overnight CINNAMON ROLL FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

CINNAMON ROLL FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE
TOAST
12 slices thick BRIOCHE bread
2 cups whole milk
6 LARGE eggs
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 1/2 teaspoons PURE vanilla extract
3 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon QUALITY cinnamon

  • Cut bread into 1 inch cubes.
  • Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non stick cooking spray.
  • Place bread cubes in a large mixing bowl.
  • In a small bowl whisk together the sugar, brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon of the cinnamon.
  • Evenly sprinkle the cinnamon mixture over bread cubes and toss.
  • Whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla and sugar.
  • Pour evenly over bread cubes and toss to coat.
  • Fold in raisins.
  • Arrange an even layer in the baking dish.
  • Cover tightly with saran and chill overnight.

TOPPING
1/4 + 1/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon QUALITY cinnamon
6 tablespoons melted butter

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Uncover casserole.
  • Mix together 1/4 cup sugar and cinnamon.
  • Sprinkle over casserole.
  • Drizzle melted butter over casserole.
  • Bake 35-45 minutes until browned and baked though in the center.

ICING
2 ounces cream cheese, softened
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
4-6 tablespoons whole milk
2+ cups powdered sugar

  • Cream together the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy.
  • Add vanilla and 4 tablespoons milk, blending until smooth.
  • Gradually add powdered sugar until well incorporated.
  • Add more milk 1 tablespoon at a time until you reach a pourable desired consistency.
  • Pour over slightly cooled french toast casserole and serve.

BANANA LEMON BLUEBERRY FRENCH TOAST

BANANA LEMON BLUEBERRY* FRENCH TOAST
1 16 ounce loaf DAY OLD sourdough, french or brioche bread, cut into 1 inch cubes
2 LARGE roasted bananas (OPTIONAL) see note
1 1/2 cup WILD small blueberries*
6 LARGE eggs
4 large egg whites
2 cups milk
1/3 cup PURE maple syrup
ZEST and juice of 1 LARGE lemon
1 tablespoon PURE vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon sea salt
Powdered sugar, butter and maple syrup for serving

  • Spray a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Spread a layer of the roasted bananas on the bottom of the baking dish

 

  • In a large mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, egg whites, milk, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, cinnamon and salt.
  • Fold in the bread pieces.
  • Pour mixture into baking dish evenly.
  • Sprinkle blueberries over bread pieces.
  • Cover the baking dish tightly with saran and refrigerate over night.

 

  • Remove baking dish from refrigerator and let sit out while you preheat the oven to 350°.
  • Bake uncovered 45-55 minutes until golden brown and center is set.
  • Serve dusted with powdered sugar or butter and maple syrup.

NOTE:*

  • You can substitute the blueberries with just about ANY other berry, peaches or even apples making this recipe just as delicious!
  • Let the bread cubes sit out on the counter overnight. The dryer they are, the more custard they will absorb. You want them to be crispy like croutons.
  • This can be frozen, but I really don’t recommend it – it always seems soggy to me.
  • This is a GREAT way to use up bananas if you need to, but the recipe works wonderfully even without them.

CREME BRULEE FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

CREME BRULEE FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE – serves 6
I found this make ahead casserole that lets you spend your weekend with your loved ones instead of slaving in the kitchen over at Marilyn’s Treats. I’ve made a few changes to adjust to our taste palette, but it still tastes like it was made in a 5 star restaurant.  AND THIS IS SO GOOD ALL BY ITSELF THAT YOU CAN SKIP THE SABAYON SAUCE IF YOU WANT TO MAKE IT EVEN SIMPLER.

FRENCH TOAST
½ cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoons QUALITY honey
1 pound bread French, challah, or croissants, torn into 1 inch cubes
8 large eggs
1 ¼ cup buttermilk
1¼ cups heavy cream
1 tablespoon PURE vanilla
½ teaspoon almond extract
¼ teaspoon salt
sprinkle of nutmeg
sprinkle of cinnamon
FRESH sliced fruit, strawberries, peaches, blueberries, blackberries, mandarin oranges

  • In a small saucepan cook the butter, brown sugar and honey over moderate heat, stirring frequently, until smooth and tawny colored.
  • Pour the mixture in an even layer into a 13×9 baking dish.
  • Add all the bread on top of sugar mixture and press lightly so the bread compresses, but don’t squish more than about ¼ of the air out.
  In a medium bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, vanilla, almond extract and salt until combined well and pour evenly over the bread.

  • Sprinkle with nutmeg and cinnamon.
  • Cover the casserole with cling wrap and refrigerate a few hours or overnight.

 

  • Preheat oven to 350°.
  • Bring casserole to room temperature.
  • Bake casserole, uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed and edges are pale golden, 35 to 40 minutes. The simplest method to check for doneness is with a digital thermometer. The casserole is ready when the internal temperature is 160.
  • Serve hot French toast immediately with FRESH fruit, butter, Sabayon sauce, favorite syrup or whipped cream.

SABAYON SAUCE – is a French name for the traditional Italian custard sauce originally known as Zabaione
6 large yolks
1/4 cup – 1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon of vanilla
4 tablespoon of Marsala wine or Coconut or Pineapple Rum (see notes)
1 teaspoon lemon or orange zest optional
1/2 cup whipped cream or 4 tablespoons whipped Mascarpone cheese **optional

  • First, fill a large bowl with water and ice and set this aside.
  • Set up a double boiler on your stove top and make sure that the bowl that is sitting on top is not touching the hot water below in the pot.
  • Add the yolks to the bowl and turn the heat on medium high and start whisking. The yolks will slowly get warmer, so keep on whisking and add a little sugar at a time until it is all incorporated. Continue to whip until the sSbayon is very pale and registers 160°F on your thermometer. Make sure you continue whisking so as not to cook the yolks. Cook at this temperature for a few minutes and then carefully remove the bowl from the double boiler and set it into the larger bowl that you have set aside that is half filled with ice water. Continue to whip until completely cool and ribbons form as it falls from the whisk.
  • Add the Marsala wine or liquor of your choice, zest and the vanilla.
  • Fold in the whipped cream and serve immediately.

NOTES:

  • It looks the prettiest when the pieces are served upside down.  You can also invert the entire casserole onto a slightly larger platter or cookie sheet for serving a large group.
  • Traditionally, Sabayon is made with Marsala wine, but you can use whatever you like. Many people use rum, brandy, cognac, grand marnier etc… Whatever you use, just make sure that the flavor of the liquor will compliment the fruit you are using. I like a pineapple rum with strawberries. 😀 This batch was made with Marsala, blueberries and oranges.
  • Using the whipped cream in the Sabayon sauce lightens it up just before serving.

BANANA BREAD PANCAKES & CREAM CHEESE SYRUP

Banana Bread Pancakes
Yields about 1 dozen
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup whole milk
1/4 cup + 2 tablespoons buttermilk
1 cup mashed well, overripe bananas (about 2 bananas)
1/4 cup sour cream
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, melted
banana slices, for garnish (optional) – hubs ate these, sorry they’re not in the picture
chopped walnuts or pecans, for garnish (optional)
  • Preheat a non-stick griddle.
  • In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt, set aside.
  • In a separate mixing bowl whisk together buttermilk, milk, mashed bananas, sour cream, egg, vanilla and melted butter.
  • Add dry ingredients to milk mixture and whisk just until combine.
  • Pour about 1/4 cup mixture onto buttered preheated griddle and using the measuring cup slightly spread the batter outward keeping a circular form (this helps them to be more even so you don’t get the fat center and thin sides).
  • Cook until bubbles begin to appear on the surface and bottom is golden, then flip pancake and cook opposite side until golden.
  • Serve immediately with Cinnamon Cream Cheese Syrup and garnish with optional banana slices and chopped nuts.
Cream Cheese Syrup
1/4 cup butter
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup buttermilk
4 oz cream cheese
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium low heat.
  • Stir in sugar, cinnamon, buttermilk and cream cheese.
  • Cook mixture, whisking constantly until cream cheese has melted.
  • Stir in baking soda and whisk for about 10 seconds until very frothy.
  • Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
  • Serve warm.
  • Store in refrigerator up to 1 week.