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Overnight Challah French Toast with Apples and Oat Crumble Topping
It's time to give our classic challah French toast a serious upgrade. Inspired by the nostalgic flavors of sweet noodle kugel, I've blended those warm, cinnamon-rich tastes into a brunch dish that's about to become your new go-to. Perfect for when you're craving a slice of tradition with a modern twist.
What Makes This Dish a Must Try?
We're blending two iconic favorites—sweet noodle kugel and challah—into one epic brunch dish. It's Jewish comfort food, elevated.
Tips for Making This Recipe:
- It’s Forgiving: Not so comfortable in the kitchen yet? No worries. This recipe is very forgiving. A little extra cinnamon or a bit more (or less!) bread won’t mess it up.
- Make-Ahead Magic: By preparing everything the night before, you're setting yourself up for a stress-free morning where breakfast practically makes itself.
- Customizable: Feel free to add nuts, swap the fruits based on what’s in season (or remove them completely!), keep or remove the oat crumble, or adjust the sweetness to your liking.
Gather Your Ingredients:
For the Casserole:
- Leftover Challah Bread: 8 to 10 cups, cubed (this is about 1 loaf, or 2/3 of a large loaf)
- Cottage Cheese: 1/2 cup
- Cream Cheese: 1/4 cup, softened
- Sour Cream: 1/4 cup
- Eggs: 6 large
- Whole Milk: 1 cup
- Unsalted Butter: 1/4 cup, melted
- Sugar or Maple Syrup: 1/2 cup
- Vanilla Extract: 1 teaspoon
- Ground Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
- Salt: A pinch
For Sautéing Apples:
- Apples: 2 large (or 3 medium), peeled, cored, and diced
- Butter: 2 tablespoons
- Cinnamon: 1 teaspoon
- Sugar: 2 tablespoons
For the Oat Topping:
- Rolled Oats: 1/2 cup
- All-Purpose Flour: 1/4 cup
- Brown Sugar: 1/4 cup
- Cinnamon: 1/2 teaspoon
- Cold Butter: 1/4 cup, cut into small pieces
- Salt: A pinch
Step-By-Step Instructions:
- Sauté the Apples: Start by melting 2 tablespoons of butter in a pan over medium heat. Add the apples, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and 2 tablespoons of sugar. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the apples are soft and slightly caramelized, about 5-7 minutes. Set aside to cool.
- Prepare the Oat Topping: In a bowl, combine the oats, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Then, add the cold butter pieces. To blend the butter into the oat mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs, you have several methods to choose from: rub it in with your fingers, use a pastry blender for a more hands-on approach, pulse briefly in a food processor to keep the oats chunky, or use an electric mixer with a paddle attachment for ease. Choose whichever technique suits you best! Place in the fridge until ready to use.
- Prepare the Casserole Base: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cottage cheese, cream cheese, sour cream, eggs, milk, melted butter, sugar/maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
- Combine: Gently fold in the challah cubes and cooled apples into the custard mixture, ensuring each piece is well coated. Pour this mixture into a greased 9x13 inch baking dish, spreading it evenly. Sprinkle the oat mixture evenly over the top of your casserole. This will give it a delicious crunch after baking.
- Chill Overnight: Cover the dish with foil and let it rest in the fridge overnight. This allows the bread to fully soak up the custard, giving you a richer flavor and texture.
- Wake up in the morning feelin' like Ina Garten: The next morning, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Take the casserole out of the fridge.
- Bake to Perfection: Bake the casserole uncovered for about 45-55 minutes. You're aiming for a golden-brown top and a set, custardy interior. If you notice the topping getting too brown too quickly, loosely cover the dish with foil until it finishes baking.
- Serving: Let the casserole sit for a few minutes after baking. This allows it to firm up a bit and makes serving easier. Then, dish it out warm. Feel free to drizzle some extra maple syrup or sprinkle powdered sugar on top for added sweetness
Happy cooking! Here's to bringing more Jewish tradition to the modern kitchen!
Enjoy! - XO, Challah Mamas <3
P.S. - If you make this recipe and love it, please share it with others, too! Let's keep bringing people together over delicious meals!