Best Make Ahead Raisin Brioche Recipes

OVERNIGHT FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Cut (or break apart) your brioche bread into 1-inch cubes and place it into a greased 9x13 baking dish.
• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt until combined. Pour this over top of the bread evenly and gently toss, making sure all pieces of bread are able to soak some of the liquid up.
• Cover with foil and place in the fridge overnight (or for 4-5 hours).
• You can make the crumble topping the day before as well by mixing together the cold butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt with a pastry cutter or two forks until you get pea-sized pieces of butter.
• Place this in a ziploc baggie or plastic container and leave it in the fridge overnight. You could also make the topping in the morning if needed.
• Preheat your oven to 350° F. Crumble the streusel evenly over the top of the casserole and place in the oven for about 45-55 minutes, until the casserole is baked through in the middle and golden on top. If you notice the casserole browning too quickly, you can add foil on top during the baking process.

RAISIN BREAD FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly butter an 8x8-inch baking pan.
• Pour bread cubes into the prepared pan.
• Beat milk, eggs, sugar, and vanilla extract together in a bowl until evenly mixed; pour mixture over bread cubes. Arrange butter chunks atop bread mixture. Set aside for bread to absorb liquid, about 10 minutes. Sprinkle with cinnamon.
• Bake in the preheated oven until top is golden, 45 to 50 minutes.

BAKED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Beat eggs in a bowl. Whisk in milk, heavy cream, 1/3 cup sugar, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and salt.
• Working in batches, dip 10 slices day-old brioche into batter to coat. Overlap brioche slices in a 9-by-13-inch ceramic or glass baking dish. Pour remaining batter over top. Refrigerate, covered, for at least 2 hours.
• Preheat oven to 375 degress. Top with pecans and sprinkle with 3 tablespoons sugar. Bake, covered with parchment-lined foil, for 25 minutes. Uncover; bake until top is golden brown and crunchy, 20 to 25 minutes more. Serve with syrup.

RAISIN BRIOCHE PASTRIES (PAINS AUX RAISINS)

Steps:

• Make brioche dough the day before making pastry and chill.
• Just before making pastry cream, soak raisins in boiling-hot water until softened, about 10 minutes. Drain, pressing out excess liquid, and cool to room temperature.
• Make pastry cream:
• Bring milk to a simmer in a 1 1/2-quart heavy saucepan. Whisk together yolks, sugar, and cornstarch in a bowl and gradually whisk in hot milk. Return mixture to pan and cook over moderately low heat, stirring with a wooden spoon, until mixture begins to boil. Simmer, stirring, until thickened and smooth, about 3 minutes.
• Transfer to a clean bowl and stir in vanilla and butter. Cover surface with plastic wrap and cool to room temperature.
• Make pastries:
• Roll out brioche dough on a well-floured surface into an 18- by 11-inch rectangle with a short side toward you. Spread pastry cream evenly over dough, leaving a 1/2-inch border at top edge. Sprinkle raisins evenly over cream. Roll up dough, starting from bottom, to make a log 11 inches long and about 3 1/2 inches in diameter. Moisten top edge with water and press to seal closed.
• Transfer to a cutting board or baking sheet and cover loosely with plastic wrap.
• Chill until firm, about 1 hour.
• Cut chilled log into 11 (1-inch-thick) rounds and arrange about 2 inches apart on 2 buttered baking sheets.
• Let pastries rise in a warm place, uncovered, 1 hour. (They will increase slightly in size and feel very tender to the touch.)
• While pastries are rising, preheat oven to 425°F.
• Bake in batches in middle of oven until tops are golden brown, 12 to 15 minutes. Transfer pastries to a rack.
• Simmer preserves and water, stirring, 1 minute. Pour through a sieve into a bowl, pressing on solids. Brush glaze onto pastries.

CINNAMON-RAISIN FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

Steps:

• Butter a shallow 2-quart baking dish. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Dip brioche in egg mixture, then arrange in dish, overlapping slightly and sprinkling raisins between slices. Pour remaining egg mixture over brioche and let stand 30 minutes or refrigerate up to overnight. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
• Bake until puffed and custard is just set in center, 55 to 65 minutes (tent with foil, if browning too quickly). Let cool at least 15 minutes before serving.