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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 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 degrees 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.
Hi! Would i be able to use brioche instead of sourdough?
You sure could! Enjoy 🙂
I made this tonight. cut the recipe in half and i used the $1 french bread loaf from walmart. was amazing and i’ll be making this again. thank you
That is a great option!! So happy you liked it! Thank you so much for letting me know!
Do you cover this with foil while baking? I’ve made this several times and I use foil until the last 15 mins and take it off. I was just wondering what you do. Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, it’s become one of my families favorites!
I personally do not, but you totally can 🙂 I am glad to share! Thank you!
Cant wait to make it. QuesTion. Dud you put sugar power at the end On top?? LoOks white like it has sOme ?
I do like to sprinkle some on top 🙂
Hi, i was wondering if there is a good sub for thr heavy creAm? Could i use whole milk? Thanks!
I haven’t substituted the heavy cream, so I haven’t tried the whole milk. That could work or I would google some suggestions.
It was delicious, my family enjoy it very much!
i decide to mix both regular & almond milk And use just brown sugar
Glad you liked it! Thank you for sharing what you did!
I’ve made a lot of different overnight casseroles and this one is our absolute favorite. So easy and so delicious! Thanks
Glad it is! It’s ours too! Thank you for letting me know 🙂
I made this tonight for dinner, and it was really good. I used french bread and I thought it came out perfect. Thank you for sharing your recipe!
You are welcome 🙂 Glad you tried it!! Thank you!
This is our family’S favorite breakfast dish. I first made it as a special breakfast for lake weekends. Now its anytime! The night before prep makes it So much quicker in the morning. Thank you so much for sharIng!!
You are welcome! I am glad to share 🙂 Love hearing that! Thank you!
Hi! Can you tell me what size of sourdough loaf or somehow be specific on amount of bread for this French Toast Casserole. Thank you! Happy Thanksgiving 🍁🍂
I usually find ones that are around a pound at the store 😉
How many OUNCES oF bread? 16oz loaf or 24oz? Our store has both.
I would just use the 24 ounce. If you feel like it’s too much bread or over-flowing, you can just leave some off.
Do you have to prepare this overnight? Or can it be made and then baked and served?
The longer it sits, the bread soaks up the liquid on the bottom. I haven’t tried making it, then baking right away, but I am sure you can.
Amazing!!! I put chocolate chips in ours and make a simple vanilla sauce to go with it. It’s requested for all holidays. Can’t say enough good things about this receipe. I did bake our sin a separate dish from the one it soaked in so it wouldn’t get soggy but I didn’t even need to.
Adding chocolate chips is a great idea! And, that vanilla sauce sounds good! Thank you for sharing that!