Baked brioche French toast with walnut crumble topping

French toast is a classic breakfast or brunch dish. It is great to serve to guests because all the prep work can be done ahead of time, and it can simply be baked once everyone arrives.

The flavors in this dish marry perfectly and the walnut crumble topping is the finishing touch that sends this dish right over the edge.

Baked brioche French toast with walnut crumble topping recipe

Recipe adapted from Foodie Crush

Serves 6

Ingredients:

Brioche French toast:

1 loaf brioche bread
4 eggs
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup whole milk
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Walnut crumble topping:

1/2 cup brown sugar
4 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup roughly chopped walnuts
1/2 cup oats
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Directions:

Slice brioche bread in 3/4-inch thick slices and set aside. Whisk eggs in a small bowl and then add the half-and-half, whole milk, sugar, vanilla and cinnamon. Whisk until everything is well combined.
Butter a 2-quart baking dish and layer 5-6 slices of bread in the bottom so the bread fits together tightly without many gaps. Evenly drizzle half of the egg mixture onto the bottom layer of bread and then add another layer of bread on top and drizzle the remaining mixture.
Add the brown sugar, butter, walnuts, oats and cinnamon to a small bowl and mix ingredients together with fingers until well incorporated. Sprinkle on top of the bread, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
To bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove casserole from refrigerator and bring to room temperature, about one-half hour. Bake uncovered for 35-40 minutes or until top is golden. Remove and let set for 5 minutes and then serve with blueberry maple syrup.