King Cake Overnight French Toast (Printable)

Cinnamon swirl brioche soaked in custard, baked until golden, topped with colorful icing and festive sprinkles.

# Components:

→ Bread and Custard

01 - 1 large loaf brioche or challah (about 16 oz), cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 6 large eggs
03 - 2 cups whole milk
04 - 1 cup heavy cream
05 - 3/4 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
08 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
09 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Filling

11 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
12 - 1/3 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 - 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
20 - Purple, green, and gold sanding sugars or sprinkles

# Method:

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 creamy.
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, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
05 - Pour custard mixture evenly over bread layers, pressing down gently to ensure even soaking. Cover tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
06 - Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove casserole from refrigerator and allow to stand at room temperature while oven heats, approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
07 - In a small bowl, mix melted butter, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Drizzle mixture evenly over the casserole.
08 - Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes, until the casserole is puffed and golden brown on top.
09 - Remove from oven and allow to cool for 10 minutes before decorating.
10 - Whisk together powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable.
11 - Drizzle icing over warm casserole. Immediately sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sanding sugars in festive stripes. Serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Most of the work happens while you sleep, so you can actually enjoy your guests instead of stressing in the kitchen.
  • It looks impressive and festive without requiring any fancy technique, just honest ingredients layered with care.
  • The cinnamon-cream cheese filling creates pockets of sweetness that feel indulgent but aren't heavy.
02 -
  • The overnight soak is non-negotiable; rushing this step results in dried-out bread instead of that custardy, almost bread pudding texture that makes people come back for more.
  • If your oven runs hot, tent the dish loosely with foil halfway through baking to prevent the top from browning too quickly before the custard sets.
  • The casserole continues to cook slightly even after it comes out of the oven, so removing it when it still jiggles slightly in the center is actually the goal.
03 -
  • Buy your brioche or challah from a good bakery where the bread is actually airy and rich; supermarket versions won't give you the same luxurious result.
  • Room temperature custard ingredients mix more evenly and create a smoother base than cold ones, so let eggs and cream sit out while you preheat the oven.
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