French Toast Casserole with Pan-Fried Bacon

Instructions

1. 1

   Prepare the Baking Dish and Bread

   • Generously grease a 9x13 inch (23x33 cm) baking dish with 2 tablespoons of melted unsalted butter.
   • Arrange the cubed brioche bread in a single, even layer in the prepared dish.
2. 2

   Mix the Custard

   • In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the 8 large eggs until the yolks and whites are fully combined.
   • Add the whole milk, heavy cream, 1/2 cup of light brown sugar, vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt.
   • Whisk vigorously until the mixture is smooth and the sugar has dissolved, about 1-2 minutes.
3. 3

   Soak the Bread

   • Carefully and evenly pour the custard mixture over the bread cubes in the baking dish.
   • Gently press down on the bread with a spatula to ensure all pieces are moistened, but do not compress it.
   • Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or a lid and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight for the best texture.
4. 4

   Prepare the Streusel Topping and Preheat Oven

   • When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
   • In a small bowl, combine the all-purpose flour, the remaining 1/4 cup of light brown sugar, and the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon.
   • Add the 8 tablespoons of cold, cubed unsalted butter. Using a pastry blender, two knives, or your fingertips, cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse, pea-sized crumbs.
5. 5

   Bake the Casserole

   • Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and uncover it.
   • Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the surface.
   • Bake for 45-55 minutes, until the top is golden brown and crispy, and the center is set (a knife inserted into the center should come out clean with no liquid egg).
   • If the topping begins to brown too quickly, loosely tent the dish with aluminum foil for the remainder of the baking time.
6. 6

   Rest and Serve

   • Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest on a wire rack for 10-15 minutes before slicing.
   • Serve warm slices drizzled with maple syrup and a dusting of powdered sugar, if desired.