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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.
Has anyone make it in the crock pot? I am curious when to add the toppings and how did it turn out.
TIA
This recipe is so good! I made it for my nieces baby shower, she loves breakfast foods. It was a huge hit, everyone loved it. Made for a Christmas bunch, and now Easter brunch. I know it will go in a flash! Thank you for a great recipe.
You’re welcome! I’m so glad that you all enjoy the recipe and are able to use it for lots of occasions too!
I hosted my daughter’s baby shower this weekend and this was a HUGE hit. I tripled the recipe, yes tripled the recipe! I used almost two large french loaves that I bought a day before prep day and arranged it all in a large disposable aluminum pan (from Costco). I also made the Pillsbury Overnight Egg Bake which I tripled as well. At 350, they both took 2 1/2 hours to cook through. I am making copies of your recipe now because I have had so many requests since then. It’s going to be on everyone’s Easter menu! Thank you!!!
Oh you’re welcome! Thank you for the awesome review! I’m so glad to hear the recipe was a hit. I love hearing that the recipe turned out so well being tripled too!
Did you happen to use the french baguette from costo?
I made this for a brunch with friends and they loved it! I used brioche bread and added some meyor lemon zest the egg mixture! So good!
Thanks for sharing what you did. Sounds delicious! I’m glad to hear the recipe was a hit!
My family loves this .I use Brioche ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Yay! So glad to hear that this is a family favorite!
Just so you know – I am not a confident baker at all! But this recipe was so easy and everyone loved it. There was not one piece left over!! Do exactly what the recipe calls – I used challah bread and transferred from a bowl to the baking dish (recommended) and baked for 55 minutes. Guests put syrup on it and devoured it 😊
Oh yay!! That makes me so happy to hear! Thank you for sharing and I’m glad that the recipe was a hit!
I followed this recipe to a T, but somehow my bread ended up soggy on the bottom and altogether, not much flavor. I tasted the cinnamon on the top, but the middle and bottom, kind of bland. Not sure what all the hype is about.
Sorry to hear you didn’t love the recipe. But thank you for the feedback and for giving the recipe a try!
My family loves this French toast bake! Easy to make.
Yay! So happy to hear you all enjoy the recipe!
I used extra thick sliced brioche bread. I brought it over to a friend’s house for brunch. There were four of us. They all went back for seconds. I went home with an empty 9X 13 casserole dish. The couple hosting asked to keep some, and another friend took the rest of it. That’s how you know something you’ve made is good for sure!
Yes! That is so awesome. So glad to hear the recipe was a hit!
Cathy I’m making this for Easter morning! Can’t wait to try it
This was so yummy! I used leftover Irish Soda Bread. It turned out amazing and we all loved it. Thanks for the recipe!
You’re welcome!! So happy to hear the recipe was a hit!