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Ultimate Bourbon Maple French Toast Casserole Recipe with Candied Bacon

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A warm, comforting French toast casserole infused with bourbon and maple syrup, topped with sweet and salty candied bacon. Perfect for brunch and easy to prepare.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 loaf thick-cut brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (day-old works best)
  • 8 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups whole milk (or almond milk for dairy-free)
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup pure maple syrup (Grade A recommended)
  • ¼ cup bourbon (mid-range brand like Maker’s Mark)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Pinch of salt
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon
  • ¼ cup brown sugar (light or dark)
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup (optional for extra glaze)

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Candied Bacon: Preheat oven to 375°F. Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment. Lay bacon slices in a single layer. Sprinkle brown sugar evenly over each slice and drizzle with maple syrup if desired. Bake for 15 minutes, checking after 12 minutes to avoid burning. Transfer bacon to a cooling rack to crisp.
  2. Cube the Bread: Cut brioche or challah into 1-inch cubes. Optionally, toast cubes lightly in the oven for 5 minutes if bread is very fresh.
  3. Mix the Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, maple syrup, bourbon, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until combined and frothy.
  4. Assemble the Casserole: Place bread cubes evenly in a 9×13-inch baking dish. Pour custard mixture over bread, pressing cubes gently to soak. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
  5. Preheat Oven and Add Bacon: Preheat oven to 350°F. Roughly chop half of the candied bacon and sprinkle over the soaked bread mixture. Reserve remaining bacon for garnish.
  6. Bake the Casserole: Bake uncovered for 45 to 55 minutes until top is golden and custard is set but moist. A knife inserted should come out clean.
  7. Garnish and Serve: Sprinkle reserved candied bacon on top. Serve warm with maple syrup or powdered sugar if desired.

Notes

Use thick, sturdy bread like brioche or challah for best texture. Toast fresh bread cubes lightly before soaking to prevent sogginess. Soak bread overnight for best custardy texture. Watch candied bacon closely to avoid burning. Tent casserole with foil if browning too fast. Can broil 1-2 minutes at end for extra crunch. Leftovers store well refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: bourbon, maple syrup, french toast casserole, candied bacon, brunch, breakfast, easy recipe, comfort food

Find it online: https://lyrafeast.com/ultimate-bourbon-maple-french-toast-casserole-recipe-with-candied-bacon-easy-and-perfect-for-brunch/