Company French Toast Easy To Do Ahead Holiday Breakfast Food

EASY FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Grease a 9x12-inch baking dish.
• Stir 1 cup brown sugar and butter together in a saucepan over medium-low heat until butter melts and sugar dissolves into butter, 2 to 4 minutes. Pour into prepared baking dish and spread a 1 1/2- to 2-inch layer of bread pieces over the top.
• Beat milk, eggs, and vanilla extract together in a bowl; pour milk mixture over bread into the baking dish and move bread as necessary to ensure all bread is absorbing liquid. Sprinkle cinnamon over the top. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C). Remove and discard plastic wrap from baking dish and sprinkle remaining brown sugar over the top of the bread mixture.
• Bake in the preheated oven until browned and bubbling, about 30 minutes.

COMPANY FRENCH TOAST EASY TO DO-AHEAD HOLIDAY BREAKFAST

Steps:

• Melt butter in a 9x12 glass casserole.
• Add brown sugar and cinnamon. Stir, covering bottom of pan (add more butter or sugar if necessary for a thick sauce).
• Place six slices of bread to cover bottom of pan.
• Add any 'dress up' additions you may want onto the top of each slice of bread. Some ideas may be a dollop of cream cheese, jam, banana slices, caramel covered pecans, cooked bacon or sausage, etc. Feel free to leave out the extras - I usually don't add anything.
• Top with remaining six slices of bread.
• Slice each 'sandwich' diagonally. This creates beautiful, triangular servings.
• Mix eggs, water, salt and pepper together in a bowl. You can also use milk instead of water. (At 9000ft elevation, I have found water works better when scrambling eggs. I don't know why that is.).
• Pour egg mixture over bread slices and cover dish with foil.
• Refrigerate overnight.
• In the morning, put cold pan into cold oven and turn the heat to 350. Bake about 35 minutes until eggs are set.
• To serve, loosen sides and separate each serving with spatula. Scoop each serving upside down onto plate. The brown sugar mixture becomes the top of the sandwich and runs down the sides.

BASIL BACON & TOMATO FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 220°C Place the bacon on a baking tray and cook for 12-15 minutes or until crisp.
• Place the tomatoes on a baking tray, drizzle with the oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper and roast for 5 minutes or until the skins just split.
• Set aside and keep warm. Place the eggs, cream, parmesan, basil, salt and pepper in a bowl and whisk until well combined.
• Heat the butter in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Dip the bread in the egg mixture and cook, in batches, for 2 minutes each side or until golden.
• Serve with the bacon and roasted tomatoes.

OVERNIGHT OVEN FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Pour melted butter into bottom of baking sheet to coat.
• Beat next 7 ingredients together well.
• Dip both sides of each bread slice into egg mixture. Pour any remaining mixture over slices. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Can be frozen at this state.
• Uncover and bake in 400 F oven on bottom rack for 25 to 30 minutes.
• Place on rack to cool.
• Dust with icing sugar when warm, if desired.
• NOTE: Commercial eggnog can be substituted for milk for a richer, or more festive, flavour.