This easy French toast casserole is easy and cream cheesy. Top it with mounds of cinnamon and syrup and we are well on our way to the best breakfast ever…in one hour.
This is going to be one of those “You’re an idiot” moments. Where you hand me my stupid sign and actually slap me upside the head. Because I JUST figured out why people listen to music on earbuds when they run. (Here’s your sign Karen.)
I suppose I shouldn’t say I figured it out, because really I always knew. I’ve just finally been convinced that it’s the way to go.
I ran 3 times longer than I usually do. 3 TIMES. (this burst of energy may or may not have been rooted in the fact that when I reached the distance that I usually run, I realized I had been jogging slowly for less than 2 songs. TWO SONGS.)
Turns out I can run for quite a while when I’m pacing myself to Cake and The Black Keys. It is SO MUCH BETTER than having to silently count each an every step in my brain: don’t..die..don’t..die..don’t.
Or actually, for me, it’s more like don’t………….die………
I think this earbud magic is finally going to break me out of this weird anti-running funk I’ve been in for the last 3…..years. #oops
I’ve always been resistant to wearing earbuds in public. It stems from my college days, when no one could even make it to their next class without their earbud fix. I’m scarred from one too many unrequited cheerful hellos.
Nothing’s changed. I love saying hi to people in my neighborhood, whether I know them or not. Except now when I call out a cheerful, normal greeting, really I’m yelling to half the neighborhood, “HEY, NICE NIGHT HUH??” Ah well. If you can’t beat em join em.
My brother Nathan (who ran an Ironman, btw. Puke.) has been trying to get me to make this Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole for years. He tried it first in Chile where his mission president’s wife would make it for him and the other missionaries. He has raved about it so many times.
Well he was right, as usual. Brother knows best, right? This Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole has 8 eggs so it almost has a custard texture to it. I love it served with fresh fruit and lots of maple syrup. This would be a great breakfast to make for Dad for Father’s Day this Sunday! ( I seriously think I might just make it again. And then go running. Blasting music in my ears while I yell at the neighbors.)
Well he was right, as usual. Brother knows best, right? This Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole has 8 eggs so it almost has a custard texture to it. I love it served with fresh fruit and lots of maple syrup. This would be a great breakfast to make for Dad for Father’s Day this Sunday! ( I seriously think I might just make it again. And then go running. Blasting music in my ears while I yell at the neighbors.)
Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole
Serves 12 adjust servingsIngredients
- 8 eggs
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 and 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2/3 cup cream
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
- 1/2 cup salted butter, melted (1 stick)
- 12 ounces (about 10 cups) french bread, cubed into bite-size pieces
- 8 ounces cream cheese, cubed into 1/2 inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- In a large bowl or stand mixer, whisk together eggs, sugar, whole milk, cream, maple syrup, and vanilla. Whisk for about a minute or two.
- In a separate bowl, microwave 1/2 cup butter until melted, about 30 seconds. Add the butter to the egg mixture and whisk thoroughly, another 1 or 2 minutes.
- Spray a 9x13 inch casserole dish with nonstick spray. Spread half of the bread over the bottom of the dish, then sprinkle half of the cream cheese chunks over the top. Add the rest of the bread, then sprinkle with the remaining cream cheese.
- Pour the egg mixture evenly over the top of the pan, making sure to get all of the bread wet.
- Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon cinnamon (I used a mesh strainer to make it more even.)
- Cover the dish with foil.
- Bake at 350 F for 35 minutes.
- Remove the foil from the pan and bake for another 10 minutes.
- Let cool for a few minutes, then serve with maple syrup and fresh fruit.
by The Food Charlatan
Source: Charlotte Openshaw (a friend of my brother’s)
Bring on the cinnamon, yo.
Other fun breakfast ideas:
Strawberry Mango Protein Smoothie
Raspberry Nocciolata Grilled Sandwich
Easy Breakfast Casserole with Potatoes and Ham
This recipe looks and sounds awesome! :) Should really try that as a Sunday breakfast. :)
I love how you just discovered listening to music while running. I’m really bad at it even when listening to music… :D Maybe I shouldn’t concentrate so much on my breathing and should concentrate on listening to the music instead. :) However, I’ll never be a good at running… Much better at eating
Have a great week, Karen.
Tina | Mademoiselle Gourmande recently posted…Gorgeous Lemon Cake
My anti-running streak has been going on since junior high, which is more decades ago than I’d like to admit. But this french toast casserole looks like something I could totally get behind.
Ami recently posted…Sometimes the Rolling Stones are Right.
I am totally that girl with earbuds in a little too often. Especially when I’m out running errands. I just love my podcasts too much. I am actually impressed you were able to run for so long without music! I would get bored out of my mind. I need my music to distract me as much as possible.
This sounds absolutely delicious Karen! I love that you put cream cheese in there. So yummy! I bet you could even make this the day before, keep it in the fridge, then just pop it in the oven in the morning.
Natalie @ Tastes Lovely recently posted…Easy Homemade Granola
Maybe I need to try the whole music thing while working out, because I’m terrible at working out, specifically, running. I think I can run from my house to the end of the street without dying. … Anyways..Completely salivating over this…..cream cheese..ahhh
Has anyone tried this recipe over night?
I’ve never tried doing this recipe overnight Jeshana, but I can’t see why it wouldn’t work. I’d love to hear how it goes if you try it out!
I’m trying it tonight. I’ll let you know how it goes.
Sheena Bates | The Gathering Table recently posted…Friday Faves: holiday food packaging
The cream cheese in this is pure genius. Bookmarked and happening soon here without a doubt. Love this!!
Matt Robinson recently posted…Mac-n-Cheese Stuffed Meatball Sandwiches
I couldn’t agree more !!!! Music makes walking//jogging//running soooo much better!!!!!! I actually forget that the muscles in my nerves are getting slightly knotty and walk an extra few kilometers!!!!! Hahahhaa and I thought I was the only one who measured my walks by the number of songs I was listening to while walking! :D This french toast has GOT TO BE the most tasty ones I have ever seen {and very soon going to be eating too! } Loveeeee it!
Samina | The Cupcake Confession recently posted…Garlic Chilli Chicken Noodles
This looks absolutely heavenly! Always wanted to try a french toast casserole.
Katya @ Little Broken recently posted…Coconut Shrimp Spring Rolls with Strawberry-Avocado Salsa and Creamy Almond Butter Dipping Sauce
Yum. Awesome pic.
Peter @Feed Your Soul Too recently posted…Steak Sauce
This looks SO good, Karen! I love how cake-y it looks. You’re right, I can tell it’s got a custard feel to it. I will definitely have to try this! Love that you use real maple syrup too…makes all the difference!
Beeta @ Miss Sophisticate recently posted…Santa Barbara 2014 Food and Wine Weekend at the Bacara Resort
This french toast casserole looks absolutely amazing Karen! Love the cream cheese in here :) Haha, I totally count down the seconds when I’m working out so I think I need to start blasting on some music next time!
This looks wonderful. Have you tried the Trader Joe’s B grade pure maple syrup. It’s dark and rich and strong almost bordering on nasty. I looove it.
Maralyn Woods recently posted…Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole
Bordering on nasty, lol!! I haven’t tried it, I need to get some!
Laughing at your new found love of music when you run. Loving this french toast casserole. Looks decadently delicious!
Laura @ Lauras Baking Talent recently posted…Smore Ice Cream
I’ve never ever tried a french toast casserole. And I’m kind of a breakfast fanatic so that seems weird. This looks freakin’ amazing though.
Hey at least you’re putting effort into running these days – good for you! I keep trying to tell myself that chasing my children around the house counts….but that won’t work forever!
I would not be able to make it through a run without music or some other form of entertainment. The louder the better – it needs to drown out the thoughts in my head that have me thinking about eating chocolate and lounging around instead, ha. But maybe I should turn it down a bit so I can focus on dreaming about this French Toast Casserole. Plus, your brother (the super athlete) is eating it, which means it must be good for you, right??!
Seriously though, right Kathi? If the ironman can eat it then that means I can too right? Wait a second… :)
Ugh, I’m so bad at running even with music. I’ve pretty much given up on it and just do long walks instead. This french toast casserole looks amazing! And a custard-like texture sounds magnificent. I can see why your brother wanted you to make it so badly! :)
Christin@SpicySouthernKitchen recently posted…Buttermilk Cornbread Muffins
it looks delicious!
dina recently posted…wd50 Is Closing This Fall
I’m glad you and the earbuds reconnected ;). I probably wouldn’t even make the mile mark without music. And yes, brothers do know best..most of the time. I’ve never added cream cheese to french toast, but you’ve never piqued my curiosity! Yum!
Min recently posted…Green Bean and Potato Salad with Lemon Anchovy Dressing
Your brother is a bad ass (and I echo your “puke” comment about the iron man. Just reading the words “iron man” made me tired. Unless we’re referring to his awesomeness, Robert Downey Junior. Then replace “puke” with swoon). I can’t believe you used to run without listening to music. You poor thing. I can’t do it. The deafening silence means that all I can think about is “please let me die, please let me die” so that I can cease feeling the excruciating pain and boredom of jogging. Now, if someone tied this casserole on a fishing rod held out in front of me a la cartoons, I’d run like crazy to try to catch up to it and eat it. Or just eat it and forego the running. Yeah, the latter option is definitely more attractive.
Nancy @ gottagetbaked recently posted…A Cake Smash for My Two Year Blogiversary
haha oh running. I feel so good after I run but during it I feel like I’m going to die : ) But I’ll keep trying to run if it means I can eat this french toast casserole! It sounds absolutely delicious!
Ashley recently posted…Firecracker Cauliflower
Gorgeous pics as usual. Running with earbuds is the only way to run!
Chels recently posted…Smoky Grilled Potato Wedges
I wish I could run with headphones! But… I was a marching band geek, so I always have to run/walk with the beat of the music. My pace would change every 3 minutes, and I’d be panting and dying with most songs — I’m THAT slow! You probably look like a speedster compared to me. :) And this french toast casserole… My dad would’ve loved it for Father’s Day! He loves recipes like these, especially when they end in a thick sprinkle of cinnamon. Pinned!
Amy @ Amy’s Healthy Baking recently posted…Skinny BLTs with White Garlic Sauce
Haha, I totaly get what you mean with the whole running to the beat. My dad is a high school band director…..I’ve been around music and marching my whole life! It drives my wife nuts….she’s all, just walk faster, when we are at the mall, and Im like, I can’t! The song is too slow!
This was amazing. We made it on Thanksgiving morning and I plan to make it again on Christmas… if I can wait! Thank you!!
Hatton recently posted…If life gives you lemons, may they always be perfectly sliced with the Williams-Sonoma multi chopper.
Woohoo! I’m glad your family loved it Hatton! Thanks for commenting!
So is it right that the creAm cheese doesn’t melt all the way?
Hi Theresa! No, the cream cheese doesn’t melt all the way, you can see the chunks of cream cheese in the photos. Enjoy!
When do you add the vanilla?????
Hey Jessa! You add it with the other liquid ingredients. Sorry about that! I fixed the recipe. Enjoy!
Hi there! I’m going away for a well deserved loooooong weekend during the Thanksgiving holiday. I’m looking for recipes that I can make ahead. Has anyone tried making this and freezing or at least a day ahead?
Thanks,
Cathy
Hey Cathy! You can assemble the french toast, cover it, refrigerate overnight, and bake it in the morning. I’ve never tried letting it sit longer than that. Let me know how it goes!
Wow!! This looks incredible! Great for an Easter brunch!