Monte Cristo Casserole – melissassouthernstylekitchen.com

This make-ahead Monte Cristo Casserole is the last word! It options smoky ham and gooey cheese all soaked in a decadent creamy egg custard. It’s good for particular events, brunch gatherings, Easter breakfast and Christmas morning.

Elements to Make Monte Cristo Casserole Recipe

This monte cristo breakfast casserole combines the favored sandwich sometimes made on the stovetop with french toast. It’s a terrific make-ahead possibility for particular events and the vacations when you’ll be able to prep breakfast upfront. Elements you’ll must make Monte Cristo Breakfast Casserole: (Scroll down for the complete printable recipe card.)

• Ham – Sliced absolutely cooked ham is traditional for monte cristo sandwiches.
• Bread – 12 slices agency white bread, one loaf of french bread or sourdough bread.  
• Cheese – Shredded Swiss cheese kinds the edible “glue” to carry the sandwiches collectively.
• Mayo and Mustard – Mayonnaise and Dijon mustard add taste and expands the flavour profile.
• Entire Eggs – Massive eggs kind the bottom of the egg custard.
• Liquid – Heavy cream or half and half provides moisture.
• Seasonings – Salt, granulated garlic or garlic powder, onion powder, floor mustard and floor nutmeg.
• Garnishes and Serving – Powdered sugar for dusting the tops and raspberry jam for sweetness.

The way to Make the BEST Monte Cristo Casserole Recipe

• Make the Cheese Combination – Combine collectively 3 cups Swiss cheese with mayonnaise and Dijon mustard.
• Unfold on Bread Slices – Divide the cheese combination between the bread slices, spreading in a skinny layer from finish to finish.
• Add Ham and Kind Sandwiches – Organize ham slices over the cheese on 6 bread slices. High with matching slice of bread, then minimize by means of the center making 2 even items.
• Put together Dish – Spray a deep 13×9-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray or brush with softened butter.
• Make Egg Combination – Whisk collectively the heavy cream, eggs, salt, granulated garlic, onion, powder, floor mustard and floor nutmeg till absolutely mixed.
• Dip Sandwiches – Dip sandwiches on either side into the egg combination. Organize sandwich halves within the dish, overlapping.
• Add to Dish – Slowly pour the remaining egg combination evenly over the bread, permitting it to soak into the bread. Elevate the items gently to pour over any bread slices which might be lined. Sprinkle the highest with the reserved shredded swiss cheese.
• Chill – Cowl with plastic wrap and chill for not less than 4 hours, ideally in a single day.
• Warmth Oven: Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Convey Dish to Room Temperature: Take away the casserole dish from the fridge and let stand for 20 minutes or so to return to room temperature. Take away the plastic wrap.
• Oven: Bake per the recipe till frivolously golden brown and puffed.
• Serve: Let stand for five minutes then serve dusted with powdered sugar and raspberry preserves.

Ideas for Making Monte Cristo Casserole

• Kitchen Gear You’ll Want: Massive 13×9-inch casserole dish or cake pan, whisk, measuring cups, measuring spoons, cheese grater, giant bowl, medium bowl and plastic wrap.
• Don’t Be Shy with the Confectioner’s Sugar: Probably the most addictive issues a few monte cristo is the candy and savory taste profile. That’s firmly current while you mud the highest with a beneficiant quantity of powdered sugar and serve it with a aspect of preserves. I wish to mud the servings earlier than and after plating.
• Use Related Measurement Slices of Bread: When creating the sandwiches, it’s greatest to make use of bread that’s comparable in thickness and peak. If not, the casserole received’t bake evenly.
• Dip Don’t Soak: It’s not essential to soak the sandwiches, only a fast dip will do!

Recipe Variations

• Slicing Choices: Chances are you’ll select to chop the sandwiches into quarters and prepare them aspect by aspect within the baking dish. It’s best to do that significantly in order for you the egg custard to soak the complete sandwich. I’m demonstrating how the casserole will end up when utilizing half sandwich parts which provides you with extra of a crusty texture to the top end result. I did minimize one sandwich diagonally into 4 items and organized it down the center of the dish to suit all the sandwiches.
• Bread: The bread I used on this casserole was round 3.5-4 inches tall. I point out this, as a thicker loaf of bread will enable extra of the bread to be uncovered and stick out of the egg custard. You should use white bread, french loaf of bread or sourdough bread. A agency bread works greatest with even slices.
• Protein: You may use Canadian bacon or turkey ham instead of traditional smoked ham. You may as well use deli ham or deli turkey.
• Spices: Nutmeg provides only a trace of spice to the eggs. You may additionally add black pepper to your style.
• Herbs: Chances are you’ll select so as to add contemporary herbs to the cheese similar to parsley or chives.
• Cheese: Swiss cheese is a traditional ingredient used for making monte cristo’s. You may use a distinct cheese similar to gruyere cheese or cheddar cheese, if that fits your private style greatest.

Storage and Leftovers

• Leftovers: Retailer leftover Monte Cristo Casserole in an hermetic container or lined with plastic wrap or aluminum foil chilled within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
• Reheating: You may reheat in a 350°F oven, an air fryer, or gently in single servings within the microwave.
• Freezer: You may freeze leftovers for as much as 2 months. Thaw within the fridge and reheat simply earlier than serving.

Extra Breakfast Casseroles to Make

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