I made this Sunday and it was a big hit. DH said it definitely was a keeper. I served it with homemade berry sauce which I thought was better than maple syrup. DH liked it better that way too. I added a few comments from the original that was in Penzeys magazine.

French Toast Casserole

5 cups bread cubes (1/2 of a regular size loaf) (use any kind of bread, I used sourdough and it was very good)

4 large eggs (5 med, 6 small)

1 1/2 cups milk (whole not skim, I bet it would be really good with Half & Half)

1/4 cup sugar (divided into 2 tablespoon portions)

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tabs. butter

1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 deg. Lightly grease a 8x8 baking dish. (I think 9x9 would be better) Line the bottom of the pan with bread cubes. In a large bowl beat (with a mixer) the eggs, milk, 2 tablespoon sugar, salt and vanilla. Pour the mixture over the bread. Dot with butter. Let stand for 10 minutes. Combine the remaining sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes until top is golden. Serve with syrup (or fresh fruit sauce).

Berry Sauce

1/2 cup strawberries

1/2 cup raspberries

1/2 cup blackberries

1 cup water

Sugar - to taste


Cook in pan on top of the stove until syrupy texture and sticks to spoon. Stir often and cook on medium heat so doesn't burn. Cool. It can be made ahead of time and stored in a jar in the refrigerator. You can heat up a cup in the microwave for about a 30 seconds.

I used the frozen berry mix you can get at Costco and just put in 1 1/2 cups. It tasted fine with frozen ones though it took longer to cook. When berries are in season next summer I will try it with fresh ones.

Clare