A custardy baked French toast infused with cinnamon, nutmeg, and cardamom, perfect for cozy mornings.
# What You Need:
→ Bread
01 - 1 loaf brioche or challah (day-old, sliced thick, approx. 16 oz)
→ Custard
02 - 4 large eggs
03 - 2 cups whole milk (16 fl oz)
04 - 1/2 cup heavy cream (4 fl oz)
05 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar (2.3 oz)
06 - 2 tsp vanilla extract
07 - 1 tsp ground cinnamon
08 - 1/2 tsp ground ginger
09 - 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
10 - 1/8 tsp ground cardamom
11 - Pinch of salt
→ Topping
12 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted (2 oz)
13 - 1/4 cup light brown sugar (1.8 oz)
14 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
→ Optional Garnishes
15 - Maple syrup
16 - Powdered sugar
17 - Fresh berries
# How To Make It:
01 - Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - Place bread slices in the baking dish, overlapping slightly.
03 - Whisk together eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg, ground cardamom, and salt until smooth.
04 - Pour custard evenly over bread, gently pressing slices to absorb the liquid.
05 - Mix melted butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon in a small bowl; drizzle evenly over the casserole.
06 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight for enhanced flavor infusion.
07 - Heat oven to 350°F (175°C).
08 - Remove cover and bake 40 to 45 minutes until golden and set in the center.
09 - Allow to cool slightly, then serve warm topped with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh berries as desired.
