This recipe is from Disney Family Fun magazine -December/January 2012
Ingredients:
Challah, Brioche, or other firm white bread
1/4 to 1/2 cup packed brown sugar - see Mark's Notes
1 teaspoon cinnamon
8 large eggs
1 3/4 cups milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Instructions:
1. Grease 13x9 glass baking dish
2. Slice bread into 12 (1 inch thick) slices, then cut each slice into 1 inch cubes
3. In a small bowl combine brown sugar and cinnamon
4. Arrange half the bread in a single layer in the prepared baking dish
5. Sprinkle half the sugar mix evenly over the top.
6. Add a second layer with the remaining bread.
7. Sprinkle the remaining sugar over the top.
8. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs. Add the milk and vanilla extract. Whisk until well blended.
9. Starting from the sides of the dish and working toward the center, pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread. With a spatula, gently press down on the bread to coat it with the egg mixture. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate over night or at least 4 hours.
10. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Bake the casserole covered for 20 minutes, then remove the foil and continue baking until the casserole turns a light golden brown - about 30 minutes more.
Mark's Notes -
I've never made this with brown sugar. I always use white sugar. 1/2 cup white sugar makes it almost too sweet. Try 1/4 cup white sugar.
The original recipe includes pecans or walnuts. I never use these. If you would like to include these, then use 1/3 cup chopped pecans or walnuts and mix it in with step 3.
Mark's Story -
This is a personal favorite of mine to make when we have guests over. You can make it the night before and just bake it in the oven the next morning.
I have provided the link to the original recipe from Disney Family Fun -
http://familyfun.go.com/recipes/french-toast-casserole-1030014/
