During the holidays or anytime you’ve got a full house, you need a ringer breakfast recipe that keeps it easy on the cook! You could make a stack of Lemon Ricotta Pancakes with California Mission Figs, and we think you’ll like overnight French toast with Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Dried Figs. It’s the breakfast everyone will be excited to gather around as the coffee brews. What makes it great for you is that this overnight French toast casserole can be prepped the night before and then baked off in the oven in the morning. Easy!
Overnight French Toast Casserole with Figs
When you have company visiting, prep this figgy overnight French toast casserole. In the morning just bake and serve the overnight French toast.
Nutrition
Servings 8 people
Ingredients
Casserole
- butter for greasing
- 1 loaf French bread or sour dough or whole wheat
- 1 1/4 cups Orchard Choice or Sun-Maid California Figs
- 5 eggs large
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 2 tbsp sugar
- zest from one lemon
Topping
- 5 tbsp unsalted butter
- 3 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2/3 cup raspberries
Optional Toppings for Serving
- Raspberries
- Maple syrup
Instructions
- Grease a large casserole dish with butter. A 9×13-inch dish works well for this recipe. Set the casserole dish aside.
- Chop the bread into 1-inch chunks. Transfer the chunks into a large bowl.
- Chop the figs into quarters. If using large figs, chop them into smaller pieces.
- Spread half of the bread chunks into the greased dish. Top with half of the chopped figs. Add the remaining bread chunks to the dish, and then top with the remaining figs.
- Beat the eggs in a large bowl. Whisk in the milk, sugar, and lemon zest and mix until all the ingredients are well incorporated. Carefully pour the egg and milk mixture over the bread and figs.
- Cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- When you are ready to bake the French toast casserole, preheat the oven to 375ºF. Position an oven rack to the center position.
- Melt 5 tablespoons of butter in a saucepan. Turn off the heat and mix in the sugar and cinnamon.
- Remove the French toast casserole from the refrigerator and unwrap the pan. Using a large spoon, drizzle the melted butter mixture over the casserole. Sprinkle 2/3 cup of raspberries over the bread chunks.
- Bake the casserole for 33 to 40 minutes, until the bread on the top of the casserole is brown and crisp.
- Let the casserole cool for 5 minutes before serving. Serve the casserole with more raspberries and maple syrup.
Notes
Recipe and photo by Lisa Lin
