Name: Golden Saffron French Toast Casserole
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45 minutes
Yield: 9 servings
Ingredients: 1 (1 lb.) loaf brioche, or other enriched bread like challa, cut into 1-inch cubes; 1 3/4 cups milk, divided; 6 eggs, room temperature; 1 3/4 cups heavy cream; 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed; 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

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Golden Saffron French Toast Casserole

Recipe by Miranda Barnett, Savory Spice Test Kitchen

All-Purpose Cooking

Baking

Level up your weekend brunch with this sweet, golden French toast casserole. Serve with fresh fruit and whipped cream for a fine dining brunch experience at home.

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Serves 9 servings

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cooking Time 45 minutes

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Ingredients

1 (1 lb.) loaf brioche, or other enriched bread like challa, cut into 1-inch cubes 1 3/4 cups milk, divided 2 tsp. Saffron Salt, plus more to sprinkle 6 eggs, room temperature 1 3/4 cups heavy cream 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed 3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

1/2 tsp. Ground Turmeric

Pure Maple Sugar, to sprinkle

Directions

Step 1 To toast the bread: preheat oven to 325 degrees. Arrange cubes of bread on a sheet tray. Bake for 15 min., shaking halfway through, until dried out and slightly golden. Set aside.

Step 2 To make the custard: in a small bowl, microwave 2 Tbsp. milk until hot to the touch, about 10 seconds. Add Saffron Salt and stir to dissolve. Let mixture bloom for 5 min. and mix back into remaining milk. In a large bowl, combine eggs, heavy cream, brown sugar, butter, Ground Turmeric, and milk mixture.

Step 3 To arrange the casserole: arrange cubes of toasted bread in a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Pour custard mixture over bread and press down to soak all pieces of bread. Let sit for 5 min. and press bread pieces down again. Cover dish and chill for at least two hours and up to overnight.

Step 4 To bake: preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove chilled casserole dish 30 min. before cooking to let come to room temperature. Use a spoon to ladle custard evenly over bread. Sprinkle Pure Maple Sugar over top of casserole. Bake for 40 to 45 min. until bread is lightly golden and custard is cooked through. Sprinkle more Pure Maple Sugar over casserole and broil for 3 min. Let cool for 5 min. before sprinkling Saffron Salt over casserole. Slice and serve with maple syrup, whipped cream, or berries.