Description
Wake up to the warm, sweet aroma of this Caramel Apple Stuffed French Toast Casserole, the perfect make-ahead breakfast that feels like a cozy dessert. This easy recipe layers buttery brioche, cinnamon-spiced apples, and rich custard, all drizzled with gooey caramel sauce. Whether you’re looking for a quick breakfast, a weekend brunch treat, or delicious food ideas for holiday mornings, this casserole checks all the boxes. It’s a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that’s both indulgent and simple to prepare — the kind of breakfast idea you’ll turn to again and again.
Ingredients
12 cups brioche or challah bread, cubed
4 large eggs
1 ¾ cups whole milk
½ cup heavy cream
½ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
¼ teaspoon salt
3 medium apples, peeled and chopped (Honeycrisp or Fuji preferred)
½ cup caramel sauce, plus more for serving
2 tablespoons butter, diced
Instructions
1. Cut the brioche or challah into 1 to 1.5-inch cubes and let it dry slightly if fresh.
2. Peel and dice apples into bite-sized pieces.
3. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until smooth.
4. Grease a 9×13 baking dish. Layer half the bread, half the apples, and drizzle some caramel sauce. Repeat with the remaining bread and apples.
5. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the layers, pressing down gently to soak the bread.
6. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for best results.
7. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Dot the top with butter.
8. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake another 20–25 minutes until golden and set.
9. Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing.
10. Drizzle with warm caramel sauce and serve.
Notes
Dry bread absorbs the custard better—use day-old or lightly toasted bread.
For extra flavor, add a pinch of nutmeg or use cinnamon swirl bread.
To save time, prep everything the night before and bake in the morning.
- Prep Time: 25 minutes
- Cook Time: 55 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 22g
- Sodium: 280mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 42g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 8g
- Cholesterol: 115mg
Keywords: quick breakfast, make-ahead brunch, apple casserole, caramel french toast, breakfast ideas