Coffee & Hugs: A Lifestyle Blog

This past weekend, I had a small gathering of the finest ladies I know.. and my heart was SO full.  Just having these ladies in my home, eating food I prepared for them, with pots of coffee on made my heart FULL.  I wasn't stressed, I wasn't stricken with anxiety that people were coming over (my husband was wondering why..), I was just full of joy.  At any rate, the #1 thing that people enjoyed was my EASY french toast casserole with praline topping.   

Seriously, if I can make it.. anyone can!  What is really great about this casserole, is that you prepare it the night before, to let all the egg mixture soak into the bread.  The next morning, then whip up the praline topping, smear it over top, and pop it in the oven!  EASY PEASY!

I use 1 bowl and 1 whisk for ALL of this!  

1 loaf of French or Italian Bread

8 large eggs (I used Egglands Best)

2 cups half-and-half

1 cup milk

2 tablespoons sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon (plus a dash more if you like)

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

Dash of salt

Praline topping (recipe follows)

Maple syrup for over top

2 sticks of butter

1 cup light brown sugar

1 cup chopped pecans

2 tablespoons maple syrup

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1. Combine eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt into bowl and whisk until blended.  Then take slices of bread and break apart into 4 parts and dunk them into the mixture and layer/arrange on a buttered 9x13 baking/casserole dish.  Continue to rip the bread, dunk, and place until your loaf is finished.  If there is any remaining mixture in bowl, pour on top of bread in casserole.  Cover and place in refrigerator overnight.

2. The next morning, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

3. In a small mixing bowl, combine all ingredients for the praline topping.  **I soften the butter in the microwave a little bit for easy spreading.  Also, I make sure that my pecans are finely chopped (sometimes you can buy them this way.  If not, I just placed them in a ziplock bag and used my measuring cup to smash them up a little).  Whisk all of the ingredients together.

4. Spread the praline topping over the casserole and bake for 50 minutes or until top is puffed and golden (and center is cooked).

5.  Serve with maple syrup and ENJOY

Seriously this is REALLY easy.  I don't so much cook, so if I can get a dozen women to rave about it.. I think it is good!

xoxo-Ashley

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