Ina Garten French Toast Casserole With Pecans Food

CHALLAH FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.
• In a large shallow bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, orange zest, vanilla, honey, and salt. Slice the challah in 3/4-inch thick slices. Soak as many slices in the egg mixture as possible for 5 minutes, turning once.
• Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 1 tablespoon oil in a very large saute pan over medium heat. Add the soaked bread and cook for 2 to 3 minutes on each side, until nicely browned. Place the cooked French toast on a sheet pan and keep it warm in the oven. Fry the remaining soaked bread slices, adding butter and oil as needed, until it's all cooked. Serve hot with maple syrup, raspberry preserves, and/or confectioners' sugar.

RASPBERRY BAKED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Grease a 9 x 13 x 2-inch oval baking dish with the butter and set aside. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, 1/3 cup of granulated sugar, the brown sugar, vanilla, orange zest, and salt.
• Spread half of the diced bread in the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle on the raspberries in one layer. Top with the rest of the bread and pour on the egg mixture, pressing down lightly to moisten the bread. Sprinkle with the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Place the baking dish on a sheet pan and bake it for 60 to 70 minutes, until the custard is set and the top is puffed and browned. Check after 45 minutes; if the top is getting too browned, cover it lightly with aluminum foil. Cool for 10 minutes, sprinkle with confectioners' sugar, dust with extra orange zest, and serve warm with maple syrup.

CREME BRULEE FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• In a small heavy saucepan melt butter with butter with brown sugar and corn syrup over moderate heat, stirring, until smooth and pour into a 13 by 9 by 2-inch baking dish. Cut 6 (1-inch) thick slices from center portion of bread, reserving ends for another use, and trim crusts. Arrange bread slices in one layer in baking dish, squeezing them slightly to fit. In a bowl whisk together eggs, half and half, vanilla, Grand Marnier and salt until combined well and pour evenly over bread. Chill bread mixture, covered, at least 8 hours and up to 1 day.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and bring bread mixture to room temperature. Bake uncovered, in middle of oven until puffed and edges are pale golden, 35 to 40 minutes.

BAKED PECAN FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Place the eggs, milk, sugar, nutmeg or cinnamon and vanilla in a medium mixing bowl and whisk to combine.
• Mist the bottom of a 12 by 8-inch glass casserole with vegetable oil spray or brush with melted butter.
• Place the bread slices in a single layer in the pan.
• Pour the egg mixture over the bread, distributing it evenly.
• Turn the bread slices once.
• Cover the pan with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight.
• The next morning, preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Remove the pan from the refrigerator and remove the plastic wrap.
• Sprinkle the bread slices with pecans and drizzle with melted butter.
• Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until bread slices puff up and pecans are deep brown but not burned.
• Serve warm with maple syrup.
• Instead of a cup of milk, use 2/3 cup orange juice and 1/3 cup of the milk.
• You can vary this further by adding a little grated orange zest with the pecans before baking.

PAULA DEEN'S PRALINE FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Generously butter a 13 X 9 inch casserole dish;.
• Mix the eggs, half and half, maple syrup,and sugar in a large bowl.
• Place the bread slices in the prepared casserole dish and cover with the egg mixture: cover with plastic wrap and let soak overnight in refrigerator.
• Preheat oven to 350 degrees; remove the casserole from refrigerator.
• Make the Topping: melt the butter in a saucepan; add sugar and maple syrup and cook for 1 to 2 minutes; stir in pecans;.
• Pour the mixture over the bread and bake for 45 to 55 minutes, allow to cool 10 minutes before serving, enjoy.

BAKED FRENCH TOAST WITH PECAN CRUMBLE

Steps:

• For french toast:
• Spread out bread on a rimmed baking sheet; let stand overnight.
• Butter a 13x9" baking dish. Cut bread so slices are similar in size. Arrange, overlapping, in rows in prepared dish.
• Whisk eggs, egg yolks, cream, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl. Pour over bread, pressing bread to help it soak up custard. Cover and chill at least 2 hours.
• For pecan crumble and assembly:
• Preheat oven to 375°F. Pulse pecans, butter, brown sugar, and salt in a food processor until nuts are coarsely chopped.
• Scatter pecan crumble over soaked bread. Place dish on a rimmed baking sheet and cover tightly with foil. Bake until warmed through (a knife inserted into the center should feel warm to the touch), 25-30 minutes. Remove foil and bake until deeply browned, 35-40 minutes longer. Let cool slightly before serving with Blackberry Syrup.
• Bread can be soaked 1 day ahead. Keep chilled. Pecan mixture can be made 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

BROWN SUGAR PECAN OVERNIGHT FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cut bread into 1-inch cubes and place in a 9x13-inch baking pan sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
• In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, sugar and cinnamon.
• Pour over bread in prepared pan; set aside.
• In another bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, salt, butter and cinnamon using a fork or pastry cutter until crumbs begin to form.
• Sprinkle mixture on top of the bread then top with chopped pecans.
• Cover and store in fridge overnight.
• The next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Bake, uncovered, for 40-45 minutes, or until the center is set and bread is golden brown.
• Cut into pieces and serve with maple syrup.