Name: King Cake French Toast Bake
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 large loaf brioche or challah, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 16 oz); 6 large eggs; 2 cups whole milk; 1 cup heavy cream; ¾ cup granulated sugar; 2 tablespoons light brown sugar; 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract; 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg; ¼ teaspoon salt; 4 ounces cream cheese, softened; ⅓ cup powdered sugar; 1 teaspoon lemon zest; 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted; 2 tablespoons granulated sugar; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; 1 cup powdered sugar (for icing); 2 to 3 tablespoons milk (for icing); ½ teaspoon vanilla extract (for icing); Purple, green, and gold sanding sugars or sprinkles

Description

A delightful and festive twist on traditional French toast, this King Cake French Toast Bake is perfect for celebrations or cozy brunches, featuring layers of bread, creamy filling, and a sweet icing.

Ingredients

Scale

1 large loaf brioche or challah, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 16 oz)
6 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
1 cup heavy cream
¾ cup granulated sugar
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon salt
4 ounces cream cheese, softened
⅓ cup powdered sugar
1 teaspoon lemon zest
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup powdered sugar (for icing)
2 to 3 tablespoons milk (for icing)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract (for icing)
Purple, green, and gold sanding sugars or sprinkles

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Instructions

Grease your 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
Beat together the softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon zest until smooth.
Layer half of the bread cubes in the greased baking dish and dollop the cream cheese mixture over the bread.
Whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a large bowl.
Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread and press down gently to soak.
Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.
Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
Mix the melted butter, granulated sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl and drizzle over the casserole.
Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown.
Allow to cool for about 10 minutes.
Whisk together the icing ingredients and drizzle over warm casserole, then sprinkle with sanding sugars.
Slice and serve warm with optional fresh berries or whipped cream.

Notes

Make-ahead tips: Prepare the casserole the night before for easy morning cooking. Adaptable for air fryer cooking at 350°F for about 30 minutes.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 slice
Calories: 350
Sugar: 20g
Sodium: 230mg
Fat: 18g
Saturated Fat: 9g
Unsaturated Fat: 6g
Trans Fat: 0g
Carbohydrates: 45g
Fiber: 1g
Protein: 7g
Cholesterol: 140mg