This dish takes the classic French ham and cheese sandwich and turns it into a baked dish perfect for brunch or a cozy dinner.

Prep time: 20 minutes Cook time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

For the Bread and Filling

• 1 large loaf crusty sourdough or French bread, cut into 1 inch cubes

• 1 pound deli ham, thick sliced and diced

• 3 cups shredded Gruyere cheese

• 1 cup shredded Swiss cheese

For the Custard

• 8 large eggs

• 3 cups whole milk

• 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

• 1 teaspoon salt

• half teaspoon black pepper

• quarter teaspoon ground nutmeg

Instructions

Prepare the Bread Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 9 by 13 inch baking dish with butter. Place half of the bread cubes in the bottom of the dish. Top with half of the diced ham and half of the Gruyere cheese. Repeat with the remaining bread, ham, and Gruyere.

Make the Custard In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, and nutmeg until fully combined and smooth.

Assemble and Soak Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread and ham mixture. Press down lightly on the bread with a spatula to ensure it is submerged and soaking up the liquid. Cover the dish with foil and let it rest for at least 15 minutes, or refrigerate for up to 2 hours for best results.

Bake Remove the foil and sprinkle the remaining Swiss cheese over the top. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes, or until the casserole is set in the center and the cheese on top is golden brown and bubbly.

Serve Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving.