Challah French Toast Casserole For Breakfast

One of my favorite breads is Challah. Many weeks, we'd start a loaf on Friday and by Monday, it was gone. French toast made with challah is just wonderful.

We have made our own challah and we've bought challah at both stores and bakeries.

If you make your own challah, you can knead by hand and allow to rise, or you can use a bread machine. We've tried many different challah recipes. We do have our favorite but several of them have been very good.

There are also a few stores that make challah that we all like.

I'd like to share a French toast casserole recipe that uses one full loaf of challah.

French Toast Casserole

1 loaf of challah
1 cup of milk (whole milk or half and half works best)
(if your challah is large add additional liquid to the recipe)
¾ cup brown sugar
8 eggs
1 tablespoon vanilla
½ teaspoon cinnamon
Salt to taste

Slice the challah into 1 ½ inch thick slices. Place in the bottom of a casserole dish. Tear the bread as needed to fit into the casserole dish. Mix together the remaining ingredients. Pour over the casserole, cover and store in refrigerator over night.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake for 45 minutes.

I have seen both ginger and nutmeg used in French toast casserole recipes. If you like those flavors, you can add ½ teaspoon of nutmeg or ¼ teaspoon ground ginger. Both will add additional flavor to the casserole.

You can also add either cranberries or raisins to the recipe. Pour the fruit on top of the bread in the casserole dish before pouring the liquid mixture on top.

When the casserole is done, cut into squares to serve. You can sprinkle powdered sugar on top, spoon fruit filling over the top or pour syrup on top.