When it comes to breakfast or brunch for a crowd there’s nothing easier than to throw together a casserole-style breakfast bake and strata are perfect for this! You might be used to savory strata with meat and cheese, but a strata is technically any egg, bread, and cheese casserole assembled in layers and this includes cream cheese.

In this apple cinnamon strata the flavors of cream cheese and cinnamon make a warm and comforting way to start the day. And, it couldn’t be easier to make!

To start this recipe cut your bread into cubes. For these photos I used an artisanal white bread, but you can use brioche, Italian, or sourdough – or even whole wheat.

Then peel and chop your apples. These apples are cooked on the stove with some brown sugar and spices to get that lovely, sweet, baked apple taste. Hints of cardamom, ginger, and nutmeg makes this mixture special.

Then layer the apples in a baking dish with the cubed bread and dot with cream cheese. Like other strata recipes the thing that unites the different ingredients is an egg mixture. But, in this case the egg is mixed with apple butter and maple syrup for a little extra sweetness.

Once this is all baked together in the oven the top pieces of bread get a little crunchy, but the bottom layers are still soft and warm. If you love anything apple cinnamon then this is the breakfast casserole for you!