We all know breakfast is the most important (and, in my opinion, most delicious) meal of the day, with that in mind I have a yummy french toast casserole that you can prepare tonight, and bake when you get up in the morning. I dub this scrumptious creation Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole with Maple Cream Cheese Filling. With thick, crusty bread, sweet, juicy apples, and tangy, sweet maple cream cheese filling, you really can’t go wrong
I started with some crusty pecan raisin bread from the grocery store bakery (any flavor you like is find as long as it’s a thicker, crusty bread) and cut it into cubes.
I layered half of it in a baking dish and topped it with chopped apples (I used fuji, but any kind you have on hand is fine).
Then I whipped up some maple syrup cream cheese by whisking together cream cheese, syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon (try to refrain from eating this with a spoon…) and poured it over the apples.
I topped the apples with the remainder of the bread. Next I beat some eggs with some milk and more cinnamon and poured the mixture over top of the casserole, making sure all the bread was coated.
At this point I covered the casserole and refrigerated it overnight, but if you’re super ambitious you could bake it as soon as you’re done prepping it (but I definitely love sleeping way too much for that). Bake in the oven until the top gets brown and crunchy.
I let it sit for a few minutes and then served it with some fresh berries, let me tell you, it was divine! The perfect balance of sweet, I didn’t even use syrup.
Recipe
Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole with Maple Cream Cheese Filling
Makes 1 – 8″ square baking pan
Ingredients:
1 loaf of crusty pecan raisin bread (mine was ~1 pound) – cubed
2 apples – chopped into bite sized cubes
4 ounces cream cheese – softened
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon cinnamon
4 eggs
3/4 cup milk
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Fresh fruit (optional for serving)
Maple syrup (optional for serving)
– Layer half of the cubes bread in the bottom of a 8″ square baking pan and cover with the chopped apples
– Whisk together the softened cream cheese, maple syrup, vanilla and tablespoon of cinnamon until smooth (microwave for a few seconds if needed) and pour over the apples
– Top with the remaining half of the bread cubes
– Whisk the eggs, milk, and teaspoon of cinnamon until well combined and pour evenly over the casserole, making sure all of the bread cubes are coated
– Cover and refrigerate overnight (or bake immediately if desired)
– Heat the oven to 375 ºF and bake for 50-55 minutes, the top should be browned and slightly crisp and the center should not jiggle when the dish is moved
– Let stand for a few minutes and serve with fresh fruit and maple syrup as desired
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