Recipe breakfast

Baked French Toast with Cream Cheese

Ingredients

14 ounces brioche or challah bread loaf
8 ounces cream cheese, cut into small cubes
8 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
½ cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Crumble Topping
¼ cup all purpose flour
¼ cup brown sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, chilled and cut into cubes

Instructions
Grease a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
Use a serrated knife to cut the bread into about 1-inch cubes. Spread half of the cubes into the prepared baking dish.
Use your hands to sprinkle the cubes of cream cheese over the layer of bread in the baking pan. Top with the remaining bread.
In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, ½ cup of brown sugar, vanilla, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon until the mixture is very well combined and the sugar has dissolved. Pour the egg mixture over the bread in the baking pan, pressing down gently to ensure all of the bread is soaked.
Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and uncover 30 minutes before ready to bake. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Make the crumble topping by mixing together the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Then use a pastry cutter, fork, or your hands to press the 4 tablespoons of cold cubed butter into the brown sugar mixture until a crumble forms. Sprinkle the crumble mixture on top of the french toast casserole.
Bake uncovered on center rack in preheated oven for 45-55 minutes, or until the center has set and top is golden brown. Drizzle with maple syrup if desired and serve warm