King Cake French Toast (Printable Version)

A festive bake featuring cinnamon-swirl brioche soaked in custard, finished with vibrant icing and sprinkles.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread and Custard

01 - 1 large loaf brioche or challah (approximately 16 ounces), cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 6 large eggs
03 - 2 cups whole milk
04 - 1 cup heavy cream
05 - ¾ cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
08 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
09 - ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
10 - ¼ teaspoon salt

→ Filling

11 - 4 ounces cream cheese, softened
12 - ⅓ 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 - ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
20 - Purple, green, and gold sanding sugars or sprinkles

# Cooking Steps:

01 - Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray.
02 - In a mixing bowl, beat softened cream cheese with powdered sugar and lemon zest until smooth and creamy.
03 - Arrange half of the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. Evenly distribute cream cheese mixture over the bread layer. Top with remaining bread cubes.
04 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until thoroughly combined.
05 - Pour custard evenly over bread mixture, gently pressing down to ensure even soaking. Cover dish tightly with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or overnight.
06 - Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove baking dish from refrigerator and allow it to stand at room temperature while the oven heats.
07 - In a small bowl, combine melted butter, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Drizzle evenly over the casserole.
08 - Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes until the top is puffed and golden brown.
09 - Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes before decorating.
10 - Whisk powdered sugar, milk, and vanilla extract until smooth and pourable. Drizzle icing over the warm casserole and immediately sprinkle with purple, green, and gold sanding sugars in festive stripes.
11 - Serve warm with optional accompaniments such as fresh berries or whipped cream.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • Most of the work happens the night before, so your morning is actually relaxed for once.
  • It feeds a crowd without making you feel like you're chained to the stove.
  • The cream cheese filling creates pockets of richness that make every bite feel indulgent.
  • Those festive sprinkles turn breakfast into a party, which honestly never gets old.
02 -
  • The overnight soak is not optional—it's what transforms this from bread casserole to custardy indulgence, so don't skip it or rush it.
  • If your bread is super fresh and soft, use slightly less milk and cream because it will already be quite moist; if it's a day or two old, use it all—the custard needs something to soak into.
  • Don't overbake it; the center should have a tiny bit of jiggle when it comes out, because carryover cooking continues in that 10-minute rest and it firms up perfectly.
03 -
  • Use cinnamon swirl brioche if you can find it—it amplifies the spice layer and makes everything taste like you've been planning this for weeks.
  • The icing should go on while the casserole is still warm so it sets into a thin glaze rather than pooling; if it cools too much, warm it gently in the oven for 5 minutes.
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