[X]

Home > Recipes > French Toast Strata

French Toast Strata Recipe

Read reviews (4)

Rate recipe

I'm always on the lookout for different breakfast and brunch ideas. I like to serve this easy make-ahead casserole when we have out-of-town guests. —Jill Middleton, Baldwinsville, New York

[X]

Rate French Toast Strata Recipe

Click on stars to rate

Would you make this recipe again?

Write a review

[X]

French Toast Strata Recipe

Prep: 10 min. + chilling Bake: 35 min. + standing

Yield: 8 Servings

10 35 45

Ingredients

1 loaf (1 pound) cinnamon bread, cubed
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, cubed
8 eggs, lightly beaten
2-1/2 cups 2% milk
6 tablespoons butter, melted
1/4 cup maple syrup
CIDER SYRUP:
1/2 cup sugar
4 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup apple cider
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 tablespoons butter

Directions

Arrange half of the bread cubes in a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Layer with cream cheese and remaining bread. In a blender, combine the eggs, milk, butter and maple syrup; cover and process until smooth. Pour over bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
Remove from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 35-40 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.
For syrup, in a small saucepan, combine the sugar, cornstarch and cinnamon. Gradually whisk in cider and lemon juice. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Stir in butter until melted. Serve warm with strata. Yield: 8 servings (1 cup syrup).

Nutritional Facts 1 serving (1 piece) equals 578 calories, 34 g fat (17 g saturated fat), 285 mg cholesterol, 537 mg sodium, 58 g carbohydrate, 4 g fiber, 17 g protein.

Originally published as French Toast Strata in Taste of Home's Holiday & Celebrations Cookbook Annual 2001, p162

Variety of Breads Flavor French Toast

A great way to add a new face to French toast is to use different breads. Try banana, apple or zucchini bread. —Deana Waters, North Pole, Alaska

Sparkling Wine

Enjoy this recipe with a sparkling wine.

Recipe Slideshows

Browse slideshows featuring our best recipes, holiday ideas, easy how-tos, cooking tips, and more!

Get Recipes >

Top 10 Recipes

A collection of our favorite, highest-rated recipes—including the best dessert, dinner and holiday recipes.

Get Recipes >

Reviews for French Toast Strata

French Toast Strata

Tell us what you think of this recipe.
Did you modify it? Would you make it again? Rate it today! >

Rate and Review this Recipe

(1-4) of 4 reviews

Sort Reviews:

Reviewed on May. 05, 2012 by himnherr

I make this frequently in mass quantity (for 150) volunteers who also are using donated funds, and it always gets rave reviews. Due to the cost of cinnamon bread I use plain french bread torn up sprinkled with generous amounts of cinnamon & sugar. To assure everyone gets the creamy melted cream cheese I make smaller dollops and make sure I evenly distribute them in each serving before I put on the second layer. Also to save money we just serve it with plain maple syrup. Delish!! It isn't expensive to make for huge crowds and it is wonderful to have the convenience of prepping it the night before. Thanks for the wonderful recipe.

Reviewed on Feb. 02, 2011 by suehickox

We absolutely LOVE this recipe! Have made it many times for various family events (including a baby shower brunch), as well as just for us to eat at home. Wonderful every time! Not sure why the last review didn't like it, but I get rave reviews from everyone who has tried this. Sometimes skip the cider syrup and just use our homemade pure maple syrup to top. Yum! Also love the idea of prepping it the night before and just popping into the oven when we need it. I have tried with low-fat and fat-free cream cheese with no problems.

Reviewed on Jan. 30, 2011 by LMKN

We did not like this recipe at all. Cooking it uncovered made the top hard and bottom never got cooked. It was real soggy. And the cream cheese stayed in glops and never spread out. The cream cheese added nothing to the recipe. Next time...I will just make regular french toast using the cinnamon bread!!! And have scrambled eggs on the side.

Reviewed on Nov. 08, 2009 by apackage

I want to try this again -- when I made it, it came out a little too wet, I thought, but I also had another casserole in the same oven. So I want to try it on its own to see if I can get the consistency I want. Also, weirdly, the cream cheese globs on top didn't melt. I didn't think they added anything -- I will leave them out next time. Still had a great flavor and was a big hit at a birthday brunch. Also incredibly easy to make.