Cream Cheese Swirl Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake (Print View)

Decadent overnight breakfast bake with cinnamon roll flavors, cheesecake swirls, and hints of banana in every golden bite.

# Components:

→ Bread & Fruit

01 - 1 large loaf brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 1 pound)
02 - 2 large ripe bananas, mashed

→ Custard

03 - 6 large eggs
04 - 2 cups whole milk
05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
06 - 1/2 cup brown sugar
07 - 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
10 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Cream Cheese Swirl

11 - 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
12 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
13 - 1 large egg yolk
14 - 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

→ Topping

15 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
16 - 1/4 cup brown sugar
17 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

# Directions:

01 - Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and salt. Stir in mashed bananas until well combined.
03 - Add bread cubes to the custard mixture and gently toss until all pieces are evenly coated. Allow to sit for 10 minutes to absorb the liquid.
04 - In a medium bowl, beat softened cream cheese with sugar, egg yolk, and vanilla until smooth and creamy.
05 - Pour half of the soaked bread mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Drop half the cream cheese mixture in dollops over the bread layer. Repeat with remaining bread and cream cheese mixture. Gently swirl with a knife to create a marbled effect.
06 - Mix melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Drizzle or sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
07 - Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 4 hours, allowing flavors to meld.
08 - Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove casserole from refrigerator while oven preheats. Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes, until golden brown and set in the center.
09 - Allow casserole to cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm, optionally garnished with maple syrup or powdered sugar.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's a show-stopper that looks fancy but requires zero morning stress since you assemble it the night before.
  • The cream cheese swirl gives you that decadent bakery-quality taste without the price tag or the line at dawn.
  • Brioche soaked in banana-spiced custard tastes indulgent enough to feel like dessert but wholesome enough for brunch.
02 -
  • Don't skip the overnight chill—it's not just for convenience, it's essential for texture because the bread needs time to fully absorb the custard and the flavors need to marry together.
  • Use truly softened cream cheese, not cold or room temperature—if it's too firm, your swirls will be lumpy instead of smooth and creamy when baked.
03 -
  • If your cream cheese layer looks too thin after swirling, it means it's going to create those amazing pockets of cheesecake throughout the casserole instead of just sitting on top—this is exactly what you want.
  • The casserole can be assembled up to 24 hours ahead, which makes it perfect for holiday mornings when you want to sleep in and still have something impressive on the table.
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