French Toast Casserole

This EASY French toast casserole is crunchy on the outside, sweet and custardy on the inside, and delectable all over. 

It’s all the goodness of French toast in a sweet, syrupy casserole.

When topped with cinnamon sugar and baked to perfection, it becomes a breakfast you won’t soon forget!

Overnight French Toast Casserole

French toast casserole is a warm and hearty dish. And when smothered with some ooey-gooey maple syrup, it makes the perfect Sunday morning breakfast.

Of course, it’s also an excellent brunch recipe to serve to friends.

And since it’s baked, it eliminates that hassle of frying and flipping every slice of bread. You can simply let your oven work its magic.

Just keep in mind, it’s best to prep the dish the day before. That way, the bread can soak up all the yummy custard overnight!

French Toast Casserole Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make this casserole:

• Bread. You’ll need approximately 5 cups of bread, cut into one-inch cubes. See the section below for tips on selecting the best bread.

• Eggs. Soaking the bread generously in eggs helps it crisp up nicely and helps hold on the toppings.

• Milk. Whatever is in your fridge is fine, though I like whole milk best.

• White sugar. You’ll use the sugar twice in this recipe. Once in the mixture to coat the bread and once for the topping.

• Salt. Plain table salt is fine.

• Vanilla extract. Not only will vanilla make the casserole taste better. It’ll also make your kitchen smell divine while the casserole is baking.

• Margarine. Soften it before using it.

• Ground cinnamon. For that signature cinnamon-sugar flavor that makes French toast so incredible.

What Is the Best Bread for French Toast?

You have plenty of options for picking suitable bread for your French toast.

However, you’ll want thick, sturdy bread that’s unlikely to fall apart under the egg mixture. Crusty bread that’s gone slightly stale is also optimal.

Good examples include:

• Brioche
• Sourdough
• French bread
• Ciabatta
• Challah
• Pullman loaf

How to Make French Toast Bake

Follow these steps to make this decadent overnight French toast casserole:

1. Make the custard. Combine the eggs, milk, salt, vanilla, and two tablespoons of sugar in a large bowl. Mix well.

2. Cut and cover the bread. Cut the bread into cubes and toss them into a lightly buttered 8×8-inch baking pan. Then, pour the custard over the top.

3. Cover and chill. Press the bread into the liquid, cover the dish with plastic wrap, then pop it in the fridge for at least a few hours – overnight is best.

4. Preheat and bake. Set the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and take the casserole out of the fridge to warm slightly.

5. Add the topping and bake. Combine the remaining sugar with a teaspoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle this over the dish, then bake for 45-60 minutes.

When it’s golden and slightly firm in the middle, it’s ready to eat!

Tips & Tricks for the Best French Toast Casserole

A few final tips to keep in mind:

• Make it more decadent. Use day-old doughnuts, leftover cake, or stale croissants for the base instead of bread.

• Make it more decadent – part 2. Combine softened cream cheese, sugar, and vanilla. Then, top the bread with this mixture before adding the egg mixture. 

• Don’t stress over cubing the bread. It doesn’t have to be perfect. In fact, you can simply tear the bread into bite-sized chunks.

• Top with your favorite berries. Doing so will give the casserole a delicious burst of flavor! Blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, and cranberries all make fine options. Infusing it with some orange peel also gives it a unique flavor. 

• Don’t skip the overnight chill. It’ll give you a much more flavorful and fluffier dish. So, make it the night before, and you’ll have a tasty treat for the whole family in the morning! 

• Give it a boozy kick. Add a few tablespoons of Amaretto or rum to the egg mixture to give the casserole a nice kick.

• Help combat sogginess. Make sure the bread it stale and dry. If it’s fresh, it won’t soak in the custard. Also, be sure you have enough bread.

• Let the casserole rest after baking. The casserole may turn out a bit mushy after baking. Let it sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes, and it will firm right up.

• Don’t forget the toppings. Apart from the usual maple syrup, you can also sprinkle some powdered sugar and spread some butter over your French toast casserole. Delish!

• A Christmas variation. If you’re serving French toast casserole for Christmas morning, use eggnog instead of milk!

Can French Toast Casserole Be Frozen?

You can freeze French toast casserole or store leftovers in the fridge. If you know you’ll be freezing it, bake it in a foil pan.

Then, let the casserole fully cool and wrap it in two layers of aluminum foil. You can freeze the covered casserole for up to 3 months.

Let it thaw in the fridge overnight when you want to serve it. You can then reheat it in the oven (350 degrees) or microwave (high power).

You can also store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat it using the same methods suggested above.