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This is the ultimate, upgraded French toast casserole recipe that you must try! It takes just 15 minutes to prep, chills overnight and then bakes to perfection while you’re doing other things.
You will love this French Toast Bake Recipe
This overnight french toast casserole recipe checks all the boxes: incredibly easy to make, packed with the flavors of french toast, always a crowd pleaser, and perfect for making ahead of time.
Not only is this a family favorite for busy mornings, but it makes a perfect holiday breakfast. You can pop this in the oven for Christmas morning breakfast and let it bake while opening gifts, and then bam, breakfast is ready!
No more flipping one piece of French toast at a time and having timing issues with serving it up fresh and hot. This recipe solves all of that. Keep reading for all my best tips, the best bread to use, and how to store leftovers (if you have any)!
Easy French Toast Casserole Ingredients
You are going to love this overnight breakfast casserole! Keep reading for the measurements and instructions in the recipe card below. Here’s what you’ll need for this recipe:
French Toast
- Sourdough bread, french bread, challah or brioche
- Eggs
- Whole milk
- Heavy whipping cream
- Brown sugar
- Ground cinnamon
- Salt
- Vanilla extract
Crumb Topping
- All-purpose flour
- Brown sugar
- Cinnamon
- Salt
- Unsalted butter: melted
What is the best bread for French Toast Casserole
To make a perfect French toast casserole, the type of bread you use matters. You want to use a thick bread that will absorb the liquid mixture without becoming too soggy. For best results, use one of these breads:
- Sourdough bread
- French bread
- Challah bread
- Brioche bread
How to make French Toast Breakfast Casserole
This easy French toast casserole recipe is the perfect way to feed a crowd. Get the full recipe in the recipe card below. Here are the foolproof steps for the best French toast casserole:
- Prep baking dish. Spray the bottom and sides of a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Prep bread pieces. Cut or rip the bread into 1-inch chunks and put them in the prepared dish.
- Make milk mixture and soak bread in it. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and vanilla extract. Pour this mixture evenly over the bread cubes. Gently toss the bread with tongs to ensure all pieces are coated. Cover the dish and refrigerate overnight.
- Make crumb topping. In a mixing bowl combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and melted butter. Use a spatula to mix the crumb. The mixture will be thick and you must stir well (elbow grease!) to combine all the dry ingredients. Continue to combine until the mixture looks wet. It’s okay if the mixture is “sandy” in texture. Use your hands to squeeze clumps together, forcing the mixture together.
- Set the crumb aside until ready to use. The streusel topping can be made in advance and stored in a ziploc bag in the fridge for 3 days.
- Prep oven and bring casserole to room temp. When you’re ready to bake the casserole, preheat the oven to 350ºF and allow the crumb topping to come to room temperature before breaking apart and adding to the casserole.
- Add crumb topping and bake. Remove the casserole from the fridge and evenly sprinkle the crumb over the top. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the top is golden and the casserole is set.
- Cool, add toppings, and serve. Allow the French toast to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Top with maple syrup, powdered sugar, berries, whipped cream, or any desired toppings.
How to serve Baked French Toast Casserole
Once the casserole has cooled a bit, add your favorite toppings and then slice, or slice individual servings and let everyone choose their own toppings.
Here are some ideas to serve on top of the casserole:
- Homemade Whipped Cream
- Drizzle of maple syrup
- Fresh fruit
- Orange Zest
- Dusting of powdered sugar
- Strawberry Sauce
- Sprinkle a little extra cinnamon
This casserole is perfect to serve alongside other breakfast favorites like sausage, bacon, eggs or other breakfast casseroles.
How to store this Easy French Toast Bake
Store leftover French toast casserole covered tightly or in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days. It reheats well in the microwave.
Freezing French Toast Casserole
Another great thing about this recipe is that it freezes well! If you’re planning to freeze it, I recommend freezing it without the crumb topping so it doesn’t lose its texture.
To freeze, use a freezer-safe baking dish (like a disposable aluminum pan). Allow the bread mixture to cool completely and then wrap tightly with a layer of plastic wrap and then a layer of aluminum foil.
Freeze for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to serve, move the casserole dish to thaw in the refrigerator for about 24 hours, then continue with the crumb topping and baking as instructed in the recipe.
If you have already baked the casserole and want to freeze the leftovers, simply wrap it in plastic wrap then aluminum foil, or place it in an airtight container and freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before reheating in the microwave. The crumb topping may lose a bit of its crunchy texture, but overall it should still reheat well.
Recipe for French Toast Casserole FAQs
French toast casserole may become soggy if the right type of bread is not used or if the ratio of custard mixture to bread is not right. Be sure to follow the measurements and ingredients of the recipe for the best results.
If the custard mixture has too many eggs and not enough milk, your French toast may end up tasting like eggs. For best results, follow the recipe measurements for the correct ratio.
More Breakfast Recipes
- Quick and Easy Cinnamon Roll Casserole
- The Best Buttermilk Pancakes from Scratch
- Easy Honey Bun Cake
- Best Banana Chocolate Chip Bread
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Easy French Toast Bake
Ingredients
French Toast
- 1 loaf sourdough bread, french bread, challah or brioche, about 12-14 oz
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk, 473 ml
- ½ cup heavy whipping cream, 118 ml
- ⅔ cup packed brown sugar, 142 grams
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 Tbsp vanilla extract
Crumb Topping
- 1 ½ cups all purpose flour, 180 grams
- ⅔ cup packed brown sugar, 142 grams
- 1½ tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ cup unsalted butter, melted, 113 grams
Instructions
- Spray the bottom and sides of a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Cut or rip the bread into 1-inch chunks and put them in the prepared dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and vanilla extract. Pour this mixture evenly over the bread cubes. Gently toss the bread with tongs to ensure all pieces are coated. Cover the dish and refrigerate overnight. Prep the crumb topping
- In a mixing bowl combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and melted butter. Use a spatula to mix the crumb. The mixture will be thick and you must stir well (elbow grease!) to combine all the dry ingredients. Continue to combine until the mixture looks wet. It’s okay if the mixture is “sandy” in texture. Use your hands to squeeze clumps together, forcing the mixture together.
- Set the crumb aside until ready to use. The streusel topping can be made in advance and stored in a ziploc bag in the fridge for 3 days.
- When you’re ready to bake the casserole, preheat the oven to 350ºF and allow the crumb topping to come to room temperature before breaking apart and adding to the casserole.
- Remove the casserole from the fridge and evenly sprinkle the crumb over the top. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the top is golden and the casserole is set.
- Allow the French toast to cool for at least 10 minutes before serving. Top with maple syrup, powdered sugar, berries, whipped cream, or any desired toppings.
