French Toast Casserole Recipe

We just made this delicious overnight French toast casserole recipe the other day for “brinner” (breakfast for dinner) and I almost forgot how good it was. The entire family loved this quick and easy breakfast recipe.

French toast is a staple to make for the holidays, try my crock pot French toast too. Making the night make it so much to enjoy a warm breakfast with my family. It makes the perfect addition to your Easter Brunch.

What Is French Toast Casserole?

French toast casserole is all the flavor of classic French toast baked in one pan. Chunks of French bread soak in a simple mixture of eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and salt, then get a cinnamon-sugar topping.

You can refrigerate it overnight so the bread soaks up all that custard, then just bake it in the morning. It comes out golden on top and soft in the middle, kind of like bread pudding for breakfast.

Why You’ll Love This French Toast Casserole

• Just 7 pantry staples – No brown sugar, heavy cream, maple syrup, or nuts needed.
• About 10 minutes of prep – Cube the bread, whisk, pour, and refrigerate overnight.
• Budget-friendly -The whole pan costs about $3, or about 52 cents a serving.
• Everyone eats at the same time – No more cooking French toast in batches while it gets cold.
• Great for day-old bread – Slightly stale bread actually works better here.

Ingredients

• French bread: A sturdy loaf works best. Day-old is even better because it soaks up the custard without falling apart. A baguette works too; just use enough to equal one loaf.
• Eggs: They hold everything together and give it that custardy middle.
• Milk: Whole or 2% milk both work. You don’t need heavy cream, but you can swap in half and half for a richer casserole.
• Sugar: Regular granulated sugar, divided between the custard and the topping. No brown sugar needed.
• Cinnamon, vanilla, and salt: Simple pantry spices that make it taste like classic French toast.

How to Make French Toast Casserole

Follow along with my simple instruction to learn how I make my amazing French toast casserole recipe.

Step 1 – Prepare the Pan: Grease a 9×13 baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Butter helps the bottom brown and release more easily.

Step 2 – Cut the Bread: Cut the French bread into 1-inch chunks and spread them evenly in the pan.

Step 3 – Mix the Ingredients: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, 2 tablespoons of the sugar, salt, and vanilla until smooth.

Step 4 – Pour over bread – Pour egg mixture over bread cubes. Mix bread with egg mixture to coat. I find that it works best if I mix with my hands. This ensures that all the bread is coated.

Step 5 – Mix sugar and cinnamon – In a small separate bowl mix together 2 Tablespoons of sugar and the ground cinnamon.

Step 6 – Top on casserole – Sprinkle this mixture over the entire baking dish until it is gone.

Step 7 – Chill Overnight: Cover the pan with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight. We love it best this way because the bread soaks up all the custard. In a hurry? Let it sit on the counter for about 30 minutes before baking so the bread has time to soak.

Step 8 – Bake: In the morning, preheat the oven to 350°F. Take the casserole out of the fridge while the oven heats. Bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes, until the top is golden brown, the center is puffed and set, and a knife poked into the middle comes out without wet egg (160°F on an instant-read thermometer). If the top is browning too fast, loosely cover it with foil.

Step 8 – Rest and Serve: Let it rest for 5 to 10 minutes so it’s easier to cut. Serve with syrup and your favorite toppings.

Recipe Tips

• Use day-old bread. Fresh, soft bread can turn mushy. If your bread is fresh, cube it and let it sit out on the counter for a few hours (or overnight) to dry out a little.
• Mix with your hands. It’s the easiest way to make sure every piece of bread gets coated.
• Add butter for a richer top. Dot a few small pats of butter over the top before baking if you want it extra golden.
• Don’t pull it too early. If the center still jiggles or looks wet, give it another 5 minutes.
• Serve it warm. Drizzle with maple syrup or sprinkle with powdered sugar right before serving.
• Feeding fewer people? Cooking for just a few people instead of a crowd? Make a batch of easy French toast sticks on the stovetop instead.

What is the Best Bread for French Toast?

When choosing the best bread for your overnight French Toast, you want to choose bread that is sturdy. Thinly sliced or really soft bread doesn’t hold and can fall a part when baking.

These are my favorites bread options.

• French Bread
• Sourdough Bread
• Brioche Bread
• Challah Bread
• Pullman Loaf

Can you use sandwich bread? Yes! Regular sliced sandwich bread works in a pinch. Tear or cut it into chunks and let it sit out for a few hours first so it’s a little dry. It will bake up softer than French bread, so it’s a good option if your kids like their French toast extra soft.

Serving Suggestion:

There are many food items that go great with this overnight French toast. Here are some of our favorites:

• How To Cook Bacon in the Oven
• Sausage
• Over Hard Eggs
• Berry Fruit Salad Recipe

Add your Favorite Toppings

We love to add different toppings to this French toast bake.

• Our homemade pancake syrup on top and then sprinkle powdered sugar is a family favorite.
• Dried Cranberries
• Sliced Almonds
• Cinnamon and Sugar
• Butter
• Slice Apples
• Blueberries
• Pecans

The options are endless as to what to add.

Can you Freeze Overnight French Toast?

• Freeze before baking: Assemble the casserole, cover tightly with foil, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, then bake at 350°F for 45 to 50 minutes until golden and set in the center.
• Freeze after baking: Let the baked casserole cool completely. Wrap the pan or individual pieces tightly and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the fridge and reheat in the oven or microwave.