Ingredients
- Unsalted butter, for baking dish
- 14-inch loaf of rustic bread cut into 8 slices
- 8 thin slices of ham
- 8 oz thinly sliced Gruyere cheese
- 8 large eggs
- 2/3 cup whole milk
Instructions
- Butter bottom and sides of a 9×13 inch baking dish. Make a deep slit in each bread slice to create a packet. Stuff each with a slice of ham, then divide the cheese evenly among the packets.
- Whisk together eggs and milk in a bowl until combined, and season with salt and pepper. Pour egg mixture into prepared baking dish. Add bread slices in a single layer, pressing gently into egg mixture, and let soak 15 minutes. Flip bread and gently press again into egg mixture. Let soak 15 minutes. (If preparing the day before, refrigerate up to 12 hours, loosely covered, then let stand at room temperature 30 minutes.)
- Preheat oven to 350. Top bread with remaining ham and cheese. Bake until egg mixture is set and cheese is melted, 20-25 minutes.
- Turn oven to broil, with rack 4-6 inches from heat source. Broil until bread is toasted and golden brown, 1-2 minutes.