It’s the season to fall in love with breakfast! Our Apple Cinnamon Breakfast Toast Casserole is a cozy delight to enjoy as we transition into autumn. A spicy, warm aroma will drift through your home as you bake a blend of red apples, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, pecans, and Lifeway Farmer Cheese. Our versatile cheese pairs marvelously with this dish while giving it a muscle-loving boost of protein. It’s a comforting way to start the day.
The Benefits of Cultured Dairy for Better Health:
Research continues to show the importance of eating healthy foods, including cultured dairy such as kefir, for optimal digestion and gut health, a strong immune system, and to support the microbiome. Fermented foods like kefir hold important value in this line of research due to the link between the gut-brain axis and overall health. Specifically, kefir has been shown to help diversify the microbiome, improve digestion, reduce inflammation, support healthier blood sugar levels, and improve satiety since the bioavailable protein it contains triggers the release of GLP-1.
Lifeway Kefir is packed with variety of vital nutrients important for overall health, including bone and muscle health; these include vitamin D3, K, calcium, and vitamin B12. Along with our probiotic-rich kefir, Lifeway also offers artisan-made Farmer Cheese, a creamy high-protein cheese made with live and active cultures to support healthy muscles and healthy microbiome. Lifeway Farmer Cheese is easy to spread, free of gums and thickeners, and contains no added salt or sugar for optimal health benefits.
Prep Time: 25-30 mins Servings: 6-8Ingredients
- 4 medium red apples
- 3 tbsp. maple syrup
- 3 tbsp. cinnamon, divided
- 1 large loaf French bread
- 2 cups Organic Whole Milk Vanilla Kefir
- 8oz Farmer Cheese
- 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup coconut sugar, divided
- 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
- 1 tsp. ground ginger
- 1/4 tsp. sea salt
- 2 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1 tsp. baking powder
- 1 tbsp. cornstarch or arrowroot starch
- 1/2 cup rolled oats
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans
- sea salt
- Whipped coconut cream for topping
- 2 tbsp. olive oil
Directions
- Heat 1/2 tsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add apple slices, maple syrup, 1 tsp cinnamon. Mix until everything is coated and cook for 10 minutes stirring frequently.
- Lightly grease large rectangular baking pan with oil.
- Arrange slices of French bread so the top of the bread is facing up and place apple filling in between each slice.
- In a blender, blend together Kefir, farmer cheese, coconut sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, salt, baking powder, and cornstarch until smooth.
- Pour blended mixture overtop of the bread/apple slices.
- Cover dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes (can be overnight).
- In a preheated oven to 350 degrees, and bake the casserole with aluminum foil still topping dish for 20 minutes. Take off foil, top with chopped pecans, and remain cooking for 20-30 minutes.
