French Toast Casserole

Baked French toast casserole combines the best of light, fluffy, and fragrant French toast with the easy prep of a baked casserole!

Featuring cubed bread baked into a sweet custard with a crispy streusel topping, this French toast bake will be a family favorite all year round!

plated slice of French Toast Casserole with fruit

So simple: This overnight French toast casserole recipe is holiday brunch-worthy but couldn’t be easier to make on any day of the week!
Make ahead: Prep and bake or prep and chill in the pan overnight- this recipe fits into your schedule! Perfect for lazy weekends and brunch guests!
Switch up: Use your own add-ins and make a new delicious French toast casserole!

brown sugar , milk , pecans , eggs , cinnamon , bread , butter and vanilla with labels to make French Toast Casserole

Ingredients for French Toast Casserole

Bread – A loaf of day-old bread works best for absorbing the custard mixture, so check the bakery for yesterday’s bread. Almost any type of bread will work; try brioche, challah, Texas toast, or French bread.

Custard Mixture – An easy egg and cream mixture is sweetened with brown sugar and vanilla and then gently tossed with the bread cubes. This mixture soaks into the bread, adding flavor and the perfect French toast texture.

Topping – A combination of melted butter, brown sugar, and chopped pecans adds a sweet, crunchy layer. Replace pecans with your favorite chopped nuts.

Variations

Perfect as a summer brunch or for Christmas morning breakfast, change the flavor for any occasion. Add bits of sweetened cream cheese.

Summer/Spring – serve with fresh berries like strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.
Fall – Whisk in some pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice, or mashed banana.
Winter – Stir in, raisins, egg nog, and dried or fresh cranberries.

adding spices to egg mixture to make French Toast Casserole

adding egg mixture to bread pieces to make French Toast Casserole

How to Make French Toast Casserole

Prepare bread cubes and whisk custard ingredients together until smooth per recipe below.
Pour the custard over the bread cubes, add the topping and rest overnight.
In the morning, bake and enjoy.

Storing French Toast Bake

Keep leftover French toast casserole covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat portions in the microwave, oven, or air fryer until warmed through and the topping is crispy again.

Prepare this easy French toast casserole recipe up to 4 months in advance.

To freeze, line the casserole dish with parchment paper, and once the casserole is frozen, remove it and wrap it in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. This frees up the casserole dish until you are ready to bake!

To bake, thaw the casserole in the fridge overnight and bake as directed.

baked French Toast Casserole in the dish

More Make Ahead Breakfast Recipes

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plated slice of French Toast Casserole with fruit

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This delightful dish combines classic flavors of light & fluffy French toast with the ease of a breakfast casserole!

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Chill Time 1 hour

Total Time 1 hour 50 minutes

▢ 14 cups cubed bread cut into 1″ cubes
▢ 8 large eggs
▢ 2 cups half-and-half
▢ ¾ cup milk
▢ ½ cup brown sugar
▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Topping

▢ ½ cup butter melted
▢ ⅓ cup brown sugar
▢ ½ cup chopped pecans
▢ 1 teaspoon cinnamon
▢ ¼ teaspoon nutmeg optional

Dry out the cubed bread by leaving it out for a few hours or baking in an oven preheated to 350°F for 6 to 8 minutes.
Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish and spread the bread cubes evenly in the dish.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon until well combined. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread.
For the topping, whisk the melted butter and ⅓ cup brown sugar. Stir in the pecans, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Gently spoon the topping over the casserole.
Cover the casserole dish and allow it to sit for at least 1 hour (or up to 48 hours).
Remove the casserole from the fridge and let it rest on the counter while the oven preheats to 350°F.
Bake the French toast uncovered for 40 to 50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean and is hot.
Serve warm with maple syrup, whipped cream or fruit.

Any type of bread will work in this recipe, we prefer dense bread such as brioche or challah.

Leftover French toast casserole can be refrigerated for up to 4 days. Reheat portions in the microwave, oven, or air fryer until warm.

Optional Streusel Topping: If desired, the pecan topping can be replaced with a streusel topping. Combine 3 tablespoons each brown sugar, flour, and butter with ¼ cup oats, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon. Mix until well combined and sprinkle over the casserole.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Breakfast, Casserole

Cuisine American

© SpendWithPennies.com. Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited. Please view my photo use policy here.

French Toast Casserole with fruit and a title

baked French Toast Casserole in the dish with writing

close up of French Toast Casserole with writing

French Toast Casserole and plated slice with a title

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About the author

Holly is a wine and cheese lover, recipe creator, shopping enthusiast and self appointed foodie. Her greatest passion is creating in the kitchen and making deliciously comforting recipes for the everyday home cook!

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