Cream Cheese Swirl Cinnamon Roll French Toast (Printable)

Decadent overnight breakfast bake with cinnamon, cream cheese swirls, and banana-infused French toast flavors.

# Components:

→ Bread & Fruit

01 - 1 large loaf brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (approximately 1 pound)
02 - 2 large ripe bananas, mashed

→ Custard

03 - 6 large eggs
04 - 2 cups whole milk
05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
06 - 1/2 cup brown sugar
07 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Cream Cheese Swirl

11 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
12 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
13 - 1 large egg yolk
14 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Topping

15 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
16 - 1/4 cup brown sugar
17 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

# Method:

01 - Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and salt. Stir in mashed bananas until fully incorporated.
03 - Add bread cubes to the custard mixture and gently toss until all pieces are evenly coated. Let sit for 10 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the liquid.
04 - In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
05 - Pour half of the soaked bread mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Drop half the cream cheese mixture in dollops over the bread layer. Repeat with remaining bread and cream cheese mixture. Swirl gently with a knife to create a marbled effect.
06 - Mix melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon together. Drizzle or sprinkle evenly over the casserole surface.
07 - Cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours.
08 - When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Remove casserole from refrigerator while the oven preheats.
09 - Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is set when tested with a knife.
10 - Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm, optionally with maple syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You can prep it the night before and actually sleep in without guilt or a kitchen disaster waiting for you.
  • The cream cheese swirls create these pockets of tangy richness that make every forkful feel like you're eating dessert for breakfast.
  • One dish feeds a crowd, which means fewer things to wash and more time enjoying the moment with people you like.
  • It's impressive enough for guests but forgiving enough that minor mistakes disappear under the cinnamon-sugar topping.
02 -
  • Don't skip the overnight chill—I once tried to bake this after just 2 hours and the center was wobbly while the edges were over-baked; the full overnight soak creates an even, custardy interior.
  • The cream cheese mixture must be dolloped, not swirled smoothly, or it will sink into the bread and disappear instead of creating those dreamy tangy pockets.
03 -
  • Measure your cream cheese by weight if possible because spooning and leveling can lead to inconsistent results—8 ounces by weight guarantees the swirl ratio works perfectly.
  • The casserole will look slightly underdone when you remove it from the oven, and that's exactly right; carryover cooking will set it as it cools, and you'll avoid that rubbery texture that comes from overcooking custard.
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