King Cake French Toast Bake (Printable Version)

A festive layered custard bake featuring cinnamon-swirl brioche with bright icing and sprinkles.

# The Ingredients You'll Need:

→ Bread and Custard

01 - 1 large loaf brioche or challah, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 16 ounces)
02 - 6 large eggs
03 - 2 cups whole milk
04 - 1 cup heavy cream
05 - ¾ cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
08 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
09 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
10 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Filling

11 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
12 - ⅓ cup powdered sugar
13 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest

→ Topping

14 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
15 - 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
16 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

→ Icing and Decoration

17 - 1 cup powdered sugar
18 - 2 to 3 tablespoons milk
19 - ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
20 - Purple, green, and gold sanding sugar or sprinkles

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Grease a 9 by 13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - In a mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese, powdered sugar, and lemon zest until smooth and well combined.
03 - Arrange half the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. Dollop cream cheese mixture evenly over bread layer. Top with remaining bread cubes.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
05 - Pour custard evenly over bread mixture, pressing down gently to ensure thorough soaking. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
06 - Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove baking dish from refrigerator and allow to stand at room temperature while oven heats to temperature.
07 - In a small bowl, combine melted butter, sugar, and ground cinnamon. Drizzle mixture evenly over the casserole.
08 - Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes, until the casserole is puffed and golden brown.
09 - Allow baked casserole to cool for 10 minutes before finishing.
10 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable consistency. Drizzle icing over warm casserole. Immediately sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sanding sugar in festive stripes.
11 - Serve casserole warm, optionally garnished with fresh berries or whipped cream.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • You prep it the night before, so morning chaos becomes just sliding it into the oven.
  • It looks stunning enough to impress guests but tastes like the coziest breakfast hug.
  • The cream cheese layer is a secret that makes every bite feel a little luxurious.
02 -
  • Don't skip the overnight soak—the bread needs those hours to become tender and custardy, not soggy but truly soaked through.
  • Room temperature matters more than you'd think; pulling the dish from the fridge too soon means the edges will overcook before the center sets.
03 -
  • Don't use fresh bread—a day-old loaf holds up better to soaking without becoming mushy.
  • The cream cheese layer is the secret weapon; make sure it's really softened so it spreads smoothly and doesn't create clumps in the custard.
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