Overnight French Toast Casserole

Prep the night before then bake this easy overnight French toast casserole in the morning. With a brown sugar streusel and berry topping, it’s perfect for holiday brunch!

More make ahead breakfast recipes I love to serve include cinnamon roll casserole, overnight breakfast casserole and overnight oats!

Best Overnight French Toast Casserole

I love classic French toast and French bread French toast, but this overnight French toast casserole version is my go-to when serving a crowd. You can easily make it in advance and then bake it in the morning.

While my kids love these French toast sticks and this eggnog French toast is a holiday favorite, this berry French toast casserole is the best Christmas breakfast idea when you want to just put something in the oven and enjoy family time.

Overnight French Toast Ingredients

This overnight French toast with berries comes together with a few simple ingredients!

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements below.

• French bread: Go with a crispy outside and soft inside kind of stale bread. Add about 10 cups of sliced-up bread to the casserole dish.
• Milk: The heavier the milk the creamier it will be. I used whole milk for this recipe.
• Eggs: Large eggs are best! If you are using medium, double or add an extra egg just to be sure.
• Brown sugar: Pack in the brown sugar. I used light brown sugar for a sweet taste but not overbearing of the berries.
• Ground cinnamon: Always a classic spice to add to french toast.
• Butter: This will help combine and moisten the bread.
• All-purpose flour: Thicken the mixture to help add substance and help make it crumbly for the streusel topping.
• Berries: Frozen works great for this overnight French toast recipe!

How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole

This recipe starts with a French bread base. Slice the bread into cubes and add it to your baking dish.

Then whisk together the milk, eggs, brown sugar, and cinnamon and pour the egg custard mixture on top. This will sit overnight and soak up nicely into the bread.

Then you’ll add a brown sugar crumble topping and berries to the top of the bread right before baking. I love using frozen mixed berries because we always have them on hand in the freezer. They give it the perfect sweet flavor!

I love to cook my casserole the full hour so that the top of the bread becomes a little caramelized/toasted and the center is cooked through. If you’d like the center more of a bread pudding texture, I would take it out about 15 minutes sooner. Either way, it’s delicious!

Tips and Variations

• Bread. I like to use thick, day-old French bread or French baguette. Sourdough bread or challah can be used as well as you can make brioche French toast, too. Save croissants for breakfast croissant casserole.
• Berries: Swap berries for sliced apples or peaches, or omit fruit altogether and mix in chopped walnuts or pecans.
• Warm spices: You can also add some vanilla extract or nutmeg to the egg mixture to give it an extra boost of flavor.
• Soaking. Does French toast casserole have to sit overnight? No, as long as you let the bread soak in the milk mixture for at least 3 or 4 hours. But you’ll get the most flavor if you let it soak overnight.
• Consistency. Cook for 1 hour for a crispy and caramelized texture. If you prefer it softer and gooier, cook for 45 minutes.

Toppings for Serving

Although this easy French toast casserole tastes delicious as-is, you can also add a few extra toppings to take it up a notch. Any of the below would taste amazing:

• Powdered sugar
• An extra sprinkle of cinnamon
• Maple syrup
• Cinnamon pancake syrup
• More fresh berries
• Whipped cream

More Breakfast Favorites

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