Caramel Apple French Toast Casserole
Author: 
Recipe type: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 4-6
 
Coffee and warm slices of this baked French toast casserole topped with apples and thick caramel sauce is just what you need on a lazy weekend or Holiday morning.
You will need:
  • Butter - 4 tbsp, divided
  • Bread slices - 8 (white or brown)
  • Eggs - 5, large
  • Milk - 1⅔ cups
  • Granulated sugar - 6 tbsp, divided
  • Brown sugar - ¼ cup
  • Vanilla extract - ½ tsp
  • Cinnamon powder - 1 tsp, divided
  • Apples - 2, peeled and thinly sliced
How to:
  1. Pre-heat oven to 375 deg.F.
  2. Place 2 tbsp butter in a 9" oven-proof dish. Place dish in oven to melt butter.
  3. Meanwhile, lightly toast bread slices in a toaster. Cut each slice of bread into biggish pieces.
  4. Take the dish from the oven and arrange the bread pieces in the dish. The bread should cover the entire surface without any gaps. Use more bread if needed.
  5. In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, ¼ cup granulated sugar, vanilla extract and ½ tsp of cinnamon powder.
  6. Pour over the bread pieces so that all the bread is soaked well in this custard. Push the bread pieces down so that all pieces are soaked in this eggy mixture. Set this aside while you prepare the apples.
  7. Heat 2 tbsp butter in a large skillet. Add apple slices, brown sugar and ½ tsp cinnamon powder. Cook till apples are soft, 5-6 minutes. The sauce should be golden and thick by now.
  8. Top the soaked bread with the apple slices. Use your fingers to push the apples down in the gaps between the bread. Reserve a few apple slices and the caramel sauce for later.
  9. Sprinkle 2 tbsp granulated sugar over the French toast mixture.
  10. Bake for 35-40 minutes or till top is golden and inside is just set. Remove form oven and cool for 5 minutes before cutting and serving.
  11. Serve with reserved apple slices and caramel sauce on top. Don't forget the coffee!
Notes:
1. I have used 4 slices of white bread and 4 slices of brown bread in this recipe. This gives a nice balance of softness and chewiness.
2. Don't skip the step of toasting the bread slices. It helps to keep the bread from simply dissolving in the custard.
3. If you are using crusty artisanal bread, lightly trim the crusts if it is too thick.
4. You will have to use more bread than you think is necessary. Fill up the pan with bread pieces till it fills at least half the pan. also, make sure all the bread is nicely drenched in the custard mixture.
5. You can use crisp red apples or a mix of red and green ones.
Recipe by At The Corner of Happy And Harried at https://www.happyandharried.com/2016/12/02/caramel-apple-french-toast-casserole/