The Ultimate Holiday Breakfast: French Toast Casserole | America's Test Kitchen (S24 E21)

[@NolaDeb]

Looks delicious and so quick, to feed a group. *I would add a tsp of vanilla extract to the custard mixture. ❤️

[@1-t254]

This is basically how I use up bread ends that no one seems to want. Keep them in the freezer until I have a breakfast's worth and make Saturday mornings. The firmness of the ends holds up nicely too.

[@James-SC68]

To make it extra special for Christmas morning breakfast I would add a little Vanilla extract and some Cointreau to the custard and a little Cardamom to the spice mix. I’d leave out the sliced Almonds though.

[@damianrhea8875]

Would you also take out the cinnamon, now you’ve added cardamom, which is a pronounced, distinct and beautiful flavour by itself ?

[@James-SC68]

@ use both. I wouldn’t use as much of the cardamom since it does have such a strong flavor. It’s an addition I would have to experiment with well in advance so I could find the balance I like. Once in a while I like adding it to my Cinnamon rolls as well.

[@gcvrsa]

The first recipe I ever developed on my own, over 30 years ago, was called "Peach Melba French Toast Bread Pudding". Congratulations, you have pretty much just recreated it, minus the sliced peaches and raspberry compote topping. I have been making variations of it all along. The only real difference here is that I use chunks of bread instead of slices, and toss the bread with the custard in a mixing bowl before pouring it into the pan, which is kind of no difference, at all.

[@roxannreames8098]

A great recipe when cooking for a crowd. Thank you very much!❤

[@kathleendrotar7257]

OMG, Keith, I'm salivating over this!🤤

[@chippsdubbo89]

I think some dried fruit like raisins would be great in there. Maybe a sweet cream cheese frosting drizzled upon the top.

[@maryhaney3386]

I usually make a semi complicated over night French toast for Christmas. As I was looking up the ingredients form my grocery list I saw my recipe for French toast casserole and thought I’d make that instead this year and then I saw this video.

[@thomaskuhn6541]

Great recipe, I might be tempted to embellish it by adding some caramelized apple between the two bread layers and maybe serve it with a splash of maple syrup.

[@dianadambrosio1]

This is such a fantastic recipe. I'm gonna make this straight away, the only thing I would say is even though I love almonds, I would not put them on this. It almost became a coffee cake or something. Which is absolutely fine but an entirely different baked entity ..almonds baked into my French toast. naaa Plus I miss the vanilla But as always Thank you guys for making a great recipe. ATK fan always ❤ love you guys

[@cathylynn57]

Delicious sounding!! All I need is the bread and sliced almonds.

[@AnubisTheSonOfRa]

Oh I love Bridget😍

[@elizabethkane6665]

Can’t wait to cook this !!!

[@karenhackney9920]

I’ve been making French toast casserole every Christmas morning for years. I put it in the oven while we opens presents. Of course mine is a slightly different recipe, and I used a loaf pan instead of cast iron.

[@debrakranzusch6561]

My mouth is watering, yum. Will serve on Xmas, for sure !!!😊❤

[@chrisandersen5635]

I’d be sorely tempted to scale this up to three layers. There’s plenty of room in the skillet. Et voilá!

[@rodmckenzie9089]

Great idea.

[@twosocks1976]

I'm glad I found this recipe, in time for Christmas Day menu planning. Every breakfast casserole type dish I've ever had, was way too heavy on the egg and the custard, and was basically more of a bread pudding than anything else. Which isn't in itself a bad thing, I have had good bread putting, and I have had bad. I just don't want something for breakfast, calling itself a casserole, that has eight or 10 or 12 eggs in it. This looks perfect. But I'm not sure about is the way I'm supposed to cut the potato bread to fit in the skillet. I never was very good at Tetris as a kid.

[@jonny9884]

I'll probably have to use three eggs and one and a quarter cup of milk for my 10.25 inch cast iron skillet, but look forward to making this on Christmas morn at our new home ! Some vanilla ice cream and maple syrup on top seems like a nice addition as well...

[@rebajackson2369]

He used 4 eggs and 1 2/3 cup so 3 eggs and 2 cups isn't going to work for you.

[@jonny9884]

@rebajackson2369 Oh, I misheard. Yeah, 3 eggs, 1 and a quarter cup then. Thanks !

[@Jake_Ritter]

Very unique!

[@dianemclaughlin9267]

Yummy! Can you prepare this the night before?

[@katherinesmith9985]

It could be possible, but since you're not using dried bread, it may not come out the same. It doesn't take long to throw together, so throwing it together right before cooking shouldn't take much out of your morning. Also, because this is being prepared and cooked in cast iron, you should be careful about letting the mixture sit overnight in the pan because brown sugar is slightly acidic.

[@dianemclaughlin9267]

@@katherinesmith9985 Thank you for the tips! I actually just saw a woman who put all her baking ingredients together in ziplock bags ahead of time so she can throw it together even faster. I'm definitely going to try this. Every year, I swear I'm going to do a make ahead casserole but then I'm too tired on Christmas Eve. Happy Holidays ATK!

[@willjay916]

​@@dianemclaughlin9267 We'll expect to see your book report on the 26th 😊

[@juliastraus4273]

Sally Jessie Raphael had a recipe for this that she prepared the night before... Good luck!😊

[@SingANewSong5784]

Fabulous! ❤

[@cindyshafer1957]

I use my cast iton frying pan for almost everything and use daily. I love French toast. Sorry to disagree but I have never liked French toast in my cast iron pan.

[@igualmente22]

Here for Kieth!

[@lungsfullofwater]

I love bridget but omg he is so hot 🔥

[@igualmente22]

@ Indeed. He is so fine. I try his recipes and they’re yum. Yum all around this Kieth.

[@charlieharris3240]

@@igualmente22 The recipes presented by the TV "test cooks" aren't necessarily theirs. Keith* is great, but this recipe was developed by his colleague Lawman Johnson. *note the spelling

[@petermclaughlin9343]

Can I make this the night before and bake it in the morning? It looks delicious!

[@katherinesmith9985]

It could be possible, but since you're not using dried bread, it may not come out the same. It doesn't take long to throw together, so throwing it together right before cooking shouldn't take much out of your morning. Also, because this is being prepared and cooked in cast iron, you should be careful about letting the mixture sit overnight in the pan because brown sugar is slightly acidic.

[@karenhackney9920]

I make the custard the night before. I also leave a loaf of bread out overnight to get stale. Makes Christmas morning so much easier.

[@katherinesmith9985]

@karenhackney9920 This recipe doesn't use staled bread. As someone else mentioned, you can prep all ingredients the night before and just put together and bake the morning of. However, this isn't bread pudding like a few people are suggesting. They specifically mention that it's different from a traditional bread pudding. It's supposed to use fresh, hardy sandwich bread slices, not dried bread. It does make for a different texture. It also doesn't use nearly as much custard as a traditional bread pudding either.

[@scottlathrop66]

Bridget drinking game. Take a drink every time she says "MMMMM".

[@robbbrown3600]

Julia drinking game. Take a drink every time she says "Goodness".

[@ldcrumley]

I’d like it if she whispered “MMMMM” in my ear.

[@charlieharris3240]

Mmmm? That's your drinking game?🤣 I guess you've never noticed how many times Bridget says "All right" when she's cooking? 🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷🍷 (🤔I believe I've counted to 17-18 on at least a couple of occasions)

[@geezermann7865]

The worst is Julia making those "oh, ho, ho, ho" sounds. But I watch all the reruns on Create so I see the older shows a lot.

[@sueokada6968]

I just want to smell it

[@AnubisTheSonOfRa]

Why does bro look like a literal greek god?😂 And I have never seen Bridget thirst over someone but kudos to her, she has a fine taste. Julia on the other hand… 😂

[@DoughboyGod]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@kballuff6124]

I’m curious if some dried cranberries would be a nice addition to contrast the richness and spices of this dish

[@pampriddy7659]

That sounds like a great idea to me! 😜

[@dawn.hoffman]

I thought it looked dry, so I will definitely serve it with syrup poured over.

[@MrEquusQuagga]

Wow, looks too wet for my taste. I want it crispier than that

[@RamonaAnne]

Looks like a bread pudding to me, although not so soggy. I bet it's good.

[@LeftyScaevola]

I would just go with the mommy brioche bread,

[@charlieharris3240]

Why yes, this segment did end rather abruptly. The final minute: Bridget: It's definitely not a bread pudding. It's French toast. Keith: Yeah, it's like French toast coming from a traditional skillet or a griddle. B: Perfectly spiced. I'm digging the almonds. K: I think that's the key, having the almonds on there. It makes it just a little bit different from the normal French toast. B: This is a home-run breakfast. K: I'm glad you liked it! B: Might even have it for dinner. Thanks, Keith! K: You're welcome! B: Why don't you make yourself a French Toast Casserole? And it starts by sprinkling brown sugar and spices on the bottom of a buttered skillet, layer potato bread with more sugar and butter and top with almonds before baking. B: So from America's Test Kitchen, the fabulous way to breakfast, it's Cast Iron French Toast Casserole. You can get this great recipe and all the recipes from this season along with product reviews and select episodes and those are all on our website. B: Mm-mm-mm.

[@geezermann7865]

Thank you, exact word for word.

[@gcvrsa]

It's definitely a bread pudding.

[@geezermann7865]

@@gcvrsa lol, I agree, it's a form of bread pudding, which can be either savory or sweet. It's a casserole.

[@carlosenriquez2092]

I can't stopthinking seasoned apples in between

[@faithmurphy765]

What size skillet?

[@meganpopple9100]

Too many spices for me, but oh boy does that look good.

[@r8chlletters]

This is bread pudding aka breakfast strata.

[@jamesbrotherton5487]

I'm a fan of anyone who's a fan of John Cleese. How would I add maple to this?

[@madeleineprince7276]

Use maple sugar in part or all in place of brown sugar, or maple extract in the egg/milk mixture, perhaps.

[@sociopathmercenary]

maple syrup on top

[@Curt.dammit]

Dude obviously never played Tetris. The game features zero triangles.

[@vannshuttleworth4738]

Oh snap...

[@aaron74]

No maple syrup?

[@AmazingGrace85259]

How big is the cast iron skillet???

[@marcpeterson1092]

1:08. I'm gonna smear this onto our 12" cast iron skillet.

[@louisel.sinniger2057]

Go to recipe for me, I’m tired of being last to eat when feeding multiple people

[@lovewillwinnn]

I can just hear the slosh slosh of my arteries as we speak 😂

[@jimpease280]

No syrup?

[@samuelgates5935]

😋😋😋😋🥰

[@DimasFajar-ns4vb]

zamzam water

[@raquelaguillon4410]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@LecaroJ]

How to make this delicious dish healthful for those with blood sugar issues?

[@matuko313]

I dunno I prefer pain perdu.

[@desisnackqueen]

Can't have custard without vanilla

[@markcummings6856]

Me no understand; why would you not add some of the egg mixture to the first, of each layer of bread?

[@marcpeterson1092]

Might so it out? Also, more work.

[@dereks4720]

I really enjoy advice from America’s test kitchen… so, I installed your app and realized now that it’s behind a paywall, where I have to pay $10 a month or $50 a year. This is misleading, talking about the app without mentioning the fact that it’s only accessible to members… one of the key things you guys have is your reputation, and your apparent honesty… try not to do things like this, it can damage your reputation. If only a little.

[@gailhoover9263]

I'd have to cut the sugar and butter by half and then I'd eat it.

[@pistolgrip44mag]

That is NOT French Toast.

[@TravelingSag]

I would spread raspberry jelly on each piece before assembling ❣️

[@peteaulit]

French toast… that you won’t find in any French restaurant.

[@sandyv2195]

Who cares?

[@peteaulit]

@ clearly you do. Feel better?

[@MNTNSTARZ80.]

😂 French toast casserole AKA Bread pudding

[@debrakranzusch6561]

Not a pudding, less liquid..😊

[@MNTNSTARZ80.]

@debrakranzusch6561 you obviously have absolutely no idea what bread pudding is, look it up. It's not wet at all

[@kevinhenderson9989]

@@debrakranzusch6561 It's bread pudding or bread and butter pudding.

[@MrEquusQuagga]

I bet that comes from the English use of the word pudding to mean dessert

[@kevinhenderson9989]

@@MrEquusQuagga In the UK pudding usually means a dessert, but not always. Haha. Just to keep things nice and confusing. 😉

[@akikalliatakis9892]

Just your typical bread and butter pudding - in spite of what you believe.

[@loretta3203]

I think it needs more custard. I would add vanilla and maybe some fruit. I would skip the almonds. They are not appetizing at all.

[@SheilaR.08]

More custard would make it bread pudding rather than french toast. Both good! The almonds look great, unless you dislike them.

[@Resonait]

It’s hard to tell if ATK just puts powdered sugar on things because it’s internet law or because they think it adds to the dish.

[@aletahancock3407]

Can’t get to recipe unless you’re a member? Blocker keeps popping up.

[@392blackfinger]

Dollop peanut butter in there. You're welcome.

[@CrimeVid]

If you don't mind my saying so, this sounds absolutely disgusting, and if you do... who cares

[@davidjones535]

To bad as a Diabetic I cant have it

[@SarahRenz59]

Me, too. I can only feast with my eyes. 🧇👀

[@DrAlwaysFirst]

First

[@guchieskitchen]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥