This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
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.
Made this for Mother’s Day Brunch
It was fantastic
I used cinnamon bread
There were no leftovers
My family loved it
Yay! I’m so happy to hear that! Thanks for giving the recipe a try.
I made this for Mother’s Day and it was a hit! I used 1 loaf of Brioche bread from Fresh Market and halved the liquids, so 4 eggs, 1 cup of whole milk and no heavy cream. I used all of the other ingredients as listed. Let soak overnight. In the morning, baked with the foil on for 30 minutes and foil off for 20 minutes. It was perfect and not soggy at all! My husband, whom doesn’t not like french toast, told me it was delicious!
Yay!! I’m so glad that the recipe was a hit! Thanks for sharing what you did. Glad your hubby enjoyed it too!
I double the topping but this is a family favorite!
Oh so happy to hear that! That topping is yummy… don’t blame you for doubling it. 😉
I am pinning all these recipes! They look delicious and easy to make! I have a “Breakfast Club” where friends meet and we have a treat with our coffee,! These fill the bill! I have made the French toast casserole and have added blueberries or peaches too. Thank you so much!
How fun is that?! I love that idea. So glad you can use some of these recipes for that group!
An absolute winner!
Thank you!!
Made this today on a campers weekend. I used Hawaii bread, in place of milk used sweet cream coffee creamer and cut back a little on sugar. Every one was very happy, enjoyed it for breakfast. Then lunch and snacks. Will do again
Yum! Thanks for sharing what you did!! Glad to hear it turned out well!
made this today, eating right now.. DELICIOUS!! I followed the recipe (did forget the vanilla though)
I’m so glad that you enjoyed the French toast bake!! Thanks for giving it a try!!
I made this for Easter brunch last Sunday and it was a big hit! We have gluten allergies in the family so I substituted with GF ingredients and it worked out just fine. Everyone wanted the recipe! This one is a keeper!
I’m so happy to hear it! And that it worked well with GF options too. Thanks for sharing!
I was skeptical never made anything like this before and all I can say is OMG it was so good. I used French bread and it turned out good. Now I did cut down on one egg only cause mine were extra large eggs. I just printed this and it will be my go too from now on.
Yay!! So happy to hear that! Thanks for giving it a try. Glad to hear it was a hit.
When you say french bread, do you mean a regular sized baguette?
I used some leftover whole wheat bread and sprinkled in some pecans. It gave it a very wholesome flavor and was SO very delicious! We will definitely be using this recipe more often. I can relate to the morning rush! We also enjoy breakfast foods at dinner.
So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thanks for sharing what you did.
In case someone wants a 2022 comment ❤️ Just made this, used one French baguette from Publix (the long ones) and halved the egg mixture to avoid sogginess, and put it in a round 10-12 in cake pan to avoid sogginess and help keep it even. I put it in for 30 mins and monitoring it, added another 10 mins just to crisp it! I didn’t want to make too much in case my kids put their nose up to it 😜 but it is delicious!
Thanks for sharing what you did! Glad you enjoyed the recipe!