Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole (Printable Version)

French bread layered with ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, baked with cinnamon-vanilla custard, topped with syrup.

# Needed Ingredients:

→ Bread & Dairy

01 - 8 cups French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 8 large eggs
03 - 2 cups whole milk
04 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
05 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
06 - 1 teaspoon salt
07 - 2 cups shredded Swiss cheese

→ Meats

08 - 1 cup cooked ham, chopped
09 - 1 cup cooked turkey, chopped

→ Toppings

10 - Powdered sugar for serving
11 - Maple syrup for serving

# Preparation Steps:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
02 - In a large bowl, toss bread cubes with chopped ham and turkey. Spread evenly in the prepared baking dish.
03 - In another bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until well combined.
04 - Pour egg mixture evenly over bread and meat mixture, pressing gently to help bread absorb the liquid.
05 - Sprinkle shredded Swiss cheese evenly over the top.
06 - Cover dish with aluminum foil and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to allow bread to absorb liquid.
07 - Bake covered for 30 minutes.
08 - Remove foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes until casserole is set and top is golden brown.
09 - Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm, dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled with maple syrup.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It balances sweet cinnamon and vanilla with smoky ham and melted Swiss, so every bite surprises you.
  • You can assemble it the night before and just slide it into the oven when guests arrive.
  • The golden, custardy edges taste like French toast while the center stays soft and savory.
  • Powdered sugar and maple syrup make it feel indulgent, but the protein keeps everyone satisfied until dinner.
02 -
  • If you skip the resting time, the bread won't absorb the custard evenly and you'll end up with dry spots.
  • Covering the dish with foil during the first half of baking is crucial, without it the top burns before the center cooks through.
  • Use day-old or lightly toasted bread, fresh bread turns gummy and dense instead of soft and custardy.
03 -
  • Press the bread down gently after pouring the custard, it helps every cube soak evenly and prevents dry pockets.
  • Let the casserole rest for a full 10 minutes after baking, slicing too soon makes it fall apart and lose that beautiful layered look.
  • Warm your maple syrup in the microwave for 15 seconds before drizzling, it soaks into the casserole instead of pooling on top.
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