Hot Cross Buns French Toast Casserole

Your new favourite Easter brunch recipe: Hot Cross Buns French Toast Casserole with Walnut Streusel

One of my most popular recipes - and one that I make repeatedly - is my French Toast Casserole. Although this is the Easter version, it still has that crunchy topping, buttery streusel, and that filling inside that makes for the perfect brunch. Even better, you can make it the night before, let it soak in the milk and eggs before baking the morning of and have a stress free brunch!

This recipe is made with that good ole Dempster's raisin bread that tastes so good with melted butter on it. You can also make this with Hot Cross Buns of course, but this is a super easy alternative if you can't find or don't want to make Hot Cross Buns. Then, it's soaked in milk, eggs, and vanilla, and then topped with a walnut streusel and icing to make for a perfect Easter brunch.

It takes about 15 minutes total to prepare and 45 minutes to cook.

Serves:	4-6
Prep time:	15 minutes
Cook time:	45 minutes

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Your List of Ingredients

• 3-4 cups of raisin bread or hot cross buns (about 6-7 slices of bread), sliced into 1-inch cubes

• 1 cup milk

• 3 eggs

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1/4 brown sugar (can be subbed with money or maple syrup)

• 1 tsp cinnamon

• 2 tbsp butter at room temperature

• 1/4 cup flour

• 1/4 cup brown sugar

• 1/4 cup walnuts or any other nuts, roughly chopped

• 1/4 cup icing sugar

• 1/4 tsp vanilla

• 1-2 tsp milk

• 1 cup of fruit, for topping (optional)

Step 1: Make the casserole

1. Preheat your oven to 350 if you're making the casserole the morning of.

2. Grease a 9x9 baking dish

3. Cut up the bread slices into roughly 1-inch cubes and place them in the baking dish.

4. Combine the eggs, milk, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Then, add the sugar and 1/2 the cinnamon and whisk.

5. Pour the egg mixture over top of the bread slices and gently combine in the dish to cover most of the bread in the mixture.

6. Place in the oven to cook for 15 minutes

Step 2: Make the walnut streusel

1. Combine the butter, flour, remaining 1/2 tsp of cinnamon and 1/4 cup of brown sugar with a fork. Add the walnuts and combine.

2. Once the casserole has been cooking for 15 minutes, remove it from the oven and place the streusel on top, breaking up the larger chunks of streusel.

3. Then, place it back in the oven to cook for another 30 minutes.

Step 3: Make the icing (optional)

1. In a small bowl, combine the icing sugar, vanilla, and milk.

2. Once the casserole is done cooking (the bread and streusel are golden), remove it from the oven and drizzle the icing over the casserole.

3. Serve immediately

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I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I did! I had trouble stopping myself from picking at the casserole long after I was done...it was just so good!

If you try this out this coming weekend, let me know! I'd love to hear about how it went. Don't forget to follow along on my Instagram this week to see what I'll be enjoying and making over Easter weekend.

Keep your eye out for another Easter-themed post coming your way this week that is going to make your weekend a lot easier.

Lastly, if you haven't had a chance to purchase my April meal plan, it's not too late! We still have so much of April left to make some delicious food and feel organized while doing it. Get more info here.

Have a great week!

- Emily