Make Ahead Raisin Brioche Food

THE BEST FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Butter a 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
• For the casserole: Trim the ends from 1 loaf day-old brioche (about 1 pound) and cut into ten 1-inch thick slices. Cut each slice in half diagonally to make two triangles from each piece. (If the bread is fresh, dry it out a bit. Place the slices in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake at 300 degrees F for 10 minutes, flipping halfway through.)
• Whisk together the eggs, cream, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and 1/4 teaspoon salt in a large bowl until well blended. Dip each triangle of bread in the custard, lightly coating each side. Shingle the pieces in the prepared pan, overlapping slightly.
• Pour any remaining custard over the bread slices. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or up to overnight.
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let rest 15 to 20 minutes at room temperature before baking. Remove the plastic wrap and bake until the casserole is golden and puffed and the custard is set, 45 to 50 minutes.
• For the topping: bring the butter, sugar and syrup to a boil in a medium nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Cook until the butter is melted and the mixture is begins to thicken, about 2 minutes. Add the vanilla, a pinch of salt, and the walnuts, stirring to coat. Turn off the heat and add the sliced bananas, stirring to coat evenly. Spoon the desired amount of the banana-syrup mixture over the casserole and serve any additional on the side.

MAKE-AHEAD RAISIN BRIOCHE

Steps:

• Mix yeast, water and 2 teaspoons sugar in small bowl; set aside. Place flour, 1/2 cup sugar, the cinnamon and salt in food processor; cover and process until mixed. Add butter; process until well blended.
• Beat milk and 3 eggs into yeast mixture with wire whisk; slowly add to flour mixture and process until well blended. Stir in raisins. (Dough will be sticky.)
• Place dough on well-floured surface; gently roll in flour to coat. Knead 1 minute until dough is smooth and springy, adding more flour if necessary. Place dough in greased large bowl, turning dough to grease all sides. Cover tightly and let rise in warm place 40 minutes.
• Grease 12 large muffin cups, 3x1 1/2 inches. Gently push fist into dough to deflate. Using about 1/4 cup dough each, make 12 balls; place in muffin cups. Using about 1 tablespoon dough each, make 12 smaller balls; place on top of each large ball. Cover and refrigerate at least 8 hours or overnight.
• Remove rolls from refrigerator. Let rise covered in warm place 40 to 45 minutes or until almost double.
• Heat oven to 350°F. Brush rolls with beaten egg white. Bake 22 to 26 minutes or until golden brown. Immediately remove from pan. Serve warm, or cool on wire rack.

RAISIN BRIOCHE PASTRIES (PAINS AUX RAISINS)

Steps:

• Make brioche dough the day before making pastry and chill.
• Just before making pastry cream, soak raisins in boiling-hot water until softened, about 10 minutes. Drain, pressing out excess liquid, and cool to room temperature.
• Make pastry cream:
• Bring milk to a simmer in a 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan. Whisk together yolks, sugar, and cornstarch in a bowl and gradually whisk in hot milk. Return mixture to pan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until mixture begins to boil. Simmer, stirring, until thickened and smooth, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer to a clean bowl and stir in vanilla and butter. Cover surface with plastic wrap and cool to room temperature.
• Make pastries:
• Roll out brioche dough on a well-floured surface into an 18- by 11-inch rectangle with a short side toward you. Spread pastry cream evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border at top edge. Sprinkle raisins evenly over cream. Roll up dough, starting from bottom, to make a log 11 inches long and about 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Moisten top edge with water and press to seal closed.
• Transfer to a cutting board or baking sheet and cover loosely with plastic wrap.
• Chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• Cut chilled log into 11 (1-inch-thick) rounds and arrange about 2 inches apart on 2 buttered baking sheets.
• Let pastries rise in a warm place, uncovered, 1 hour. (They will increase slightly in size and feel very tender to the touch.)
• While pastries are rising, preheat oven to 425°F.
• Bake in batches in middle of oven until tops are golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer pastries to a rack.
• Simmer preserves and water, stirring, 1 minute. Pour through a sieve into a bowl, pressing on solids. Brush glaze onto pastries.

VANILLA BRIOCHE BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Space two racks evenly in the oven.
• Cut five 3/4-inch-thick slices of brioche and place them in one layer on a sheet pan. Trim some of the crusts from the remaining brioche and cut in 1-inch dice. Spread out on a second sheet pan. Put both pans in the oven for 5 minutes to lightly toast the bread.
• Meanwhile, for the custard, whisk together the whole eggs, yolks, half-and-half, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla and vanilla seeds in a large bowl and set aside. Line a 3-quart baking dish with the whole slices of brioche, cutting them to fit in one layer. Distribute the diced brioche on top. Pour on the custard and press lightly so all the bread is soaked with custard. Set aside for 10 minutes.
• Place the dish in a roasting pan large enough to allow the baking dish to sit flat. Pour about 1 inch of the hottest tap water into the roasting pan, being sure not to get any water into the custard. Cover the roasting pan tightly with aluminum foil, tenting the foil so it doesn't touch the pudding. Cut a few holes in the foil to allow steam to escape. Bake for 45 minutes. Uncover and bake for 45 to 50 minutes, until the custard is set and a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve warm with the melted ice cream.

BRIOCHE

Steps:

• Put the flour in a bowl of a stand mixer with a dough hook. Add the salt to one side and sugar to the other. Pour in the yeast to the side with the sugar. Mix each side into the flour with your hands, then mix it all together with the dough hook.
• Heat the milk until warm to the touch, but not hot. Mix into the flour mix until combined. With the dough hook on medium, gradually add the eggs and mix for 10 mins.
• Gradually add the softened butter, one or two cubes at a time, until combined. This will take 5-8 mins. Scrape down the sides, the dough will be very soft.
• Scrape the dough into a large bowl, cover with a tea towel and leave for 1 hr 30 mins-2 hrs until doubled in size and well-risen. Once risen, put in the fridge for 1 hr.
• Line the bottom and sides of a 900g loaf tin with baking parchment. Portion the dough into seven equal pieces (the easiest way to do this accurately is to weigh it). Lightly dust a work surface with flour, take a piece of dough and pull each corner into the middle to form a circular shape. With a bit of pressure, push down and roll into ball. Repeat with the six remaining pieces.
• Put the balls into the tin, four on one side and three in the gaps on the other side. Cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for 30-35 mins until almost doubled in size. Heat the oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Lightly brush the dough with the egg wash and bake for 30-35 mins until golden and risen. Leave to cool in the tin for 20 mins, then remove and cool completely.

CINNAMON-RAISIN FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Dip brioche in egg mixture, then arrange in dish, overlapping slightly and sprinkling raisins between slices. Pour remaining egg mixture over brioche and let stand 30 minutes or refrigerate up to overnight. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Bake until puffed and custard is just set in center, 55 to 65 minutes (tent with foil, if browning too quickly). Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.

BAREFOOT CONTESSA'S BREAKFAST BREAD PUDDING

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• In a medium bowl, whisk together the whole eggs, egg yolks, half-and-half, honey, vanilla, orange zest, and salt.
• Set aside.
• Slice the brioche loaf into 6 (1-inch) thick pieces.
• Lay half brioche slices flat in a 9 by 14 by 2-inch oval baking dish.
• Spread the raisins on top of the brioche slices, and place the remaining slices on top.
• Make sure that the raisins are between the layers of brioche or they will burn while baking.
• Pour the egg mixture over the bread and allow to soak for 15 minutes, pressing down gently.
• Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until the pudding puffs up and the custard is set.
• Remove from the oven and cool slightly before serving.
• **Active prep time does not include allowing the egg and bread mixture to soak for 15 minutes before baking.