Having a brunch party is a little different than having a party any other time of day for lots of reasons but maybe one of the most challenging for the host is that you have much less time before the people arrive to get things ready.  Knowing this, I decided that the bulk of my food options had to be things that could be purchased (biscuits- Thanks Trader Joes) or prepared the night before and just popped in the oven that morning (Texas eggs and something sweet).  In my attempt to find something sweet that could be prepared the night before, I came across this gem of a recipe.  I thought I would share will y’all and continue to spread the easy and delicious love around.  It seriously may have taken 20 minutes tops the night before to put everything together which was lucky because we went with Corey’s family to see Les Miserables that night (the play) which was pretty amazing and in my opinion much better than the movie so I didn’t get to start cooking until about midnight.  Yikes.

Cinnamon Baked French Toast

From the Pioneer Woman

– 1 loaf stale bread (I used apple streusel bread from Target and it was not stale.  I think the texture would have been much better if it had been stale

– 8 whole eggs

– 2 cups milk (I used skim)

– 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

– 3/4 cup sugar

– 2 tablespoons vanilla

– 1/2 cup all purpose flour

– 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

– 1 teaspoon cinnamon

– 1/4 teaspoon salt

– 1 stick cold butter cubed

Directions:

1. Grease a 9 X 13 pan.  A cake pan or a casserole pan would work

2. Tear your stale bread into chunks and put them in the pan

3. Mix together eggs, milk, whipping cream, sugar, and vanilla in a big bowl.  Pour this mixture over the bread, making sure to cover evenly.  Cover and refrigerate overnight.

4. In a separate bowl, mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and cubed butter until it starts to form little balls and come together.  Make sure to store in fridge.

5. When you are ready to bake, pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

6.  Sprinkle your cinnamon mixture and sprinkle over the top of the bread mixture right before it goes in the oven.

7.  Place in oven for 45 minutes to an hour depending on how soggy you like your toast.

Serve alone or with maple syrup if you like things to be crazy sweet like I do.

I am telling you guys, you need to make this happen for yourself.