This French toast casserole is perfect for breakfast or brunch. It makes the best make-ahead dish for the holidays and so easy to make!
If you love breakfast recipes, try these favorites including overnight French toast casserole, cinnamon roll casserole or this savory overnight breakfast casserole.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- This French toast casserole recipe has all the elements of a classic easy French toast recipe in the form of a casserole.
- It’s one of my favorite Christmas breakfast ideas because not only does it feed a crowd, but it can be prepared the night before!
- You’ll love it with a drizzle of maple syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar.
French Toast Casserole Ingredients
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.
- Day old French bread: I use day-old French bread most often, but there are other options as listed below.
- For the custard: Whole milk, heavy cream, large eggs, light brown sugar, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon. This is what you’d normally dip your French toast in, this time we’re pouring it on top and letting the bread absorb it.
- For the topping: All-purpose flour, packed brown sugar, and slightly melted salted butter. The buttery brown sugar bits add a wonderful sweet crunch.
- For serving: Fresh berries, maple syrup, and powdered sugar.
Best Bread for French Toast Bake
As with any French toast recipe, using day-old bread is best for this baked French toast casserole.
My brioche bread recipe makes a great brioche French toast, so I know it would work well with this base. Same goes for French bread as I’ve made French bread french toast a number of times.
Anything that’s thick, hearty, and sturdy will work. Next time I’ll be trying it with my sourdough bread recipe.
How to Make French Toast Casserole
Whip up the custard mixture in a medium bowl by whisking together the milk, cream, eggs, brown sugar, and cinnamon.
Arrange bread cubes in a prepared 9×13 baking dish in a couple of even layers. Pour the egg mixture overtop making sure each piece is coated then gently toss to make sure everything is soaked.
In a medium bowl, mix flour and brown sugar. Add in slightly melted butter and then using a pastry cutter or two forks mix into coarse crumbs. Sprinkle the topping over the bread.
Bake French toast bake uncovered in a preheated 350°F oven for 50-60 minutes until the top is lightly brown and the center is cooked through.
For Serving
- Serving tip: Top casserole slices with homemade buttermilk syrup, cinnamon pancake syrup or homemade whipped cream with fresh berries.
- Add some protein: To add some protein to the meal, I recommend my breakfast casserole, scrambled eggs or bacon.
More sweet breakfast recipe favorites include German pancakes, Belgian waffles or eggnog French toast.
More Breakfast Recipes
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French Toast Casserole
Video
Ingredients
French Toast
- 1 loaf day-old French bread , cubed (about 10 cups) (sour dough or brioche work great too)
- 1 ½ cups whole milk
- ½ cup heavy cream , can sub for milk
- 6 large eggs
- ½ cup light brown sugar , packed
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Topping
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup light brown sugar , packed
- 6 Tablespoons salted butter , slightly melted
For serving: Powdered sugar, berries and syrup
Instructions
French Toast
- Prep and layer: Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter or grease a 9×13-inch casserole dish. Layer the bread cubes evenly in the pan, equaling about 2 layers.
- Whisk: In a medium bowl, whisk the 1 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 6 eggs, 1/2 cup brown sugar, 1 teaspoon and 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon.
- Pour: Pour evenly over the bread, making sure to coat each piece. Gently toss to make sure all the bread is covered.
Topping
- Mix: In a medium bowl, mix together the 1/2 cup flour, and 1/2 cup brown sugar. Add the butter and mix with a pastry cutter or two forks. Use your hands if needed to make crumbs.
- Bake: Sprinkle the crumb topping over the bread. Bake uncovered 50 to 60 minutes, or until the top is lightly browned and the center is cooked through. Cover with foil if browning too fast.
- Serve: Slice and serve on plates. Sprinkle some powdered sugar and syrup on top.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Recipe FAQs
Yes, you can! Assemble the entire casserole in the casserole dish, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it overnight. Then, bake it the next morning!
Keep leftovers of this oven-baked French toast in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Let it cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil. Keep it frozen for up to 3 months, and when you’re ready to eat it, thaw it overnight in the fridge.
Reheat it in the oven or microwave.
Categorized as: American, Breakfast, Christmas, Meal Prep, Sweet Breakfast, Vegetarian
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
I made this for our Christmas brunch this year. It was a hit! So fluffy and delicious! It is going into my ‘keeper’ recipe file.
So happy to hear the French toast casserole made the keeper list!
Hello! Can’t wait to make this. I had a question.
When you make this ahead of time do you also add the crumb topping over the bread and let it sit in the fridge overnight until you’re ready to bake it?
I typically mix it up in a bowl and refrigerate separately until ready to bake.
This is our favorite breakfast to make anytime we have company! It’s always a huge hit!
So glad your family enjoyed it!
This is one of my son’s favorite weekend breakfast. I toss sprinkles on top for him…hehe.
Sounds so festive with the sprinkles!
My family loves this and I love that I can bake it right away, best way to use leftover sourdough!
Yum with the sourdough! Thanks for the review!
This french toast casserole turned out great!
So glad you enjoyed it!