Hot Chocolate French Toast Casserole

This delicious have the filling of Wintertime favorite drink, hot chocolate. This baked French toast has the yummy custard with hot coco, chocolate chips, marshmallows and an eggnog glaze.

Hot chocolate has to be one of my favorite things to have during the wintertime.  Warms you up and you get a dose a chocolate. Who doesn't like that?

I have a confection to make, to don't like my hot chocolate that hot. When I was younger I got some hot chocolate at a gas station and it burnt my tongue really bad.

So after that I couldn't drink it hot again. Now when I make it or purchase it I make sure it lukewarm, I don't want that to happen again.

This French Toast actually contains hot coco mixture not just your regular baking chocolate. Hot chocolate mix has a distinct flavor to it, I believe.

There's also a to die for glaze with another holiday drink, eggnog. The eggnog glaze won't overwhelm you, it just gives you a hint of it if you are not a big fan of eggnog.

Recipe you may like:
Maple Browned Butter Cinnamon Rolls
Maple Bacon Doughnut Muffins
Pumpkin Spice Chocolate Chip Muffin Tops

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Hot Chocolate French Toast Casserole

Time:
Prep- 20 to 25 minutes
Chilling- 5 to 6 hours or overnight
Baking- 45 to 60 minutes

Ingredients


1 to 2 French Bread Loaf, depends on the size of the loaf
1 cup Hot Chocolate Powder plus 1/4 for topping
3/4 cup Granulated Cane Sugar
2 1/2 to 3 cups Whole Milk
8 large eggs
1 teaspoon Fine Sea Salt
1 Tablespoon Pure Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 cup Milk or Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips
2 cups Mini Marshmallows

Eggnog Glaze
2 1/2 cups Confectioners' Sugar
1/4 cup Eggnog
Pinch of fine sea salt

1. Coat 13 by 9 casserole dish or 16 by 11 with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Any pan that's at least 2 to 3 inches deep with work. Tear french bread up into large chunks and scatter through out the dish.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla and salt. Whisk together until eggs are broken up. Add in the hot chocolate powder and whisk until powder is dissolved.
3. Pour custard evenly over the bread. Cover the top and place in the fridge for at least 6 hours or overnight.
4. Preheat oven to 350 degrees, sprinkle chocolate chips and additional hot chocolate mixture on top. Cover the top for 30 minutes then remove foil to bake for additional 20 to 30 minutes.  For a firm casserole, bake for 30 more minutes or for a softer texture bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Keep an eye on the top for the marshmallows won't burn.
5. Take out of the oven, it would have puffed up but will sink slightly as it cools down. Let cool for at least 10 to 15 minutes.
6. While it is cooling, whisk together confectioners' sugar, sea salt and eggnog until thick.
7. Scoop out warm baked French toast and drizzle the eggnog glaze over each serving.
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