Strawberry Explosion French Toast Roll-Ups

Packed with not just one but two types of yogurt, these Strawberry Explosion French Toast Roll-Ups are sure to keep the kiddos fueled & focused right up until that lunch bell rings...

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Dannon® Oikos® Greek Yogurt and Danimals® Kids Smoothies. The opinions and text are all mine.

Well, folks... it's that time of the year again! The kiddos are heading back to school soon or maybe have already started back like my youngest has this past week. And while there are definitely crazy busy school mornings where I end up sending my daughter out the door to catch the bus with a breakfast bar in hand, most mornings I try to whip up something that will keep her full & fueled until lunch time.

One of my favorite ways to do this is by incorporating calcium rich yogurt into her back to school breakfasts. Yogurt, especially Greek yogurt, is packed with protein that stays with my daughter right through until the lunch bell rings.

12 Fun & Healthy On-the-Go Breakfast Ideas

These 12 Fun & Healthy On-the-Go Breakfast Ideas are perfect for back to school & busy mornings...

I think by now we are all waist deep into all things back to school- am I right? ;) My kiddos have both been in school for over 2 weeks now, so we are finally starting to find our groove each weekday morning. 

Most mornings everyone gets up & dressed with lunches packed and backpacks ready to roll and with enough time to spare to sit down and enjoy a bowl of cereal before heading out the door for school. But then there are those mornings... I know that you all have to know what I am talking about here.

The mornings when the oldest hits the snooze button one too many times or "accidentally" turns his alarm off and now he is running behind.

The mornings when the youngest has a total meltdown because I wouldn't let her to go to school in her mismatched (and often outgrown) outfit that she picked out all by herself. I mean, I can deal with mismatched every now & again as long as it is at least the right size clothing, okay? ;)

Or how about the mornings when your high school senior forgets that he has an assignment for AP English due that day, and he is frantically doing it at the kitchen table 10 minutes before he has to leave for school? Or when mom (oops!) forgets that she is supposed to provide snacks for the youngest's Pre-K class that day?

Cinnamon-Sugar English Muffin Casserole

This simple & delicious Cinnamon-Sugar English Muffin Casserole can be made the night before making it the perfect breakfast for a busy weekday morning or a laid back weekend brunch...

Post updated 9/4/19- This crowd-pleasing Cinnamon-Sugar English Muffin Casserole deserved some updated photos. I did leave one of the originals down below just so you all can see for yourself why this recipe so desperately needed a little face lift. ;)

I have to admit that the creation of this recipe came about because of a package of English muffins that somehow got pushed to the back of our bread box and then was buried by a couple of loaves of bread. 

About 5 or 6 days later as I was finishing up one of the loaves of bread making sandwiches for lunch, I spotted that package of English muffins stuffed back there in the corner. 

I let out an immediate sigh, grabbed the package, and started to head to the trash can with them. I mean, they weren't bad but they were definitely far from being fresh at this point. 

As I started to push the door of the trash can open, a light bulb went off...

What do I do with day old loaves of French or Italian bread??

I make french toast casseroles! So, why couldn't I do the same with less than fresh English muffins? I figure it couldn't hurt to give it a go, and the results were absolutely delicious, folks! :)

12 Brunch-worthy French Toast Casseroles

These 12 Brunch-worthy French Toast Casseroles would make the perfect hassle free & tasty addition to that next big weekend brunch menu you may be planning...

I kind of have a thing for french toast casseroles.  It started with my Overnight Pumpkin Pie Chai French Toast back in November of 2012.  And then there was my Irish Coffee French Toast Casserole.  And I even created one chock full of rainbow sprinkles, perfect for celebrating a birthday- my Happy Birthday Cake Batter French Toast! :)

I am not really a big fan of traditional french toast.... the dipping and soaking and the mess. And then there is having to stand in front of the stove and watching the pan as you fry each batch.

There is just something so much more appealing to me about tossing the sliced bread into a casserole dish and pouring the eggs, and milk, and everything else over top & then popping it into the oven. 

Plus, a french toast casserole frees you up to be able to prepare another dish while it is baking... like frying bacon or making omelets, cutting fruit, brewing coffee.

They are the perfect, hassle free & tasty addition to a big brunch you may be planning... say for Easter or Mother's Day or just because. ;)

Irish Coffee French Toast Casserole {Spiked! Recipe Challenge}

St. Patrick's Day is tomorrow, and I know quite a few of you may be celebrating all things green tonight.  So I am giving you all an Irish Cream spiked french toast casserole that you can put together before you head out the door for the evening.  You just have to wake up tomorrow morning, preheat the oven, and then pop it in the oven.  No matter how much tonight hurts tomorrow morning, you all could manage that much, right? ;)

What you will need:

4 eggs, beaten

1 14 oz can of coconut milk

1 cup of strongly brewed coffee

1/2 cup of brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 cup Bailey's Irish Cream

1 tsp vanilla

1 shot of Irish whiskey (I used Jameson. This is optional, but it isn't truly Irish coffee unless there is a little whiskey in it, right? ;))

About 8 slices of day old French or Italian bread (would also be great with Irish soda bread if you happen to have some of that lying around ;) )

Spray a 13x9 inch baking pan with cooking spray.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat your 4 eggs.  Whisk in the coconut milk until well incorporated.

Add in the rest of the ingredients- the coffee through the whiskey- and continue whisking.  

Slice your day old bread into 8 thick slices.  Arrange the bread slices in a double layer in your prepared baking pan.

Now pour your egg/coconut milk/coffee mixture over top of the layered bread slices.  Using the back of a wooden spoon, press the down the bread slices into the liquid to make sure each layer is absorbing it.

Cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight.

The next morning just preheat your oven to 350 degrees, take your french toast casserole out of the fridge, and bake for 40-45 minutes.   It should be somewhat set in the middle and the edges should be crispy and golden when done.

I served my Irish Coffee French Toast casserole with a simple sprinkling of powdered sugar. Fresh whipped cream would also be wonderful with this.

Tuesday marks the start of submissions for the second ever Spiked! Recipe Challenge.  I have to admit- I am pretty excited about the recipe ingredient for this month- Irish Cream!  Even if you happened to miss the Spiked! Challenge sign-ups, you can still get in on the fun.  Just be sure that the Spiked! button is in your actual post & you come back here to link up your Irish Cream spiked recipe posts on Tuesday and Wednesday. :)  You can grab the HTML for the button here.

Are you all ready for Tuesday's Spiked! Recipe Challenge submissions?  I can't wait to see everyone's recipes! :)

Irish Coffee French Toast Casserole

by Frugal Foodie Mama

Prep Time: Overnight

Cook Time: 40-45 minutes

6043830

Ingredients (serves 6-8)

• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1 14 oz can of coconut milk
• 1 cup of strongly brewed coffee
• 1/2 cup of brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 cup Bailey's Irish Cream
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 shot of Irish whiskey (I used Jameson)
• About 8 slices of day old French or Italian bread

Instructions

Spray a 13x9 inch baking pan with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat your 4 eggs. Whisk in the coconut milk until well incorporated.

Add in the rest of the ingredients- the coffee through the whiskey- and continue whisking.

Slice your day old bread into 8 thick slices. Arrange the bread slices in a double layer in your prepared baking pan.

Now pour your egg/coconut milk/coffee mixture over top of the layered bread slices. Using the back of a wooden spoon, press the down the bread slices into the liquid to make sure each layer is absorbing it.

Cover tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight.

The next morning just preheat your oven to 350 degrees, take your french toast casserole out of the fridge, and bake for 40-45 minutes. It should be somewhat set in the middle and the edges should be crispy and golden when done.

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Overnight Pumpkin Pie Chai French Toast

This creamy Overnight Pumpkin Chai French Toast can be assembled the night before making it perfect for Thanksgiving breakfast & busy fall mornings...

Okay, so who doesn't love a recipe that you can throw together the night before, refrigerate, and then just simply pop in the oven when you first wake up, and 45 minutes later have a moist, delicious, decadent breakfast that is ready to be served?

I love overnight french toast casseroles.  I love pumpkin.  I love the spiciness of chai.  Oh, and I love, love, love coconut milk.  So I thought why not make an overnight french toast using all of my favorite fall flavors?

Pinspiration in the Kitchen- Creme Brulee French Toast

I first saw this recipe when watching The Chew a couple of months ago, and instantly went online to find the recipe on the show's site and get that thing pinned. ;) And then I forgot about it.  Yeah, I know that I am not the only one who has pinned something that looked amazing and then forgot about it in a sea of Pinterest-inspired yumminess.  Luckily for me (and for you!), that very same episode re-aired earlier this week.  I decided that it would have to be our breakfast for the morning after the 4th of July holiday.

For the recipe for the Creme Brulee French Toast, click here.

I love that the whole thing is thrown together the night before, and you could change up the recipe easily.  I didn't have any Brandy or Triple Sec, so I used some whipped cream flavor vodka instead.  (I am thinking next time that I might try Kahlua. ;) )  You could also just leave out all the alcohol and add extra vanilla extract, or even a flavored extract like coconut.

This french toast was moist and decadent.  I topped mine with a little drizzle of maple syrup and fresh whipped cream.  It is so incredibly easy to make homemade whipped cream that you really have no excuse not to whip some up for your french toast.  Just pour heavy whipping cream with a few tablespoons of sugar in a bowl and beat with a whisk attachment for 3-4 minutes.  That's it!

To go directly for this pin for repinning, click here.