Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole (Print Version)

Cinnamon-vanilla soaked bread layered with ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese, baked until golden and topped with powdered sugar and maple syrup.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread & Dairy

01 - 8 cups French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 1 loaf)
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

# Method:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - In a large bowl, toss bread cubes with chopped ham and turkey. Spread mixture 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 layer, pressing gently to help bread absorb liquid. Sprinkle Swiss cheese evenly over top. Cover with aluminum foil and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
05 - Bake covered for 30 minutes.
06 - Remove foil and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, or until casserole is set and top is golden brown.
07 - Let cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm, dusted with powdered sugar and drizzled with maple syrup.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It tastes like the beloved Monte Cristo sandwich but feeds a crowd without any frying or flipping.
  • You can assemble it the night before and just pop it in the oven when guests arrive.
  • The combination of sweet maple syrup and savory ham is ridiculously satisfying.
  • It looks fancy but uses simple ingredients you probably already have on hand.
02 -
  • If you skip the resting time before baking, the bread wont soak up enough custard and youll end up with dry spots.
  • Dont use fresh, soft bread or it will turn soggy and fall apart, day old or slightly stale French bread is your best friend here.
  • Make sure your ham and turkey are already cooked, this isnt the time to deal with raw meat.
03 -
  • Use a serrated knife to cut the bread into even cubes, it makes the job so much faster and cleaner.
  • Warm your maple syrup before drizzling, it soaks into the casserole better and feels more luxurious.
  • If the top is browning too quickly, tent it loosely with foil for the last few minutes of baking.
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