Caramel Apple French Toast Casserole

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.

Last Monday was National French Toast day. Better late than never, but I have a superb baked apple French toast recipe for you today. And what’s more? No need to cook each slice of bread on the skillet, just assemble in one pan and bake as a breakfast casserole. Doesn’t get easier. Or more delicious!

French toast is best made with thick slices of artisan bread, but I simply use whatever I have on hand. Even regular sandwich loaves, brown or white, work well with a little trick. The trick is to use slightly dry bread slices. And a quick way to do that is to lightly toast the bread slices before soaking and assembling them.

Apples are quickly sautéed in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon to make the topping. Reserve the golden caramel sauce to drizzle on top just before serving.

This recipe for baked apple French toast doesn’t need any overnight soaking at all. It can be made pretty quickly in the morning. The bread needs to soak in the custard just for the short time it takes to prepare the caramelized apples on the stove. And into the oven it goes.

Bake till the top is golden and the insides are just set. This apple French toast tastes best while still warm, but my hubby enjoys the cold leftovers equally. It’s almost like bread pudding! Maybe with a scoop of ice cream on top? Ooh…heavenly!

I’ve made this recipe in a 9″ pan for our family of 3, but you can double the recipe to make 2 pans for a larger crowd. I use crisp red apples in most of my baking but if you like tart Granny Smith apples, use them as well.

Reserve a few apple slices and the caramel sauce to drizzle on top of the French toast. It takes this french toast over the top. A glorious breakfast is ready with very little effort. Isn’t that the best kind of breakfast? Boy has already decided that this will be our Christmas morning breakfast this year, and I couldn’t agree more!!

A hot cup of coffee and a slice of this warm caramel apple French toast enjoyed with the golden sunlight streaming in the windows is just what the doctor ordered for a wonderful start to the day.

Caramel Apple French Toast Casserole

 

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Prep time

25 mins

Cook time

35 mins

Total time

1 hour

 

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.

Author: Anjana Devasahayam

Recipe type: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Serves: 4-6

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.

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Do you like French toast? Have you tried baking a French toast casserole? What is your favorite topping? Do share.

Do try this recipe this Holiday season and let me know how you like it.

Want more Holiday recipes? Check out this page for all recipes under #ChristmasRecipeSeries.

Check out this recipe for savory French toast roll-ups.

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I am sharing this over at Fiesta Friday, FoodieFriDIY & Saucy Saturday.