Say goodbye to flipping individual slices of French toast and hello to your new favorite breakfast hero: the ultimate french toast casserole recipe. This dish packs all the warm, custardy flavor you love into one simple, make-ahead bake. It’s the perfect solution for lazy weekend mornings, holiday brunches, or feeding a hungry crowd without the stress.
Imagine waking up to the smell of cinnamon and vanilla wafting through your home. With this easy recipe, that dream is a reality. Just a few minutes of prep, an overnight soak, and a quick bake are all that stand between you and a perfectly golden, irresistibly delicious breakfast masterpiece.
Why You’ll Love This Easy French Toast Casserole
If you’re looking for a breakfast that delivers maximum flavor with minimal effort, you’ve found it. This baked French toast is a game-changer for so many reasons.
- Perfectly Make-Ahead: Assemble it the night before and just pop it in the oven in the morning. This is the secret to a stress-free brunch! It’s even better than our classic overnight French toast casserole.
- Crowd-Pleasing: One 9×13 inch dish serves a whole family, making it ideal for gatherings and special occasions.
- Customizable: This recipe is a fantastic base for all sorts of delicious additions, from fresh fruit to a crunchy streusel topping.
- No Soggy Bottoms: We’ve perfected the bread-to-custard ratio to ensure every bite is perfectly moist and custardy, never soggy.
The Best Bread for French Toast Casserole
The type of bread you choose is the single most important factor for success. You need a sturdy, rich bread that can soak up the custard without turning to mush. Day-old, slightly stale bread works best because it’s drier and can absorb more of the egg mixture.
Here are our top choices:
- Brioche: This is our number one pick. Its high butter and egg content creates an incredibly rich, tender, and dessert-like casserole. If you love our brioche French toast, you’ll adore this.
- Challah: Another egg-based bread that’s beautifully braided and slightly less rich than brioche. It provides a wonderful texture and holds up perfectly.
- Thick-Cut Texas Toast or French Bread: A great, accessible option. Just be sure it’s at least an inch thick and slightly stale to prevent it from becoming too soft.
Key Ingredients You’ll Need
This recipe uses simple pantry staples to create a truly spectacular dish. The magic is in the combination and ratios.
- Bread: One loaf of stale, thick-cut brioche, challah, or French bread, cubed into 1-inch pieces.
- Eggs: The foundation of our rich and creamy custard.
- Milk & Heavy Cream: A combination of whole milk and heavy cream creates the most luxurious, velvety custard.
- Sugar: We use both brown sugar for its molasses notes and granulated sugar for clean sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract: Use pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- Spices: Ground cinnamon and a pinch of nutmeg add that classic warm spice.
- Salt: A pinch of salt is crucial to balance the sweetness and enhance all the other flavors.
- Butter: Melted butter is used in the dish and for greasing the pan, adding richness.
How to Make This French Toast Casserole Recipe
French Toast Casserole Recipe (Easy & Delicious!)
Ingredients
Equipment
Method
- Generously butter a 9×13 inch baking dish. Arrange the bread cubes in an even layer in the dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth and fully combined.
- Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes. Gently press down with a spatula to ensure all the bread is coated and begins to absorb the liquid.
- Cover the dish tightly with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the casserole from the fridge and let it sit at room temperature for 20-30 minutes. Drizzle the top with the 4 tablespoons of melted butter. Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes, until the center is set and the top is golden brown and puffed.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with powdered sugar, maple syrup, or fresh berries.
Notes
Make-Ahead: This recipe is perfect for making the night before. The extended soaking time results in a richer flavor and more consistent texture.
Toppings: Serve with maple syrup, fresh berries, whipped cream, or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Step 1: Prepare the Bread and Baking Dish
First, generously butter a 9×13 inch baking dish. Arrange your 1-inch bread cubes in a single, even layer in the dish. It’s okay if they are a little snug. Set this aside while you prepare the custard.
Step 2: Whisk the Custard Mixture
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Continue whisking until the mixture is smooth, well-combined, and the sugar has mostly dissolved. This should take about 2 minutes.
Step 3: Soak the Bread
Slowly and evenly pour the custard mixture over the bread cubes in the baking dish. Gently press down on the bread with a spatula to ensure every piece is submerged and starting to soak up the liquid. This step is key to a flavorful, evenly cooked casserole.
Step 4: Chill (The Overnight Method)
Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil and place it in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. This chilling time allows the bread to fully absorb the custard, resulting in a perfectly textured final product without any dry spots.
Step 5: Bake to Golden Perfection
When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter for about 20-30 minutes to take the chill off. Drizzle the top with melted butter. Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes, or until the center is set and the top is beautifully golden brown and puffed. A knife inserted into the center should come out clean.
Step 6: Rest and Serve
Let the French toast casserole rest for about 10 minutes before slicing and serving. This allows the custard to set up fully, making it easier to serve. Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm with your favorite toppings.
Pro Tips for the Perfect Baked French Toast
- Use Stale Bread: We can’t stress this enough! Fresh, soft bread will become mushy. If your bread is fresh, you can dry it out by spreading the cubes on a baking sheet and baking at 300°F for 10-15 minutes.
- Don’t Under-Soak: The overnight soak is highly recommended for the best texture and flavor. If you’re short on time, ensure at least a 4-hour soak.
- Press It Down: Gently pressing the bread into the custard ensures every piece gets saturated, preventing dry, untoasted bits on top.
- Bring to Room Temp: Letting the dish sit out for 20-30 minutes before baking helps it cook more evenly and prevents the cold ceramic dish from cracking in the hot oven.
Toppings and Fun Variations
This casserole is a blank canvas for your creativity. Try one of these delicious variations!
| Variation | Instructions |
|---|---|
| Cinnamon Streusel Topping | In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup packed brown sugar, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1/4 cup cold, cubed butter. Use a pastry blender or your fingers to create a crumbly mixture. Sprinkle over the casserole before baking. |
| Berry French Toast Casserole | Gently fold in 1 1/2 cups of fresh or frozen berries (like in this blueberry French toast bake (coming soon)) with the bread cubes before pouring the custard over top. |
| Cream Cheese Filling | Arrange half the bread cubes in the dish. Dollop small cubes of softened cream cheese (8 oz) over the bread. Top with the remaining bread cubes and proceed with the recipe. |
| Nutty Crunch | Sprinkle 1/2 cup of chopped pecans or walnuts over the top of the casserole during the last 10 minutes of baking. |
Make-Ahead and Storage Instructions
This recipe is designed to be flexible and convenient for your schedule.
- Make-Ahead: Assemble the entire casserole as directed, cover tightly, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours before baking.
- Storing Leftovers: Allow the casserole to cool completely. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating: For a single serving, the microwave works well. For larger portions, cover the dish with foil and reheat in a 325°F oven for 15-20 minutes, or until warmed through.
- Freezing: Yes, you can freeze it! Bake the casserole as directed and let it cool completely. You can freeze the entire dish or individual portions. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and then foil. It will keep in the freezer for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, you can freeze it either before or after baking. For best results, bake it first, let it cool completely, then wrap individual portions or the entire dish tightly in plastic wrap and foil. It will last up to 2 months in the freezer. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Store cooled leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual slices in the microwave for 60-90 seconds or place larger portions in an oven-safe dish, cover with foil, and warm at 325°F for 15-20 minutes.
To prevent a soggy casserole, use stale bread, maintain the correct bread-to-custard ratio specified in the recipe, and allow the bread to soak for at least 4 hours (preferably overnight). This gives the bread ample time to fully absorb the liquid.
The best bread is a sturdy, rich, day-old bread like brioche, challah, or thick-cut French bread. Stale bread is crucial because it’s drier and can absorb the egg custard without becoming mushy, resulting in the perfect texture.
Your New Go-To Breakfast
This French toast casserole recipe is more than just a dish; it’s a ticket to a delicious, relaxed, and memorable breakfast. It’s simple enough for a weekday treat and special enough for a holiday celebration.
If you try this recipe, please leave a comment below! We’d love to hear how it turned out. And don’t forget to save it to your breakfast board on Pinterest!
