Our mornings are so rushed with getting up, getting ready, getting Autumn packed up for daycare, Kemper out, and getting our stuff packed up that we often get our breakfasts on the way into work or if there are vendor presentations in the morning I’ll be able to get something like a muffin or some fruit. Those hectic mornings mean that I try to take the time to make a nicer breakfast on the weekends. I still don’t have a lot of time but it’s still great to make a nice scramble, bagel sandwiches, Kodiak Pancakes, or some waffles.
A new edition to our weekend breakfast options is this breakfast casserole. We immediately fell in love with this Cranberry French Toast Casserole. So did our neighbors! Our neighbors’ son and his family were visiting for the weekend so I knocked on their door and offered them this casserole to make their morning a bit easier. They gave it rave reviews when they returned the casserole dish.
I saw the Blueberry French Toast on Wendy’s blog called A Day in The Life on The Farm and just knew I had to make it. Wendy shares all about the comings and goings on the 12 acre farm she shares with her husband. She and her husband are both retired police officers and from the city where they worked so that they could have a slower pace of life. Since then they have learned all about tending to a farm, while taking in foreign exchange students. It’s great that Wendy is so active and enjoying her retirment from the police force. She is active with blogging as well as she posts daily about cooking, baking, writing, and about wrestling pigs to give them their shots. Ha!!
 
I selected this recipe out of the hundreds of recipes she has posted for this month’s Secret Recipe Club post because it sounded so great and because it was versatile. Wendy made it with blueberries but since they aren’t in season now I went with cranberries. They could easily be made with strawberries, diced pieces of apple, or even bananas.
 The best part of this french toast casserole is the struesel topping. It’s so yummy and adds a great flavor boost and textural contrast to the bread pudding portion. It would be great with some nuts mixed in as well. Maybe next time!
This Cranberry French Toast Casserole is the perfect answer your need to slow down mornings. No, it doesn’t take long to prepare. No, it isn’t complicated. But it is exactly what you need to help you take a moment to savor breakfast and your mornings. It’s what the weekend needs.
Cranberry French Toast Casserole
Makes 6-8 servings
Ingredients
For the Casserole
- 1 large Baguette (mine weighed 1lb, 1 oz)
- 2 Cups of fresh cranberries
- 6Â eggs
- 2 Cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 pinch of ground ginger
- 1 pinch of ground cloves
For the struesel topping
- 1 Cup flour
- 1/2 Cup sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 6 Tablespoons butter
Process
- Cut the bread into 1″ cubes. Place into a very large mixing bowl.
- Whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
- Pour the mixture of the bread. Gently mix to coat all the bread. Add the cranberries and mix gently again.
- Pour into a greased casserole dish. Cover and refrigerate the casserole overnight.
- In the morning, preheat the oven to 375 degrees.
- Bake for 30-40 minutes, or until puffy and browned on top. Enjoy with some pure maple syrup.
Adapted from A Day in the Life on the Farm
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Check out all the other great Secret Recipe Club posts this month!
And be sure to check out my 2 years of Secret Recipe Club posts!!!!
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Mmm, french toast! Kids have been eating too many poptarts recently – I need to make this.
ummm frosted cinnamon poptarts. those are my weakness.
wow, this is scrumptious! I guess it would be nice to have a serving of this right after a nice run, just to be on the safe side… 😉
great combination of flavors!
You def need it after a run! ha!!
So glad you found and enjoyed this post. You are right….it is a perfect foil for whatever fruits are in season and the tartness of cranberries had to be absolutely delicious!!
I loved this and so did my neighbor’s family. I’m sure that everyone who tries this, with whatever fruit is in season, will love it just as much.
I had so much fun picking out this recipe this month! Lovely blog!
This is exactly what MY weekend needs!
right?!?! Perfect lazy Sunday weekend brunch dish. Great for enjoying with the family since you can scale up for a crowd too!
I love that this is all in one dish that you can bake~
yep! makes for quick prep, and clean up!
I’m on a mission to cook with fresh cranberries this year!! I never do but they are SO good! This casserole looks AMAZING!! I love the fall flavors!
That casserole sounds so good. How sweet of you to share it with your neighbors!!
Long story short, we brought our duaghter home form the hospital much earlier than expected last year and she brought over food for us for Thanksgiving. We love her to pieces.
Food is such a great connector
I can imagine this at a brunch with the girls. I love cranberries in the dish. They are so delicious and really put a nice twist on this.
This looks amazing. I love French toast casserole. This reminds me to make one soon. Happy Reveal Day!
This looks amazing. Definitely should make for your mom when she comes up next month for Autumn’s birthday (hint hint)
I love french toast and this sounds fantastic. What a great weekend breakfast. Awesome pick this month 🙂
Struesel topping makes everything better ;D I love baked french toast and your combo sounds so lovely. Great pick this month and thanks again for the Pineapple Pancake inspiration!
Mmm, streusel and cranberries. I’ve never been a big french toast fan but this just might change my mind.
When do you add the streusel?
Look at the thick crumble on top!! Oh my word!
we LOVE breakfast casseroles, especially when they are covered in streusel topping! delicious
Oh my gosh that crumb on top looks so good, I know I’d be picking at it all morning! This will be perfect for the holidays!