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Crispy Loaded Breakfast Strata Recipe with Browned Butter and Gruyere Perfect for Brunch

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A quick and easy breakfast strata featuring day-old bread, browned butter, Gruyere cheese, and crispy bacon, perfect for a comforting brunch with a crispy edge and creamy center.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups cubed day-old bread (sourdough or French bread recommended)
  • 8 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups whole milk (can substitute half-and-half for extra creaminess)
  • 2 cups shredded Gruyere cheese (Emmi or Appenzeller recommended)
  • 6 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
  • 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (for browning)
  • 4 scallions, thinly sliced
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced (optional)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
  • 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves (optional)

Instructions

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter or non-stick spray.
  2. Cube the bread into roughly 1-inch pieces. Use stale or day-old bread for best texture.
  3. Cook the bacon in a medium skillet over medium heat until crispy, about 8 minutes. Remove and drain on paper towels; reserve about 1 tablespoon of bacon fat in the skillet.
  4. Brown the butter by adding unsalted butter to the bacon fat in the skillet. Melt over medium heat, swirling often, until golden brown with a nutty aroma (about 3-4 minutes). Remove from heat promptly.
  5. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, whole milk, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper. Slowly drizzle in the browned butter while whisking to combine evenly.
  6. Add the cubed bread, crumbled bacon, shredded Gruyere, sliced scallions, minced garlic, and thyme to the custard mixture. Gently fold until all bread is coated and ingredients are evenly distributed.
  7. Transfer the mixture to the prepared baking dish. Press lightly to compact but do not mash; air pockets help with texture.
  8. Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes until the top is golden and crispy and the center is firm but moist. Tent with foil if edges brown too quickly.
  9. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow custard to set.

Notes

Let bread dry out overnight for best texture. Brown butter carefully to avoid burning. Do not stir strata once in baking dish to maintain crispy edges. Can be assembled the night before and baked fresh in the morning. For vegetarian version, omit bacon and add sautéed mushrooms or roasted vegetables. Freeze leftovers up to 2 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: breakfast strata, brunch recipe, browned butter, Gruyere cheese, crispy breakfast casserole, easy brunch, loaded strata, bacon breakfast casserole

Find it online: https://breezybake.com/crispy-loaded-breakfast-strata-recipe-with-browned-butter-and-gruyere-perfect-for-brunch/