This best-loved French toast casserole is perfect for making ahead of time! It’s perfect for holidays and gatherings and is delicious.
This French toast casserole is by far my most popular, but people also love my Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake, and for a savory casserole – Sausage Breakfast Casserole.
OVERNIGHT CASSEROLE RECIPE
We love breakfast foods. I could eat it any time of the day, and it’s fairly common to come over to the Merkley home on an evening and find us eating Belgian Waffles or Buttermilk Pancakes.
Breakfast recipes are just that great! I feel like we don’t get to eat them often enough in the mornings since we’re usually in a rush, but we occasionally get to enjoy them on the weekends and holidays.
One of my favorite recipes to enjoy is French Toast, and more specifically, today’s French toast casserole. This breakfast bake is simple to make and is beyond delicious.
It’s perfect for making ahead of time, making holidays like Mother’s Day and Christmas morning a breeze!
It’s also great for brunch and baby showers. ๐
THE BEST BREAD FOR FRENCH TOAST
This oven French toast bake calls for sourdough bread, which is my personal favorite (and the only kind I’ve ever used). But if you don’t have sourdough on hand, there are a few other options you could try!
The main idea is that you want the bread to be sturdy enough that the bread cubes will hold up after being combined with the egg mixture. Thinly sliced or squishy bread (think wonder bread) can fall apart while cooking after being soaked in the egg mixture.
It’s also a bonus if it’s available in an uncut loaf because then you can slice and cube it perfectly.
Here are some other options:
- Brioche
- Challah
- Pullman Loaf
- French Bread
JUST A QUICK PREP!
This baked French toast takes a few steps but is quite simple.
BREAD. Cut bread into 1-inch cubes and scatter evenly in a greased 9-x-13-inch baking dish.
EGG MIXTURE. In a medium bowl, whisk eggs, milk, heavy cream, vanilla, and sugar together, then pour evenly over the bread.
CHILL. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
TOPPING. Mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a medium bowl. Cut butter into this mixture until crumbly. Place the topping in a small resealable plastic bag and refrigerate overnight as well.
BAKE. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F. Unwrap the baking dish and sprinkle the topping evenly over the bread.
Bake, uncovered, for 45–60 minutes, depending on how soft you like it.
RECIPE TIPS
This baked French toast casserole should be soft on the bottom and crisp on the top.
Too soggy. If your casserole comes out too soggy try some of these tips:
- Soak the bread in a separate bowl. If there’s too much egg in the pan it may be left a little soggy. One way around this is to store your bread mixture overnight in a bowl. In the morning, transfer the bread to the baking dish leaving behind the extra liquid.
- Choose the correct bread. Choose a dense bread such as Brioche, Challah, Pullman Loaf, or French Bread.
- Use a lipped cookie sheet instead of a 9×13 baking dish. Adjust the bake time and watch carefully.
- Not soaking the bread long enough. You want the egg mixture to seep deep into the bread for a soft custardy center. If the mixture doesn’t have time to soak into the bread it may end up creating a soggy mess.
Variations. Change up your French toast casserole recipe with these delicious twists:
- For a more savory casserole: ham and cheese, chorizo, green chiles, sausage, or crumbled bacon.
- For a sweet casserole: thinly sliced apple, orange zest, sliced apricots, sliced pineapple, blueberries, raspberries, and chopped pecans.
- You can also swap ingredients, like milk for almond milk, cinnamon for nutmeg and more!
Be sure to also check out our: Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole and our Pumpkin French Toast Casserole.
SERVING + STORING
This French toast bake is delicious when drizzled in maple syrup, but here are a few more tasty ideas.
- Buttermilk Syrup
- Cinnamon Buttermilk Syrup
- Whipped Cream and sliced strawberries
Serve it up with:
- Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
- Sausage Cream Cheese Casserole
- Orange Julius
FREEZE. Freeze this easy French toast casserole before or after baking. Wrap the dish with plastic wrap then foil and freeze for up to 2 months.
When you’re ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge, remove all the wrapping, and bake.
If it has been prebaked, cook it at 350°F for 20 minutes. If it has not been pre-baked, cook according to the recipe directions.
STORE. If you have any leftover baked French toast casserole, cover the pan with plastic or divide it into individual airtight containers. Keep it in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Reheat in the microwave.
Why is my French toast casserole soggy?
The main reasons for soggy baked French toast include using too much egg mixture, the oven temperature being too low, or you didn’t bake it long enough. Also, be sure to bake it uncovered.
What bread is best to use when making a French toast bake?
Thick dry bread works best as it needs to be able to soak up all the egg custard without completely falling apart. My favorites to use include Brioche, Challah, Pullman loaf, French bread, sourdough bread, or stale Texas Toast.
Can I make French toast casserole in the crock pot?
Absolutely! The texture will be a bit different for the flavor will be just as delicious. Follow the recipe directions but reduce the amount of milk by ½ cup. Refrigerate for 6-10 hours in the ceramic crock pot. Place the ceramic pot into the heating base, cover it, and cook on low for 4 hours or high for 2 hours.
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