French Toast: Cranberry Orange Overnight French Toast

Made Christmas 2021
A perfect combinations of cranberry and orange flavoring is festive for during Christmas season

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf of Brioche bread (or any French bread), cubed – see NOTE below
  • 1/3 c. of chopped fresh cranberries
  • 6 eggs
  • 2 c. milk
  • 1 c. of orange juice
  • zest of 1 orange
  • 3 Tbls. light brown sugar
  • 1 t. of cinnamon
  • 1/2 t. salt
  • powdered sugar, for serving (optional)
  • breakfast or maple syrup, for serving

Crunchy Topping

  • 4 Tbls. brown sugar
  • 2 Tbls. white sugar
  • 2 Tbls. cold butter
  • 1-1/2 t. ground cinnamon

Instructions

Grease a 13 x 9 inch pan really well. Place bread cubes in pan and sprinkle cranberries on top of bread cubes.

Combine eggs, milk, orange juice, orange zest, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Pour egg mixture over cubed bread and cranberries.

Cover pan and refrigerate overnight.

In the morning take the pan out of the fridge and let it sit on the counter for about 20-30 minutes. If using a glass or ceramic pan, you don't want to put it in a hot oven, it can shatter. *Before putting the pan in the oven, make sure bread cubes are soaked in egg mixture (press down using a spatula).

Topping: Can be made ahead of time and refrigerated until needed. Combine brown sugar, granulated sugar and cinnamon; cut in cold butter.

Add topping before putting pan in the oven to bake. Sprinkle topping mixture over the bread, cranberry and egg mixture.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Remove from oven and cut into squares to serve.

To serve: Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired, and/or drizzle with syrup of your choice.

Serves 8

NOTE: You can use any French bread, however, Brioche is a softer bread. It is made with more eggs and butter than most bread, which gives a rich flavor and overall texture is less crunchy. A French bread will give you a crunchier texture.