Since, it has evolved into my own creation and is in fact, the star of my family's Christmas morning brunch every year. You want it to be at least close to room temperature before baking. I give myself enough wake time so that I can set the casserole out at least one hour before putting it into the oven. The colder it is when it goes in the oven, the longer it takes to cook through. Breakfast stratas typically take right around 1 hour to bake, however, the temperature of the strata going into the oven will make a difference. The point is, make-ahead breakfast casseroles are a beautiful thing, allowing us to hold on to that beauty sleep a little bit longer.

Winner, winner chicken dinner.or in this case, egg-y breakfast? Yes, it is make-ahead breakfast casserole. This strata, in particular, is not only packed with delicious breakfast-y things like eggs, savory breakfast sausage, and melty Gouda cheese, but the real beauty of strata is you can make it a whole day in advance. The custard is typically comprised of eggs and half-and-half or heavy cream. A strata is sort of like a savory bread pudding, and the main ingredients are pretty much the same: Day-old bread soaked in a custard. The name 'strata' may sound intimidating, but don't let that scare you off. Stratas are the perfect make-ahead item for breakfast and brunch entertaining. The perfect make-ahead casserole for breakfast and brunch entertaining!

A make-ahead breakfast casserole featuring a savory egg strata loaded with sausage and Gouda cheese.

Sausage egg strata