Stuffed Apple French Toast with Praline Topping

This decadent and rich French toast casserole is a big hit at my Christmas breakfast each year. It's a big recipe because I'm always serving a crowd but it's easily scaled down for smaller portions. The tart apples are a beautiful balance with the deliciously sweet praline topping. I've been working on this recipe for a few years and finally got it perfect! Enjoy! Serve with warm maple syrup.

• Preparation Time: 20 mins
• Cooking Time: 55 mins
• Total Time: 1 hr 15 mins
• Calories: 569 Calories

Ingredients

• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 cup chopped pecans
• ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons light corn syrup
• 2 cups half-and-half
• 2 cups heavy cream
• 10 large eggs
• 1 stick unsalted butter
• 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
• 2 loaves challah, cut into 1-inch thick slices
• 6 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored, and thinly sliced
• 2 sticks unsalted butter, melted

Recipe Instructions

Step 1

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

Step 2

Butter an 11x18-inch casserole dish and layer with 1/2 of the bread slices, covering the bottom completely.

Step 3

Melt butter in a large frying pan over medium heat. Add brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and salt and stir to combine. Add apple slices and cook until crisp-tender, soft but still maintaining their shape, about 10 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.

Step 4

Spread cooled apple mixture over bread layer in the pan. Top apple mixture with remaining bread slices, overlapping if necessary for good coverage.

Step 5

Whisk eggs, half-and-half, heavy cream, vanilla extract, remaining 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a large bowl. Pour over casserole, making sure to cover the bread evenly with the egg mixture. Cover with foil and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.

Step 6

Combine melted butter, brown sugar, pecans, corn syrup, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a bowl. Spread topping evenly over the casserole.

Step 7

Bake in the preheated oven until puffed and lightly golden, 40 to 45 minutes. Check halfway through cooking time and cover with foil if the bread is browning too quickly. Let cool for about 10 minutes before serving.