Baked French Toast With Maple Syrup and Granola

Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Servings: 12
Yield: 12 servings

Description

A light orange flavor enhances this baked French toast casserole. Make it ahead of time and let it chill overnight. In the morning, just pull it out and bake it for a family treat.

Ingredients

1 (1 pound) loaf challah bread, sliced 1/2-inch thick
4 eggs
1 quart half-and-half cream
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup granola cereal
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted

Directions

1 Butter a 9x13-inch baking dish. Lay the bread slices into the prepared baking dish in 2 layers. Beat eggs, half-and-half cream, orange juice, white sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a bowl until smooth, and pour over the bread. With a large spoon, press the bread down into the egg mixture so all the bread becomes soaked with the mixture.
2 Sprinkle the granola evenly over the casserole, and drizzle with maple syrup and melted butter. Cover the dish with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight.
3 About 1 hour before serving, remove the casserole from the refrigerator, and take off the plastic wrap. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C).
4 Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, then turn oven temperature up to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Bake the casserole until browned, about 15 more minutes. Serve warm.