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    Home » Recipes » Main Course Recipes

    Pear Gruyere Overnight French Toast Casserole

    Nov 18, 2018 | by Jennifer | Last Updated: Dec 1, 2021

    Jump to Recipe

    Make holiday breakfast easy with this easy and delicious Pear Gruyere Overnight French Toast Casserole! Lovely served with bacon or sausage.

    pear gruyere french toast in white baking dish with spoon

    I stumbled on this recipe recently and was so intrigued by the flavour combination. Not to mention the easy overnight french toast casserole part :) It's the season when things like that come in handy!

    Pears are one of my favourite baked fruits and the nutty flavour of Gruyere cheese compliments it perfectly. But there's more. There's cinnamon raisin bread as the base of this one. It's all bathed in a milk and egg mixture and left to sit in the fridge overnight. The next morning, simply bake and enjoy.

    The flavours of this french toast casserole pair beautifully with something salty - bacon, bacon bacon, sausage or ham.

    We actually enjoyed this as "breakfast for dinner", so don't hesitate to mix up in the morning and let it sit in the fridge all day, then bake up for dinner.

    Cook's Notes

    I used Anjou pears for my dish. They held their shape well and had great flavour.

    Use whatever milk (or light cream) you like. I used whole (3%) milk.

    You can add a drizzle of maple syrup to serve if you like, though I didn't really think it needed it.

    The original "light" recipe called for 1% milk and egg substitute, if you'd prefer to make the lightened up version.

    Gruyere cheese can be pricey, but it takes a relatively small piece for the 1 cup shredded. So don't feel you need to buy a big piece. You'll need about 4 oz. It really is the best choice for this casserole, but if you can't find it, I'm thinking an Emmental cheese would be a nice substitute.

    pear gruyere french toast in white baking dish with spoon

    pear gruyere french toast in white baking dish with spoon

    Pear Gruyere Overnight French Toast Casserole

    Easy and delicious, this overnight french toast casserole is perfect for the holidays.
    Author: Jennifer
    5 stars from 6 ratings
    Print it Pin it + Collection Go to Collections Share by Email
    Prep Time 15 mins
    Cook Time 55 mins
    Refrigeration Time 8 hrs
    Total Time 1 hr 10 mins
    Course Breakfast, Brunch
    Servings 8 servings

    Ingredients
     

    • 4 cups sliced peeled Anjou or Concorde pears
    • 2 tsp butter, melted
    • 1 Tbsp granulated white sugar
    • 16-20 slices cinnamon swirl bread, cut in half diagonally
    • 1 cup shredded Gruyère cheese, about 4 oz
    • 1 1/2 cups whole milk, or half and half cream
    • 5 Tbsp granulated white sugar
    • 5 large eggs
    • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1 Tbsp turbinado sugar, or white sugar

    For serving:

    • Icing/confectioners' sugar, for dusting
    • 1/2 cup maple syrup, optional
    Prevent screen from going dark

    Instructions
     

    • In a medium bowl, combine the sliced pears, melted butter and the 1 Tbsp of sugar. Toss gently to coat.
    • In a greased 11 x 7-inch glass or ceramic baking dish, arrange half of the bread slices on the bottom of the pan. Spoon pear mixture overtop, then top evenly with shredded cheese. Arrange remaining bread on top.
    • In a medium bowl, whisk together the milk, 5 Tbsp sugar, eggs and cinnamon. Pour over bread, then press down slightly with the back of a spatula to submerge the bread. Cover tightly and refrigerate 8 hours or overnight.
    • Preheat oven to 350F.
    • Remove covering from dish. Sprinkle turbinado (or white) sugar evenly over top. Bake for about 55 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the centre comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes to set up. Cut into squares to serve. Serve dusted with icing sugar and/or a drizzle of maple syrup, if you like.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 433kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 141mg | Sodium: 311mg | Potassium: 373mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 35g | Vitamin A: 450IU | Vitamin C: 3.5mg | Calcium: 300mg | Iron: 2.2mg

    Nutritional information provided for general guidance only and should not be relied upon to make personal health decisions.

    Course Breakfast, Brunch
    Cuisine American, Canadian
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    Adapted from a Cooking Light Recipe
     

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    Meet the Author:
    Hi! I'm Jennifer, a home-cook of many years and a lifelong seeker of delicious food! I'm an equal opportunity eater. I enjoy eating all the foods!

    I love to share the classic recipes that I have enjoyed for years, as well as newer discoveries, that have become fast favourites.
    More about me here ...


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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Laura | Tutti Dolci says

      November 20, 2018 at 12:25 am

      What a perfect casserole for the holidays, I love these flavors!

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        November 20, 2018 at 7:30 am

        Thanks so much, Laura :)

        Reply
    2. Milena says

      November 19, 2018 at 1:21 pm

      5 stars
      This is my kind of breakfast! I just love pears and they way you've folded them into this French toast bake with the gruyere is calling me:) Great idea.

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        November 19, 2018 at 3:49 pm

        Thanks Milena, I just loved this combination of flavours. Delicious!

        Reply
    3. Chris Scheuer says

      November 19, 2018 at 11:43 am

      5 stars
      This is so pretty and sounds wonderful. I would happily eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner!

      Trader Joes has a shredded cheese that's a combination of Swiss and Gruyere. It'a less expensive than Gruyere but gives a similar flavor profile.

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        November 19, 2018 at 3:49 pm

        Thanks Chris and great tip about the Trader Joe's cheese mix. A great alternative!

        Reply
    4. [email protected] says

      November 19, 2018 at 9:37 am

      5 stars
      This is incredible! Truly! Thank you for sharing - we will be enjoying this in our house!! Shared!

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        November 19, 2018 at 10:14 am

        Thanks so much, Annie :)

        Reply
    5. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says

      November 19, 2018 at 7:45 am

      5 stars
      I'm looking at this and all I'm thinking about is how awesome this would be for Christmas morning! Love the addition of cheese in there too - bet it pairs wonderfully with the pear :)

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        November 19, 2018 at 8:11 am

        Thanks Dawn and yes, this one is certainly Christmas morning perfect!

        Reply
    6. Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen says

      November 18, 2018 at 4:43 pm

      5 stars
      I would have never thought to add the Gruyere Jennifer, but I am so intrigued! I bet it's just delicious. Casseroles like this just go hand in hand with the holiday season, don't you think?

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        November 18, 2018 at 6:49 pm

        Thanks Mary Ann and yes, it seems random, at first, but when you taste it, it's just perfect :) And yes, dishes like this are great for the busy season.

        Reply
    7. Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert says

      November 18, 2018 at 11:37 am

      Wow - pears and Gruyère together, what a fantastic combination. This looks so delicious and filled with all the flavors that I love. If we get company during the holidays I'm going to make this. Thanks Jennifer!

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        November 18, 2018 at 12:41 pm

        Thanks Tricia :) It was a fabulous combination of flavours. Loved it!

        Reply

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