Brioche French Toast Casserole

My sis and her family made a quick trip out here to see us over the Easter weekend. We had a great time catching up and eating, of course. :) According to my sis, everything we made when they visited was so delicious, lol. Although we didn’t really do anything special, we definitely appreciate the compliment! One of the dishes everyone seemed to love is this delectable brioche french toast casserole. It is unbelievably easy to put together and makes a scrumptious addition to any breakfast table. Enjoy!

1/2 tablespoon unsalted butter, softened
16 ounces brioche bread or buns, cut into 1-inch cubes (I typically use S. Rosen’s Brioche Buns, 12 count, 32 ounces, purchased from Costco for $3.59. You will only need 1/2 the bag. Freeze the rest for next time.)
7 large eggs
1-1/2 tablespoons honey
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups milk (I’ve used regular, soy, or almond milk, sweetened or unsweetened)

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9” x 13” baking dish with the softened butter and place the brioche cubes in it. In a large bowl, whisk the eggs, honey, salt, vanilla, and milk. Pour over bread and use a spoon or fork to press down the brioche cubes, making sure they are all moistened. Bake for 45 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean (casserole will be puffed up and golden brown). Remove from the oven. Serve warm with maple syrup and fresh fruits.

Note: Casserole will stick to the sides of the baking dish. We usually need to soak the dish before scrubbing it with a scouring pad. Alternatively, you could line the baking dish with nonstick foil or maybe even parchment for an easier cleanup.