This French Toast Casserole recipe is the best easy make-ahead breakfast that’s perfect for a holiday brunch, busy mornings before school, or a simple Saturday breakfast. Ready in under an hour, or follow our no-fail Overnight French Toast Casserole Method for an easy morning treat!
Estimated reading time: 12 minutes
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day, as they say, and we love a good comforting breakfast recipe – especially one that can be prepared the night before! This French Toast Casserole recipe is our go-to make-ahead breakfast when we’re hosting a brunch, a holiday breakfast, or if we have overnight guests, and it’s even a delicious breakfast for busy weekdays.
Our kids love heating up a plate of this French Toast Casserole in the morning before school and we love having an easy family breakfast option for busy days when making yet another meal just feels like a chore. A couple minutes of prep and about 45 minutes in the oven and you’ve got a delicious breakfast everyone will LOVE!
While traditional french toast is made with slices of bread soaked in an egg and milk mixture then fried in a pan, french toast casserole combines the same flavours as the french toast we all know and love but in a baking pan. The cubes of bread are soaked in an egg and milk mixture, poured into a greased baking dish, and baked until the casserole is set and the top is crispy. In our opinion, it’s the BEST way to enjoy french toast!
If you’ve been a reader of The Busy Baker for any length of time you already know how much we LOVE simplifying our life and YOURS in the kitchen! Preparing french toast casserole the night before is a great way to avoid rushing through a frenzied morning to get breakfast on the table. We say, prep it in advance! This overnight method for our French Toast Casserole recipe is a genius way to save your sanity – here’s how to do it!
Here’s how to get started:
- Whisk together the egg mixture: Blend together your eggs, milk, cream, and all those delightful spices that give French toast its classic flavours.
- Soak the bread: Add your bread cubes into the baking dish, then pour that beautiful egg mixture all over them. Toss well to make sure all the bread is moistened.
- Chill it: Cover the baking dish with some plastic wrap and slide it into the fridge. Let it hang out in there overnight, soaking up all those flavours.
Here’s why this overnight french toast casserole method is more than just a time-saver:
- Flavour Infusion: Leaving it in the fridge overnight lets the bread absorb every drop of custardy goodness and spice in that egg mixture. Think of it as marinating your breakfast.
- Perfect Texture: The bread becomes tender, yet it’s still firm enough to hold its shape. This creates a casserole that’s soft on the inside and crispy on top.
When the morning rolls around, your overnight casserole is all set to go. All that’s left is to:
- Add a cinnamon sugar topping: remove the plastic wrap and sprinkle some cinnamon and granulated sugar on top of the casserole. This will give the casserole a delicious crispy top and add tons of great texture and flavour. You can also add some crushed nuts, if you like.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil: cover the dish with aluminum foil before baking to prevent the top of the casserole from browning too much and the interior of the casserole from drying out.
- Place the cold pan in a cold oven: adding a cold pan straight from the fridge is a sure fire way to ruin your pan. Glass pans will shatter, metal pans can crack and warp, and worst of all your breakfast will be ruined. Add the cold pan to a cold oven and then set the oven to temperature. Let the pan heat up slowly as the oven preheats. When the oven reaches the correct temperature, set the timer as directed in the recipe and bake as normal.
- Bake to perfection: let it bake to golden-brown perfection, removing the aluminum foil halfway through baking to make sure the top of the casserole browns just perfectly.
And there you have it! While you’re enjoying your morning routine, your breakfast is cooking itself!
When it comes to making your own french toast casserole, the options are endless. There are so many different ways you can modify the basic recipe to suit your own tastes and preferences, depending on the ingredients you choose or have on hand. Here’s a breakdown of different breads and how they perform in this recipe:
- Brioche or other egg breads: Although soft egg-based breads are popular for standard pan-fried french toast, they’re not exactly the best choice for french toast casserole because they’re soft and deflate when they absorb a lot of liquid. If you choose to use a brioche-style bread for this recipe, be sure to use day-old or even two day-old bread that’s dry and stale.
- French bread: French bread is one of our top choices for this recipe because it’s got a crispy exterior and a soft interior. It holds its shape well and ensures the french toast casserole is nice and soft on the inside.
- Sourdough bread: Sourdough is another great option similar to french bread, although it’s a little heartier and creates an even crispier top on the casserole. If you love the flavour of sourdough, it’s a great one to try.
- Whole grain bread: Whole grain bread is another good option, as long as it has a sturdy exterior that will hold its shape in the casserole.
- Sandwich bread: Plain old sandwich bread isn’t the best choice as it tends to be softer and won’t hold its shape well. If you choose to use sandwich bread, be sure to dry out the bread pieces for several hours (or overnight) before using.
What kind of bread do we recommend?
- We definitely recommend choosing a hearty, crusty bread for this recipe over a soft bread. Softer breads more easily become soggy and you’ll have a harder time achieving that soft interior and crispy exterior.
- Since crusty breads keep their shape even when moistened, these are the best choice for french toast casserole since they won’t deflate after soaked in the egg mixture. They’ll create a really delicious texture and a gorgeous presentation.
- Start with day-old crusty bread that seems too stale and dry to eat on its own. Bread that’s a little on the stale side will hold up PERFECTLY in this recipe.
Here’s what you’ll need to make this Overnight French Toast Casserole recipe:
- french or sourdough bread
- eggs
- milk
- heavy cream or half and half
- ground cinnamon
- vanilla extract
- brown sugar
- granulated sugar
- cooking or baking spray (or butter) for greasing the pan
There are so many ways to serve French Toast Casserole, depending on the occasion. Here are some of our favourite ways to serve it!
- For a quick weekday breakfast – reheat a serving in the microwave with a scoop of nut butter for protein and some berries on top.
- For a protein-packed breakfast – reheat a serving in the microwave and grab a couple protein-packed egg bites for the road.
- For a holiday brunch or weekend breakfast – serve with scrambled eggs, bacon, sausages, and a gorgeous fruit salad for a brunch spread everyone will love!
- Whenever you serve it, we recommend enjoying this casserole with whipped cream, maple syrup, a sprinkling of powdered sugar, and fresh fruit.
Here are some delicious ways to enjoy this French Toast Casserole recipe with new flavours:
- Tropical
- Add some chopped pineapples and shredded coconut to the mixture.
- Bake, then drizzle with coconut cream and garnish with toasted coconut flakes.
- Berry Medley
- Add a combination of fresh blueberries, raspberries, and strawberries.
- Bake, then top with lemon zest and serve with a dollop of berry compote and whipped cream.
- Hazelnut Chocolate
- Add some chopped dark chocolate or chocolate chips and crushed hazelnuts.
- Bake, then drizzle with chocolate syrup and sprinkle with a handful of crushed hazelnuts.
- Apple Cinnamon
- Dice up some apples and saute them with butter and brown sugar, sprinkled with cinnamon.
- Add the apple mixture along with the bread, bake, then serve with caramel sauce and a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Pumpkin Spice
- Add some pumpkin purée to the egg mixture, along with some nutmeg, cloves and allspice.
- Bake, then top with whipped cream and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Here are the kitchen items you should have on hand to make this overnight french toast casserole recipe (paid links):
- measuring cups and spoons
- a cutting board
- a sharp bread knife
- a large liquid measuring cup
- a silicone spatula
- a whisk
- aluminum foil
- plastic wrap (for overnight option)
- a large rectangular baking pan (9-inch by 13-inch or equivalent)
Time needed: 55 minutes
Follow these steps for the perfect breakfast casserole!
- Choose your ingredients.
Select a day-old bread that will keep its shape. We suggest french bread or sourdough bread for this recipe.
- Prepare the bread.
Cut the bread into 1 1/2 inch cubes and place them in a greased rectangular baking dish.
- Make the egg mixture.
Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon until very well combined.
- Mix everything together.
Pour the liquid over the bread and toss to make sure it’s completely moistened.
- Refrigerate overnight or bake immediately.
Refrigerate overnight to bake in the morning, or cover in aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes covered and 20 minutes uncovered,
- Serve and enjoy!
Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar, maple syrup and fresh berries, or whatever else you like!
What is the best bread to use for french toast casserole?
The choice of bread often depends on personal preference, but popular options include French bread, brioche, and sourdough. Day-old or slightly stale bread works best because it absorbs the egg mixture without getting too soggy.
Can I make french toast casserole without letting it sit overnight?
Yes, you can. However, allowing the bread to soak overnight helps it absorb the flavours more deeply, leading to a richer taste and better texture. But you can bake the casserole right away with great results.
Can I make this recipe dairy-free?
For people avoiding dairy, almond milk, coconut milk, oat milk, or soy milk can be used as substitutes. You can also use coconut cream or non-dairy creamers in place of heavy cream.
How do I store leftovers?
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator, covered, for up to 3-4 days. When you’re ready to reheat, pop it in the microwave or the oven at about 300 degrees Fahrenheit until warmed through.
Can I freeze french toast casserole?
Yes. Make sure the casserole has cooled completely, then cover tightly with foil or plastic wrap. It can be frozen for up to a month. When you’re ready to eat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and reheat, covered with aluminum foil, until heated through.
Is it supposed to be mushy in the middle?
The inside of the casserole should be soft, moist and custardy, but not soggy. If the casserole is mushy it’s probably because it needs more baking time.
How can I make a savoury version?
To make this recipe savoury, leave out the sugar from the egg mixture and add some shredded cheese, sautéed vegetables, cooked bacon, sausage, or even some fresh herbs.
Why is. my french toast casserole dry?
If the casserole is over-baked it can turn out too dry. Be sure to cover the casserole for the first half of the baking time to keep the moisture in.
We hope you love this brunch recipe as much as we do! Let us know in the comments below, what’s your favourite easy make-ahead breakfast or brunch for the holidays? We’d love to know!
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French Toast Casserole
Recipe: Equipment
- Plastic Wrap for overnight option only
Recipe: Ingredients
- 12 cups day-old bread cubes we suggest using french bread or sourdough bread
- 8 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream for a lighter option, use half and half
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/3 cup brown sugar
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
For the cinnamon sugar topping:
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Recipe: Instructions
To prepare the casserole:
- Cut the bread into 1 1/2-inch cubes. Be sure to use day-old bread that's on the dry side for this recipe.
- Add the bread to a large greased rectangular baking dish.
- In a large liquid measuring cup or a mixing bowl, whisk together the 8 large eggs, 1 cup whole milk, 1 cup heavy cream, 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1/3 cup brown sugar and 1/3 cup granulated sugar until well combined.
- Pour the egg mixture over the bread in the pan and toss well until all the bread is moistened by the egg mixture.
If baking immediately:
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Mix together the 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon for the topping and sprinkle it over the top of the casserole. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes covered with the foil. After 25 minutes of baking, remove the foil and bake for an additional 20 minutes.
- Serve immediately with fresh fruit and a dusting of powdered sugar.
For the overnight method:
- If using the overnight method, cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and place it in the fridge for up to 18 hours.
- When ready to bake, remove the plastic wrap.
- Mix together the 3 tablespoons granulated sugar and 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon for the topping and sprinkle it over the top of the casserole. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil.
- Place the cold pan in a cold oven and set the oven to preheat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- When the oven has reached temperature, set the timer for 25 minutes.
- Bake for 25 minutes and then remove the aluminum foil. Bake for an additional 20 minutes.
- Serve immediately with fresh fruit and a dusting of powdered sugar.
Recipe: Notes
Storage Instructions
Store any leftovers in the fridge, covered or in an airtight container.Reheating Instructions
Leftovers can be reheated in the microwave in a microwave safe dish or container or in the oven at 300 degrees Fahrenheit just until warmed through.Recipe: Nutrition
Notice: Nutrition is auto-calculated, using Spoonacular, for your convenience. Where relevant, we recommend using your own nutrition calculations.
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