Creamy bread pudding layered with sauteed apples and cinnamon make this delicious breakfast strata worthy of brunch but so delicious it could be dessert. Serve this special treat with Apple Cider Caramel Sauce.
Strata, Bread Pudding or Baked French Toast
This Apple Cinnamon Strata could be defined as a bread pudding. Or for that matter, it could be called a baked french toast.
But because I have designed it to be less sweet than a typical bread pudding, I didn’t want to classify it as such. It’s not as savory as your typical strata, as it offers up a touch of sweetness from the cinnamon and apples. Should you desire a little extra sweetness for your Apple Cinnamon Strata try serving it with some maple syrup, or better yet with my Apple Cider Caramel Sauce. Either way, it makes a delicious and delightful breakfast or brunch.
The cinnamon apples bring a warm sweetness to this strata. These flavors stand well on their own, but if you would like, feel free to sprinkle shredded cheese of your choosing over the top, 5 minutes before pulling out of the oven. This will bring a savory flair to the dish. Something very reminiscent to Grandma’s Apple Pie with cheese.
“Apple Pie without the Cheese is like a Hug without a Squeeze.”
A Word About Bak Klene ZT
I recommend the use of Bak Klene ZT as it is an amazing product. In the past I have ruined a number of my favorite pans before discovering Bak Klene. Very little is needed to ensure easy release of all your baked goods. If you have ever used a vegetable oil product or other kitchen spray on your nonstick or gold pans, you may have probably noticed the sticky residue that was left behind. I can assure you that this will not happen with Bak Klene. However, if you are happy with the product you are using, then I encourage you to use it as you normally would. Bake Klene is available at William Sonoma and Amazon.
Weight Watcher and Waist Watchers
This casserole is divided equally into 12 portions. Each portion is 5 WW Smart Points.
Tips and Techniques
For your assistance, I have included a few photos to use as guidance.
Slice your bread about a 1/4 of an inch thick.
Please note the torn pieces of bread.
The idea is to make them fit, it’s not a beauty contest!
Remaining apples may be scattered over the top.
Hot out of the oven!
Buon Appetito!
PrintApple Cinnamon Strata
This strata is a warm and delicious breakfast treat. Serve it on it own with a dollop of whipped cream, or serve it with a drizzle of Apple Cider Caramel Sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour and 15 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour and 30 minutes
- Yield: 12 Servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Oven Baked
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
For Strata:
- 11 ounces French Country Bread, sliced thin and heavy crust cut away
- 2 Cups Sautéed Cinnamon Apples
For Custard:
- 10 Large Eggs
- 2 1/4 cups Whole Milk
- 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
- 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon*
- 1/2 teaspoon Apple Pie Spice*
- 1/4 cup Granulated Sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons Kosher Salt
Instructions
1. Cut away any heavy crust from sides and top of loaf, taking care not to cut away too much of the bread itself. This is much easier if you have a serrated knife. You really just want to shave off the crust.
2. Slice the bread into thin slices, about a 1/4 inch thick. At this point, you can leave the bread sliced in the baking dish, to dry out a little overnight or for a day. Drying the bread helps to keep the strata from becoming to gooey.
3. Once your bread has dried out a bit or staled, its time to start to build your strata. Lightly spray a 13 x 9 inch glass or glazed baking dish with Bak Klene ZT* or Vegalene. Place the bread slices lining the bottom of the pan with them.
4. Gently spread 1 cup of the Sautéed Apples over the first layer of bread.
5. Repeat with a second layer of bread, followed by another cup of sautéed apples.
6. The final layer will be one more layer of bread on top of the last apple layer. Should you cut your bread too thick, you will not have enough for the third layer. If it appears that you are not going to be able to make a full three layers, don’t fret. You can easily make this dish with one layer of apples. In this case, you will use about 2 cups of apples over the bottom layer of bread. Then top it with a final layer of sliced bread.
To Assemble the Custard:
7. In a separate bowl, beat together the 10 eggs. Add the sugar, spice, salt and vanilla and beat well to combine. You want to make sure that your eggs are beaten completely, so that you don’t have any separation of the whites and yolks. Then, gradually add the milk, whisking until throughly combined.
8. Slowly pour the custard mixture over the bread layers, allowing it to soak down into the bread. Once you have poured all the custard over the bread layers, gently press the bread down into the custard to encourage the top layer to soak up the custard. Sprinkle the top with a few remaining pieces of apple. Cover immediately with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
To Bake:
9. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the strata from the refrigerator and allow it to come up to room temperature, while the oven is preheating.
10. Place the strata on top of a baking sheet and remove the plastic wrap. This will protect your oven should there be a spill over. Place the strata into the oven and bake for 35 minutes uncovered. Remove the dish from the oven and loosely cover with foil. Continue to bake for an additional 30-45 minutes, until a knife inserted into the center of the dish comes out clean.
To Serve:
11. Remove from oven and let rest for 15 minutes.
12. Cut and plate the strata. See Notes for WW points based on serving size.
Notes
For Weight Watcher Smart Points:
Cut your finished dish into 12 equal servings. Each serving is 5 WW Smart Points
For larger serving:
Cut the finished strata into 8 equal servings. Each serving is 7 WW Smart Points
*Extra points for the sauce, whipped cream and cheese
Buon Appetito!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 -12th
