Christmas Brunch

Ahhh Christmas. The season that is so full of traditions that it just doesn’t feel like Christmas if you haven’t done them all. From decorating evergreens to twinkling lights, wrapping presents to singing along to Christmas songs and everything in between. The best parts of Christmas are those traditions you have with your family and friends that you look forward to year after year.

One of my absolute favorite Christmas Traditions is Christmas Brunch. We always have brunch at our house. My dad gets breakfast in the oven before we wake up, and we can always smell it cooking while we open presents and laze around the Christmas tree on Christmas morning.

Now, I’m like 95% positive that most people don’t try to make their kids sit down for breakfast before opening presents either. (I mean… we’re in our 20s and don’t like to wait!) So I’m here today to share on of my favorite breakfast/ brunch recipes with all of you!

This breakfast is SO SIMPLE to make and it seriously tastes like Christmas! Plus you can make it ahead of time. All you have to do is pop it in the oven, so you can go and enjoy the Christmas morning fun!

Now, before I give my dad ALL the credit, I’m pretty sure this was found years ago somewhere on Pioneer Woman’s website. (Or possibly cook book? I’m not sure!) But over the years, he’s perfected it and made it his own.

And just so you know… this isn’t one of those soggy french toast bakes! I usually don’t care for french toast because it gets all soggy and gross. (Except those french toast stick from BK. I freakin’ love those.) I promise you, this isn’t soggy one bit. AND it has streusel on top. So you know it’s gotta be good!

So, book mark this page RIGHT NOW, because once you make this, you’ll want to make it over and over again!

Dad’s Christmas Morning French Toast Bake 

Shopping List: 

• 1 1/2 Loaf of fresh Cinnamon Bread (My dad picks his up at the local bakery in Manistee the day before he’s going to make it. If you don’t have a place near you that sells cinnamon bread, a loaf of sour dough bread will work just fine!)
• 8 Eggs
• 2 Cups of Milk
• 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream
• 3/4 Cup Sugar
• 2 Tablespoons plus An Extra Teaspoon of Vanilla (No. Not Vanilla Extract… the good stuff!)
• 1/2 Cup of Flour
• 1/2 Cup of Brown Sugar
• 1 Teaspoon Cinnamon (You’ll need an extra tablespoon of Cinnamon if you’re using regular bread)
• 1/4 Teaspoon of Salt
• 1/2 Cup of Cold Butter, cut into pieces

Directions: 

1. Cut your bread loaves (or loaf if you’re using normal sourdough!) into cubes, and place even in a 9×13 greased pan.
2. In a bowl, mix together eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar and vanilla. If you’re using normal sourdough bread, add in that extra tablespoon of Cinnamon I mentioned earlier! This will give you almost the same flavor you would get using cinnamon loaves.
3. Pour mixture evenly over your bread.
4. Cover in plastic wrap and leave in fridge overnight.
5. Then, start making your topping! In a bowl, mix together brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt.
6. Start adding in your cold, cut up butter. It should end up looking like streusel! Put it in an air tight container (or a Ziploc!) and refrigerate that overnight too!
7. The next morning, take our your pan and your container. Sprinkle your crumbly streusel all over your bread.
8. Bake at 350 for 45 minutes to an hour, depending on how soft you life your french toast to be.

And guys… that’s it! It seriously is SO easy and SO DANG GOOD. PS… I’m sorry I don’t have more pictures of it for you. This is one food that I eat first before taking a picture of it because it’s THAT good.

What do you and your family like to eat on Christmas morning?! (Besides candy from your stockings, of course!)

Have a fantastic rest of your Wednesday everyone! Just 5 more sleeps until Christmas! (I wish I had a penny for every time I’ve said that to my students today. I’d be a freakin’ billionaire.)

I’ll be back tomorrow!

Xx.
Savannah