Baked French Toast Casserole

by Mel

This baked Apple-Cinnamon French toast is a healthy version of a classic baked French toast casserole. It is filled with flavor and antioxidants.

No-fat milk and no egg yolks certainly help make the recipe healthier and lower in fat but still very tasty to serve family or friends. For a delightful brunch idea, serve this casserole with a lovely fresh fruit salad. It will need eight hours of refrigeration for better taste, so plan ahead.


Ingredients:

3 cups nonfat milk

2 cups egg whites, or store-bought pasteurized liquid egg whites

3 tablespoons honey

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 1-pound loaf sliced whole-meal bread

1 cup chopped dried apple rings (3 ounces)

1/2 cup raisins

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1 tablespoon organic confectioners’ sugar (optional)


Preparation:

1. Whisk milk, egg whites, honey, vanilla and salt in a large bowl.

2. Trim crusts off 8 bread slices and set aside. Cut the crusts and the remaining bread into 1-inch pieces. Toss with dried apples, raisins, cinnamon and nutmeg in another large bowl.

3. Lightly oil a 9-by-13-inch baking pan. Transfer the bread mixture to the pan. Lay the reserved crustless slices evenly on top, trimming to fit. Whisk the milk mixture one more time, then pour evenly over the bread. Press the bread down with the back of a wooden spoon, making sure it’s evenly moist. Cover with parchment paper, then foil, and refrigerate for at least 8 hours or up to 24 hours.


4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake the casserole, covered, for 40 minutes. Uncover and continue baking until puffed, set and lightly browned, about 20 minutes more. Let stand for 10 minutes; dust with confectioners’ sugar and serve.


Yield: 12 servings.


Baked French Toast Casserole Nutrition:

Per serving: 183 calories; 1 g fat (0 g saturated fat, 1g mono unsaturated fat); 1 mg cholesterol; 33 g carbohydrates; 10 g protein; 4 g fiber; 344 mg sodium; 312 mg potassium. Nutrition Bonus: Selenium (21% daily value). 2 Carbohydrate Servings. Exchanges: 1 starch, 1/2 fruit.


*Here I'd like to tell you about my favorite diet program that uses a lot of the healthy lower GI foods: Isabel de los Rios' 'The Diet Solution Program'.

The Diet Solution Program favours a long term health orientated approach to fat loss, but not offering anyone a quick fix to their weight troubles. It has loads of valuable data and research to support its approach. I personally investigated the program thoroughly and my mum has been using it for a while now. I have to say she got some great results.

The nutrition plan is one of the healthiest we have seen, a strong core focus on vegetables, fruits, vitamin dense foods, lean proteins, select dairy produce and a clear approach to not expecting one diet to work for all body types. So give it a try and let me know how you’re doing.*

Original Baked French Toast Casserole Recipe