Cheesy Hot Cross Bun Sausage Strata

Hot cross buns carry a long British bakery tradition, their spiced fruit and cross tied to spring gatherings. Cubed into this make-ahead strata, they soak up sausage, eggs, and sharp cheddar for a savory-sweet brunch bake.

Serves 6 · 25 min prep · 50 min cook

Estimate for one serving

• 485 cal
• 28g protein
• 38g carbs
• 24g fat
• 3g fiber

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Ingredients

• 6 hot cross buns
• 12 oz breakfast sausage links
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• 2 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 1 tbsp fresh thyme leaves
• 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
• 1 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

1. 1Preheat the oven to 350°F and grease a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with the butter so the strata releases cleanly later.
2. 2Cube the hot cross buns into 1-inch pieces, keeping the fruited bits intact for little bursts of sweetness against the savory custard.
3. 3Brown the sausage in a skillet over medium heat, breaking it into crumbles until no pink remains and the edges crisp, about 8 minutes; drain excess fat.
4. 4Dice the onion and sauté it in the same skillet until translucent and lightly golden, 4 to 5 minutes, then stir in the thyme.
5. 5In a large bowl whisk the eggs, milk, Dijon, salt, and pepper until the mixture is uniform and slightly frothy.
6. 6Scatter half the bun cubes across the prepared dish, top with half the sausage, onion mixture, and cheddar, then repeat the layers so every bite has bread, meat, and cheese.
7. 7Pour the egg custard evenly over the layers, pressing gently with a spatula so the spiced bun pieces soak up the liquid.
8. 8Cover and refrigerate at least 30 minutes (or overnight) so the buns fully hydrate and the flavors marry.
9. 9Bake uncovered 40 to 45 minutes until the top is puffed and deep golden, the center is set with no liquid jiggle, and a knife inserted comes out clean.
10. 10Rest 10 minutes, then scatter parsley over the top, slice into squares, and serve warm straight from the pan for easy weekend sharing.