Gluten Free Living – 2016

Apple Raisin French Toast Strata is so mouthwatering you won’t be able to stop eating it! Really, this fabulous breakfast entree should be on one of your holiday menus this year. I used a delicious gluten free cinnamon raisin bread. Then it has cream cheese and apple pie filling spooned over top. It’s topped with more bread and then a custard sauce with maple syrup is poured over top before baking. Oh my. This breakfast casserole is divine!

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This is NOT a paid endorsement for Canyon Bakehouse but I absolutely love their bread. I’ve tried so many gluten free breads that are just awful. Most are dry and crumbly and taste dreadfully. Not Canyon Bakehouse. I’ve tried their breads, hamburger buns, bagels, and focaccia and I’ve loved everything! Their breads not only have great taste but a wonderful texture. They don’t fall apart or get crumbly. They’re simply amazing.

If you didn’t know you were eaten gluten free bread, you would never know it. I purchase mine at a local Sprouts in Cedar Hill. I usually buy 5-7 loaves at a time and put the bread in the freezer until I’m ready to use it. Then I keep it in the refrigerator until the loaf is gone. I used their cinnamon raisin bread for this recipe. If you don’t have gluten intolerance you can use any cinnamon raisin bread, including Cinnabon, if you desire.

The first time I tasted this dish was back in the early 2000s when a sweet Nigerian couple brought this casserole into our Sunday school class for breakfast one Sunday morning. They served it with Amish Breakfast Casserole and both entrees were so delightful that they were eaten down to the last crumb! I recently remade this recipe for a “Breakfast for Dinner” potluck at our church. We have some folks in our church that need gluten free recipes, so I decided to make this with gluten free bread. Both casseroles were very well received. The combination of bread with cream cheese and apple pie filling is heavenly.

If you’re looking for a fantastic breakfast casserole to treat your family to during the holidays, I can’t recommend Apple Raisin French Toast Strata enough. I assure you, you will clean this casserole down to the last drop!

This recipe is featured at All Free Casserole Recipes here.

Apple Raisin French Toast Strata is divine!

I served Apple Raisin French Toast Strata with Amish Breakfast Casserole. Both casseroles were fantastic.

While I garnished the casserole with fresh strawberries, you can leave it plain, too.

Here’s what I did.

I used these ingredients.

This is the gluten free bread I buy.

Cut off the crusts from the bread and layer bread in a greased 9×13″ glass baking dish. Fit pieces of bread so every inch of the bottom of the dish is covered.

Cube cream cheese and place over top of bread.

Spoon apple pie filling over top of cream cheese. This is where you add extra raisins if you want them.

Cover with another layer of bread.

Beat eggs. Add half-and-half, maple syrup and melted butter.

Whisk ingredients to combine.

Pour custard filling over top of bread.

Cover with plastic wrap and press bread into the custard so the bread pieces are soaked. Refrigerate at least 2 hours.

Bake at 350 uncovered, about 45 minutes, or until custard is completely set.

Apple Raisin French Toast Strata is gluten free.

This breakfast casserole is wonderful for holiday breakfasts.

Here’s the recipe.

APPLE RAISIN FRENCH TOAST STRATA

(Recipe adapted from Akosua Addo when we attended Hillcrest Baptist Church, Cedar Hill, TX; source: adapted from All Recipes)

If you’re looking for a dynamite way to prepare French Toast, you’ve got to consider this recipe.

Apple Raisin French Toast Strata uses cream cheese, apple pie filling and maple syrup among layers of cinnamon raisin bread.

I love the chunky apples from apple pie filling in this breakfast entree.

You may also enjoy these delicious recipes!

Baked Peach French Toast

Baked Apple French Toast

Cinnabon French Toast