March 15, 2022
Review RecipeFrench Toast Casserole
This simple French toast casserole features bread soaked overnight in a sweetened custard mixture spiced with cinnamon and allspice—ready to bake in the morning for a hot breakfast!
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This easy French toast casserole is a tasty make-ahead breakfast or brunch that your entire family will love! Whip up this casserole the night before and then just bake in the morning and enjoy a wonderful hot breakfast.
Easy breakfast recipes are always a favorite. For a savory option, check out our sausage breakfast casserole. If you’re an Instant Pot fan, you won’t want to miss our Instant Pot French toast recipe.
French Toast Casserole Ingredients
You’ll need:
For the Bread
- 10 cups of 2-day-old French bread
- 6 eggs
- 1½ cups whole milk
- ½ cup half and half
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- Powdered sugar
For the Crumble Topping
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup salted butter, very cold
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
SUBSTITUTIONS AND ADDITIONS
NUTS: The nuts add a nice crunch to the casserole, but they can most certainly be left out if you do not prefer nuts or in the case of any nut allergies.
VANILLA: Don’t love the taste of almond extract? No problem! Just use vanilla extract instead for a wonderful hint of flavor.
BREAD: This easy baked French toast casserole recipe calls for 2-day-old French bread, but you can use other types of leftover bread. Just be sure you’re using a sturdy white bread that will hold up well in the casserole. Basic packaged white bread will become too soft and mushy in the casserole, so opt for a very firm bread. Brioche would be delicious. It does need to be 2 days old for the best results.
APPLE PIE SPICE: If you don’t have allspice on hand, you can use apple pie spice instead.
How To Make This French Toast Casserole Recipe
OUR RECIPE DEVELOPER SAYS
This casserole makes a great meal to take to a friend. Just make the casserole in a disposable aluminum foil pan, cover it with a lid or plastic wrap, and deliver with baking instructions for the family to have a hot breakfast to eat the next morning.
STEP ONE: Prepare a 9×13-inch baking dish by spraying it with non-stick cooking spray. Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes and place them in the dish.
STEP TWO: In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, whole milk, half and half, sugar, almond extract, cinnamon, salt, and allspice together.
STEP THREE: Pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes in the casserole dish, making sure to soak all of the pieces.
STEP FOUR: Sprinkle the chopped pecans over top of the casserole.
STEP FIVE: In a separate mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, cold butter, and cinnamon using two knives to cut the mixture together until crumbly. Sprinkle over top of the casserole.
STEP SIX: Cover the casserole dish with foil and refrigerate overnight.
STEP SEVEN: When you’re ready to cook the casserole, start by preheating the oven to 375°F. Bake the casserole uncovered for 35 to 40 minutes until golden brown and the center of the casserole is no longer jiggly.
PRO TIP:
If the casserole is not quite done after 40 minutes, continue cooking in 5-minute increments until it is ready.
STEP EIGHT: Remove the casserole from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes before serving.
PRO TIP:
Letting it sit for 5 minutes after baking will give it extra time to firm up so that you don’t have a soggy texture.
STEP NINE: Sprinkle powdered sugar evenly over the top of the casserole and serve with maple syrup.
How To Serve
Since butter and syrup are favorite French toast toppings, they are perfect on this casserole! Either place softened butter pats on top of each slice of the casserole, or pour on a little melted butter, then add a generous amount of pure maple syrup.
You can also add a dollop of freshly whipped cream to the warm casserole. For a really decadent breakfast treat, add a scoop of vanilla ice cream. You can even drizzle a bit of caramel sauce over each slice of the French toast casserole.
We love fresh berries served alongside the casserole. Try blueberries, sliced strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, or a mix of several different berries.
MORE BREAKFAST BREAD RECIPES
Storage
IN THE FRIDGE: Store leftovers of this French toast bake in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
IN THE FREEZER: You can prepare this easy overnight French toast casserole and freeze it to thaw and bake later. Just put the casserole together as instructed, then wrap the dish well in plastic wrap and then foil. Place casserole in the freezer for up to one month. To bake, thaw the casserole overnight in the refrigerator, then bake as instructed in the recipe.
TO REHEAT: Place slices of the breakfast casserole on microwave-safe plates and heat in the microwave in 20-second increments until warm.
This overnight breakfast casserole is a perfect way to start any morning and especially on a special occasion. Enjoy this warm, sweet, satisfying breakfast with a cup of coffee and have a lovely day!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Why is my casserole soggy?
First, you need to make sure you are using older bread that is firm enough to stand up to the mixture. Fresher and softer bread contains too much moisture and will not soak up the egg custard, leaving the casserole with a less desirable texture.
Second, under-baking can be another reason for a soggy casserole. If the casserole is not yet set but the top is browning very quickly, lay a piece of foil on top to slow down the browning process and allow the casserole more time to cook.
Can I freeze this casserole?
You can freeze leftovers of the casserole but you can also make this dish ahead of time and freeze the entire thing. Thaw and bake as instructed when you are ready to enjoy it.
What is the best bread to use in this recipe?
A hearty bread such as French bread or brioche is the best bread for this casserole. A softer bread will end up soggy and not stand up to the custard mixture in this recipe.
More Recipes You’ll Love
- Biscuits and Gravy Breakfast Casserole Recipe
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- Sausage Breakfast Casserole
- Mimosa Float
- Cherry Pie Bars
- Rhubarb Bread
- Martha Washington Candy
- French Toast Casserole
French Toast Casserole
This simple French toast casserole features bread soaked overnight in a sweetened custard mixture spiced with cinnamon and allspice—ready to bake in the morning for a hot breakfast!
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Total Time 12 hours 55 minutes
Servings 6
Ingredients
Bread
- 10 cups French bread, cut into cubes (2-day-old loaf)
- 6 eggs
- 1½ cups whole milk
- ½ cup half and half
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon almond extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon allspice
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup pecans, chopped (optional)
- powdered sugar, for the top
Crumble Topping
- ¾ cup light brown sugar
- ½ cup salted butter, cold
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray, set aside.
- Cut the 2-day-old loaf of French bread into cubes and place them in the bottom of the baking dish.
- In a separate large mixing bowl, combine eggs, whole milk, half and half, sugar, almond extract, cinnamon, salt, and allspice. Whisk together well.
- Pour egg mixture over the cubes of French bread in the baking dish, making sure to soak all pieces as you are pouring. If using optional pecans, go ahead and top the bread mixture with ½ cup pecans.
- In a separate medium mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, cold butter, and cinnamon. Use two knives to cut the mixture together until crumbly. Sprinkle over the top of the french toast casserole.
- Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
- When ready to cook the french toast casserole preheat the oven to 375°F. Uncover and place on the middle rack in the middle of the oven and cook for 35 to 40 minutes. Check to make sure the center of the French toast casserole is set and not jiggly.
- Remove from the oven and let sit for 5 minutes to allow it to completely set.
- Sprinkle powdered sugar over the top of the casserole and serve with maple syrup.
Video
Notes
- This casserole makes a great meal to take to a friend. Just make the casserole in a disposable aluminum foil pan, cover it with a lid or plastic wrap, and deliver with baking instructions for the family to have a hot breakfast to eat the next morning.
- If the casserole is not quite done after 40 minutes, continue cooking in 5-minute increments until it is ready.
- Letting it sit for 5 minutes after baking will give it extra time to firm up so that you don’t have a soggy texture.
Nutrition
Calories: 1631kcal | Carbohydrates: 272g | Protein: 55g | Fat: 37g | Saturated Fat: 16g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 7g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 218mg | Sodium: 2311mg | Potassium: 752mg | Fiber: 11g | Sugar: 57g | Vitamin A: 888IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 329mg | Iron: 16mg
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Comments
Layne Kangas says
I absolutely LOVE this recipe, it’s delicious and easy to prepare the night before a family gathering.
Gloria says
A big hit with our family!