Heavenly Baked French Toast Casserole Recipe for Brunch

Weekend mornings sparkle with this decadent French toast casserole that turns ordinary breakfast into an extraordinary feast.

Soft bread cubes nestled in a rich, creamy custard promise pure morning comfort.

Cinnamon and vanilla dance through every delectable bite, creating a heavenly aroma that draws everyone to the kitchen.

Overnight preparation means less morning stress and more relaxation for you.

The golden, puffy edges crisp up beautifully while the center remains delightfully tender.

Topped with a sprinkle of powdered sugar and fresh berries, this casserole becomes an irresistible morning indulgence.

You’ll want to savor every single delicious spoonful.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 45-60 minutes

Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes (including refrigeration)

Calories: 475 kcal

Servings: 9

Ingredients Needed for French Toast Casserole

• French Bread: Sturdy bread perfect for soaking up creamy custard, choose day-old bread for best texture and absorption.
• Eggs: Binding agent that creates rich, custardy base, select fresh farm eggs for deeper flavor.
• Whole Milk: Provides smooth, luxurious liquid base, opt for full-fat milk for richness.
• Heavy Cream: Adds decadent, velvety texture to the casserole, select high-quality cream for best results.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall sweetness and depth, use pure vanilla for authentic flavor.
• Granulated Sugar: Balances sweetness and helps caramelize the dish, choose fine-grain sugar for even distribution.

• All-Purpose Flour: Creates tender, crispy streusel layer, select unbleached flour for best consistency.
• Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel notes and sweetness, use fresh, soft brown sugar for maximum flavor.
• Ground Cinnamon: Provides warm, aromatic spice, choose freshly ground cinnamon for robust taste.
• Salt: Balances sweetness and enhances overall flavor profile, use fine sea salt.
• Unsalted Butter: Creates rich, crumbly texture in topping, select high-quality, cold butter for best results.

Kitchen Essentials for Toast Casserole

• 9×13-inch Baking Dish: Essential for layering and baking the casserole, ensuring even cooking and perfect presentation.
• Medium Mixing Bowls: Perfect for preparing the egg mixture and crumble topping, keeping ingredients organized.
• Measuring Cups and Spoons: Precise measurements guarantee consistent flavor and texture.
• Sharp Knife: Needed to cut bread into uniform 1-inch cubes for even soaking and texture.
• Wooden Spoon or Spatula: Great for mixing ingredients and spreading the egg mixture over bread cubes.
• Plastic Wrap: Used to cover the dish during refrigeration, keeping the casserole fresh.
• Resealable Plastic Bag: Convenient for storing the crumble topping overnight.

Making French Toast Casserole Step by Step

Cozy Breakfast Comfort

• Bread Preparation

Slice a soft loaf into delightful little chunks and spread them generously across a buttered baking dish, creating a delectable canvas for the morning magic.

• Creamy Liquid Magic

Whisk together silky eggs, rich dairy, sweet vanilla, and a touch of sugar in a mixing bowl, transforming ordinary ingredients into a luxurious bath for the bread cubes.

• Overnight Transformation

Lovingly cover the dish and let it rest in the refrigerator, allowing the bread to soak up all the dreamy flavors while you sleep.

• Crunchy Topping Creation

Craft a heavenly crumble by blending flour, warm brown sugar, fragrant cinnamon, and a pinch of salt. Gently work in cold butter until the mixture resembles delicate, sandy granules.

• Morning Baking Ritual

Heat the oven to a cozy 350 degrees. Unveil your overnight masterpiece and dust the top with the prepared crumbly topping.

• Golden Perfection

Bake until the casserole turns a gorgeous golden brown and fills your kitchen with an irresistible aroma, roughly 45-60 minutes.

Flavor Boosts for Better French Toast Casserole

• Choose day-old challah or brioche for maximum flavor absorption and rich, custardy texture that melts in your mouth.
• Swap pecans or walnuts into the streusel mix for extra nutty depth and surprising crunch that elevates the entire dish.
• Assemble the entire casserole up to 2 days before serving, allowing flavors to intensify and simplifying morning preparation for busy households.
• Drizzle warm maple syrup, dust with powdered sugar, or top with fresh berries to transform this classic breakfast from simple to spectacular in seconds.
• Let the casserole rest 10 minutes after baking to help it set and make slicing cleaner, ensuring picture-perfect servings every single time.

Serving French Toast Casserole for Brunch

• Breakfast Bliss Platter: Serve alongside crispy bacon strips or sausage links for a hearty morning feast that balances sweet and savory flavors.
• Fruity Morning Delight: Top with fresh berries like strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries to add a burst of color and tangy freshness to the casserole.
• Decadent Drizzle Station: Create a small pitcher of warm maple syrup or a homemade caramel sauce to pour over individual servings, allowing guests to customize their breakfast experience.
• Whipped Cream Finale: Add a dollop of freshly whipped cream or a sprinkle of powdered sugar just before serving to enhance the casserole's luxurious texture and presentation.

Storage Instructions for Toast Casserole

• Breakfast Batch Prep: Slice the entire casserole into individual portions and store in airtight containers for quick weekday morning meals. These servings stay fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Freezer-Friendly Strategy: Wrap individual slices or the entire casserole tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze up to 2 months for future breakfast or brunch gatherings. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Refrigerator Timing: Once assembled, the French toast casserole can remain in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours before baking. This advanced preparation allows flavors to meld and develop a richer taste profile.
• Reheating Magic: Warm individual slices in the microwave for 30-45 seconds or reheat the entire casserole in a 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes until heated through. Add a sprinkle of fresh cinnamon or powdered sugar for extra flavor when serving.

Cozy French Toast Casserole

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4.8 from 10 reviews

• Total Time: 4 hours 15 minutes (including refrigeration)
• Yield: 9 1x

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Description

Creamy french toast casserole delights breakfast enthusiasts with its rich, custardy layers. Maple syrup and cinnamon elevate this comforting dish that will satisfy weekend morning cravings.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 1 loaf sourdough bread (or brioche, challah, or French bread)
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups (480 ml/16 fl oz) milk
• ½ cup (120 ml/4 fl oz) heavy cream
• ¾ cup (150 g/5.3 oz) sugar
• 1 tbsp vanilla extract
• ½ cup (60 g/2.1 oz) all-purpose flour
• ½ cup (100 g/3.5 oz) packed light brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup (113 g/4 oz) cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces

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Instructions

1. Bread Preparation: Cube stale bread into uniform pieces and distribute evenly across a thoroughly greased rectangular baking dish.
2. Custard Creation: Whisk eggs, milk, vanilla, and sugar into a smooth, homogeneous liquid mixture, ensuring complete blending of all components.
3. Infusion Process: Pour custard over bread cubes, gently pressing to guarantee thorough and consistent absorption of the liquid base.
4. Flavor Development: Cover dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4-8 hours, allowing bread to completely soak and flavors to harmonize.
5. Crumble Composition: Combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a mixing bowl, then integrate cold butter using fingertips or pastry cutter until achieving a crumbly, textured consistency.
6. Oven Preparation: Position oven rack to center and preheat to 350°F, creating an optimal baking environment for the casserole.
7. Final Assembly: Remove casserole from refrigerator, sprinkle crumble topping generously and evenly across the surface, ensuring complete coverage.
8. Baking Transformation: Bake uncovered for 45-60 minutes until the top turns golden brown and the interior becomes puffy and set.
9. Serving Presentation: Allow casserole to rest for 10-15 minutes after removing from oven, enabling flavors to settle and structure to stabilize before serving.

Notes

• Bread Selection Matters: Choose day-old or slightly stale bread like brioche, challah, or French bread for optimal texture and absorption.
• Overnight Marination Magic: Refrigerating the casserole for minimum 4 hours allows bread to fully soak up custard, creating a rich, custardy interior.
• Butter Temperature Technique: Use cold butter when making crumble topping to achieve a perfect crumbly, crisp texture that doesn’t melt too quickly.
• Golden Brown Perfection: Watch casserole closely during final 15 minutes of baking to prevent over-browning while ensuring a crispy, caramelized top.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45-60 minutes
• Category: Breakfast, Snacks, Desserts
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 9
• Calories: 475
• Sugar: 23 g
• Sodium: 230 mg
• Fat: 27 g
• Saturated Fat: 17 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 1 g
• Carbohydrates: 43 g
• Fiber: 1 g
• Protein: 10 g
• Cholesterol: 185 mg