Description
Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole is a sweet-and-savory brunch favorite made with layers of soft bread, deli ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese baked in a rich egg custard. Finished with powdered sugar and served with raspberry jam or syrup, this easy make-ahead casserole is perfect for holidays, weekends, or feeding a hungry family.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 slices white bread, crusts removed (or brioche/challah)
- 8 ounces deli ham, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces deli turkey, thinly sliced
- 8 ounces Swiss cheese, sliced
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tablespoons Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter, melted (for greasing dish)
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
- Raspberry jam or maple syrup, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with melted butter.
- Arrange 6 slices of bread evenly in the bottom of the dish.
- Layer half the ham, turkey, and Swiss cheese over the bread.
- Top with remaining 6 slices of bread.
- In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, Dijon mustard, salt, black pepper, and cayenne until smooth.
- Pour egg mixture evenly over the casserole. Press gently to help bread absorb the liquid.
- Cover with foil and let sit for 30 minutes, or refrigerate overnight.
- Bake covered for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15–20 minutes, until golden brown and set in the center.
- Cool slightly before slicing. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with raspberry jam or syrup if desired.
Notes
- For richer flavor, use brioche or challah instead of white bread.
- Overnight chilling gives the best texture and flavor.
- If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover with foil during the last 10 minutes.
- Store leftovers in the refrigerator up to 3 days.
- Reheat in the oven at 325°F for best texture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 980 mg
- Fat: 24 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 28 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 195 mg