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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 our Cinnamon Roll French Toast Bake, and for a savory casserole – Sausage Breakfast Casserole.
WE Love it + You Will too!
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 this French Toast Casserole, which we LOVE.
Here is why you’ll love it too:
- CASSEROLE OF A CLASSIC. Everyone loves French Toast and this casserole version is even better, especially served with Buttermilk Syrup.
- MAKE AHEAD. This recipe is best when made the day before but also makes crazy days even more simple.
- HOLIDAY + SPECIAL DAY FAVORITE. It’s a great recipe for special days but since it’s made ahead of time, it makes cooking for holidays (like Christmas) so much easier!
It’s also great for brunch and baby showers. 😉
Best Bread TO USE?
This oven French toast bake calls for sourdough bread, which is my personal favorite.
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.
Here are some other options:
- Brioche
- Challah
- Pullman Loaf
- French Bread
PRO TIP: For any of these breads, you can slice and toast or let slices sit out for 24 hours to make them more stale and sturdy.
How to make French Toast Casserole
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.
SeRVING TIP
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
French Toast Bake 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.
- 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, Blueberry French Toast Casserole and our Pumpkin French Toast Casserole.
How TO Store French Toast Casserole
- 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.
More French Toast Recipes:
French Toast Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
French Toast
- 1 loaf sourdough bread or brioche, challah or French bread
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¾ cup sugar
Topping
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup cold unsalted butter cut into pieces
Instructions
- Cut bread into 1-inch cubes and scatter evenly in a greased 9-x-13-inch baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, mix eggs, milk, heavy cream, vanilla, and sugar together, then pour evenly over the bread.
- Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
- To make the 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.
- 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.
Video
Notes
Variations.
o For a more savory casserole, add ham and cheese, chorizo, green chilies, sausage, or crumbled bacon.
o For a sweet casserole, add thinly sliced apple, orange zest, sliced apricots, sliced pineapple, blueberries, or chopped pecans.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Recipe from Mormon Mavens in the Kitchen.
The French Toast Bake is amazing. The first time I had it a friend made for us while we were on a girls retreat and I loved it. I made it this morning and I used challah instead of sourdough bread, I don’t think there was any difference in consistency or taste. My husband loved it!
I am so glad it was shared 🙂 Thank you so much for sharing that!
Just curious, could you leave this in fridge longer than overnight. Thinking of making it Friday afternoon for an event I have Sunday morning, just don’t have time on Saturday to do it.
Oops, I read other comments after I posted my question and got my answer. Sorry, should have read thise first ???? Excited to try it out.
NO worries!! I hope you like it 🙂
Is there a substitution for the milk and the cream
I haven’t tried making it without it or substituted it. I would look online for good substitutions, since I am not sure. I hope you find what you need.
I made this with Brioche bread and it was delicious!!! Everyone has been giving it rave reviews! Thanks so much for the recipe!!! <3
You are so welcome!!! I am glad it was a hit 🙂 Thank you for letting me know!
Does anyone know if I can leave it in the refrigerator for longer than 6 hours?
Yes, it will be good 🙂
yes, that will be good. You won’t face any issue.
Yum!!! Made it this morning and it was fabulous! The only thing I did different per another comment – pulled the pan out of the fridge and let it sit out about an hour and a half, and once it was ready, I let it sit for about 15 minutes. I also let it sit under the broiler for extra crunch. Thank you for sharing this. I will be sure to make it again! BTW, I made this with 1.5 loaves of French bread ( not baguette) that I had purchased the same day I prepped it (yesterday), and it was excellent!
Woohoo!! Sounds great! Thank you so much for letting me know. I am so glad you liked it!
Why so much butter? I can’t get the crumble to crumble.
Did you use cold butter? It should crumble..I wish I knew why it isn’t. Since, it’s spread over the whole pan, you need that much to cover it. You could add less, if you’d like. I wish I could be more help.
Looks delicious! Can’t wait to give it a try! Just wondering, is the heavy cream mandatory? Or will more milk suffice? Thanks!! 🙂
It is so delicious!! I haven’t tried leaving out the cream, but milk should still work. Though, I do not know if the outcome will be the exact same.
OMG awesome recipe!!!! I made this for the kids last night and they loved it!
I love to hear that!! Thank you so much for letting me know 🙂
I don’t usually leave comments, but this was easy to make and delicious. It also heated up easily in the microwave for leftovers the second day for breakfast!
Thank you for leaving a comment! I appreciate it so much! I am glad you liked it!