Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole (Printer-friendly)

Savory-sweet layers of ham, turkey, Swiss cheese, and brioche baked in golden custard with raspberry preserves

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread & Dairy

01 - 8 slices brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 2 cups whole milk
03 - 6 large eggs
04 - 1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
05 - 1/2 cup cream cheese, cubed and softened
06 - 2 tbsp unsalted butter, melted

→ Meats

07 - 1 cup cooked ham, diced
08 - 1 cup cooked turkey breast, diced

→ Sweet & Seasoning

09 - 1/4 cup raspberry preserves (plus extra for serving)
10 - 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
11 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
12 - 1/4 tsp kosher salt
13 - 2 tbsp powdered sugar, for dusting

# How to Prepare:

01 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until well combined.
03 - Layer half of the bread cubes evenly in the baking dish. Sprinkle half of the ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese over the bread. Dot with half of the cream cheese cubes.
04 - Drizzle half of the raspberry preserves over the layer. Repeat with remaining bread, meats, Swiss cheese, cream cheese, and raspberry preserves.
05 - Pour the egg mixture evenly over the casserole, pressing gently to soak the bread. Cover with foil and refrigerate for at least 1 hour, or overnight for best flavor.
06 - Remove from refrigerator while oven preheats. Bake covered for 30 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until golden and set.
07 - Cool for 10 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm, with extra raspberry preserves on the side.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The sweet and savory combo hits every craving at once
  • You can assemble it the night before and wake up a brunch hero
  • Leftovers (if they exist) reheat beautifully for Monday breakfast
02 -
  • Press the bread down into the liquid during that refrigeration period. The more it soaks, the more custard-like and luxurious your final texture becomes.
  • Dont skip the cream cheese cubes. They melt differently than shredded cheese and create those creamy pockets that make people ask whats the secret ingredient.
03 -
  • Room temperature eggs whisk into the milk more smoothly, creating a silkier custard
  • If your bread seems too fresh, toast the cubes lightly for 10 minutes at 350°F before assembling

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