middle.
Let cool for about 5-10 minutes before digging in! Serve with maple syrup if desired.
Notes
Instead of challah, a brioche loaf or a french loaf can be used. Ideally, the bread should be a day old so if it is fresh, cube, and place on a baking sheet and bake for 10-15 minutes at 350.
Nutrition
Calories: 253kcal
Keyword apple, breakfast casserole, french toast, overnight casserole