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Apple Cinnamon Strata

The sweetest dish to complete your breakfast or brunch.

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Apple Cinnamon Strata

When it comes to breakfast or brunch for a crowd there’s nothing easier than to throw together a casserole-style breakfast bake and strata are perfect for this! You might be used to savory strata with meat and cheese, but a strata is technically any egg, bread, and cheese casserole assembled in layers and this includes cream cheese.

In this apple cinnamon strata the flavors of cream cheese and cinnamon make a warm and comforting way to start the day. And, it couldn’t be easier to make!

Apple Cinnamon Strata

To start this recipe cut your bread into cubes. For these photos I used an artisanal white bread, but you can use brioche, Italian, or sourdough – or even whole wheat.

Then peel and chop your apples. These apples are cooked on the stove with some brown sugar and spices to get that lovely, sweet, baked apple taste. Hints of cardamom, ginger, and nutmeg makes this mixture special.

Apple Cinnamon Strata

Then layer the apples in a baking dish with the cubed bread and dot with cream cheese. Like other strata recipes the thing that unites the different ingredients is an egg mixture. But, in this case the egg is mixed with apple butter and maple syrup for a little extra sweetness.

Apple Cinnamon Strata

Once this is all baked together in the oven the top pieces of bread get a little crunchy, but the bottom layers are still soft and warm. If you love anything apple cinnamon then this is the breakfast casserole for you!

Serves 12

25m prep time

56m cook time

360 calories

Allergens: Wheat, Gluten, Eggs

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Ingredients
  • 5 apples, peeled and chopped
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon cardamom
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 3 eggs, beaten
  • 2 1/2 cups whole milk
  • 2 tablespoons maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup apple butter
  • 1 (8 oz) package cream cheese, cubed
  • 1 loaf white or brioche bread, sliced and cubed
  • whipped cream for serving, optional
Preparation
  1. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Heat apples and butter over medium heat in large skillet. Add salt, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger. Cook until apples are just softened, about 6 minutes.
  2. Preheat oven to 350˚F. Heat apples and butter over medium heat in large skillet. Add salt, brown sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom, and ginger. Cook until apples are just softened, about 6 minutes.
  3. In large bowl combine eggs, maple syrup, milk, vanilla, apple butter, and remaining cinnamon using electric mixer.
  4. In large bowl combine eggs, maple syrup, milk, vanilla, apple butter, and remaining cinnamon using electric mixer.
  5. Add layer of bread cubes to greased 9”x13” baking dish. Spread some of the egg mixture on top followed by some cooked apples and dots of cream cheese. Repeat until all ingredients have been used, ending with a layer of apples.
  6. Add layer of bread cubes to greased 9”x13” baking dish. Spread some of the egg mixture on top followed by some cooked apples and dots of cream cheese. Repeat until all ingredients have been used, ending with a layer of apples.
  7. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until golden brown at edges. Serve with whipped cream if desired.

Recipe adapted from Mia’s Cucina .