Overnight guests are wonderful. Whether it’s family or friends, it’s always nice to be able to host people in your home. However you never want to spend much time in the kitchen when you could be spending it relaxing with your guests. This is a great dish to serve guests because you can prepare it the night before and then just finish it off in the morning. Serve with coffee and a fruit salad and your guests will be impressed with your effortless skill and delighted by this sweet, tender overnight french toast.
I recommend using a nice loaf of bread from your preferred bakery. Cinnamon raisin adds some nice interest, but you can use a french baguette if it’s convenient. The streusel topping really carries the majority of the sweetness, and makes this almost like a coffee cake. If you have an extra-sweet tooth, you may serve this with a little syrup on the side.
Overnight Streusel French Toast
Serves 8
Adapted from The Wicked Noodle
- 1 loaf cinnamon raisin bread, diced
- 8 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups half and half
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- (if using an unsweetened bread, like a french baguette, add 2 Tbsp sugar)
- 1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 stick butter, room temperature
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 2 cups chopped pecans
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/4 cup sweetened shredded coconut
Grease a 9×13″ pan with cooking spray. Spread the cubed bread in the pan (should fill the pan). In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, half and half, milk, sugar (if using), coconut, vanilla, salt, and 1 tsp cinnamon. Pour mixture over the cubed bread and press all the bread into the liquid. Cover with cling wrap and refrigerate overnight.
The next morning, preheat the oven to 350°F. In a bowl, mix together the butter, brown sugar, pecans, 1 tsp cinnamon, and coconut. Spread the streusel mixture over the prepared bread. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until lightly browned and a knife inserted in the center comes out mostly clean, and the center looks set.
If you have a strong sweet tooth, you can serve it with syrup.
