French-inspired casserole with buttery bread, ham, Gruyère, and béchamel sauce. Perfect for brunch or dinner.
# What you'll need:
→ Bread & Dairy
01 - 12 slices white sandwich bread, crusts removed
02 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened, plus extra for greasing
03 - 1 1/2 cups Gruyère cheese, grated
04 - 1 cup whole milk
05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
06 - 3 large eggs
→ Meats
07 - 8 slices cooked ham, approximately 7 ounces
→ Béchamel Sauce
08 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
09 - 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
10 - 1 1/4 cups whole milk
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
12 - Salt and black pepper to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Preheat oven to 375°F. Lightly butter a 9x13-inch baking dish and set aside.
02 - In a medium saucepan, melt 2 tablespoons butter over medium heat. Whisk in flour and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Gradually whisk in 1 1/4 cups milk, stirring constantly until thickened and smooth, approximately 3 to 4 minutes. Season with nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Remove from heat.
03 - Butter one side of each bread slice. Arrange half the bread slices, buttered side down, in the prepared baking dish.
04 - Top bread with half the ham slices and half the Gruyère cheese. Repeat with remaining bread slices (buttered side down), ham, and cheese.
05 - Whisk together 3 eggs, 1 cup milk, cream, and a pinch of salt in a bowl. Pour evenly over the casserole, pressing gently to ensure bread absorbs the mixture.
06 - Pour prepared béchamel sauce over the casserole and spread evenly across the top layer.
07 - Bake uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes until puffed, golden brown, and bubbling at the edges. Remove from oven and let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
