Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole (Print Version)

Cinnamon-vanilla French bread layered with ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese, baked golden and topped with powdered sugar and maple syrup.

# What You Need:

→ Bread & Dairy

01 - 8 cups French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 1 loaf)
02 - 8 large eggs
03 - 2 cups whole milk
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1 teaspoon salt
07 - 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

→ Meats

08 - 1 cup cooked ham, chopped
09 - 1 cup cooked turkey or chicken, chopped

→ Toppings

10 - Powdered sugar for serving
11 - Maple syrup for serving

# How To Make:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large bowl, toss bread cubes with chopped ham and turkey. Spread evenly in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In another bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until well combined.
04 - Pour egg mixture evenly over bread and meat mixture, pressing gently to help bread absorb the liquid.
05 - Sprinkle shredded Swiss cheese evenly over the top.
06 - Cover dish with aluminum foil and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to allow bread to soak.
07 - Bake covered for 30 minutes.
08 - Remove foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes until casserole is set and top is golden brown.
09 - Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm, dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled with maple syrup.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like a fancy Monte Cristo sandwich but requires zero flipping or frying
  • You can assemble it the night before and just slide it in the oven when guests arrive
  • The sweet and savory contrast makes everyone go back for seconds
02 -
  • If you skip the 15 minute soak time the bread will be unevenly custardy with dry pockets
  • Covering it with foil for the first 30 minutes is crucial or the top will burn before the inside cooks through
  • Let it rest after baking or your slices will fall apart into a delicious but messy heap
03 -
  • Use day old or lightly stale bread because fresh bread turns gummy when soaked
  • Press the bread down gently after pouring the custard so every cube gets coated
  • Let the baked casserole rest a full 10 minutes before slicing or it will be too soft to cut cleanly
  • Warm your maple syrup slightly before drizzling for the ultimate cozy touch
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