Overnight French Toast Casserole

This delectable Overnight French Toast Casserole is the perfect make-ahead, easy breakfast that is prepared in just 10 minutes. Assemble this bake the night before and cook in the morning for a foolproof brunch with no hassle. I also top my french toast bake with a cinnamon streusel for even more decadence.

No better way to rise and shine than and breakfast that's nearly done! This super simple breakfast or brunch casserole is a go-to for easy weekends with the family, holidays and entertaining guests! What's the magic about this breakfast bake? It's all about the overnight soaking technique that happens in your fridge! While you're catching some Z's, it's doing all the work!

Plus, I like to add a special cinnamon streusel to my french toast bake that gives it an elevated flavor. It's the perfect extra bite of sweetness and crunch on top of the sourdough bread that just melts in your mouth.

I highly recommend serving this french toast bake along side my savory Overnight Breakfast Casserole for your next special occasion! It makes for the best savory and sweet delicious breakfast options that the entire family or your guests will love!

Why You'll Love this Recipe

• Make-Ahead Convenience: One of the primary appeals of this overnight French Toast Bake is the ability to prepare it the night before. This makes it an excellent choice for busy mornings or when hosting guests! If you're not a morning person, you'll love its ease!
• Customization: This French toast casserole recipe is highly customizable as you can experiment with different bread varieties, flavorings, and toppings.
• Crispy Exterior, Soft Interior: The slow baking process creates a crispy exterior while maintaining a soft, delicious, custardy interior.
• Fun with Toppings: The neutral French toast base allows for a variety of toppings and everyone can personalize their serving as they'd like!

This is particularly a big hit on Christmas morning when make-ahead breakfast casseroles allow you focus on making memories with your family.

Ingredients in Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole

Scroll Down for Ingredient Amounts Listed in the Recipe Card Below

• Eggs: A key component of the custard mixture, they provide structure and richness to the French toast bake.
• Milk and Heavy Whipping Cream: Adds moisture and creaminess to the custard mixture.
• Granulated Sugar: Contributes to the overall sweetness of the French toast bake and also helps in creating a caramelized top during baking.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the flavor of the custard mixture with a warm and aromatic note.
• Sourdough Bread Loaf: The base of the bake, it absorbs the custard mixture, resulting in a soft and flavorful interior while developing a slightly crispy texture on the top during baking.
• All-Purpose Flour: a key component in the streusel topping. It provides structure and helps create a crumbly texture and adds a delightful crunch to the baked French toast.
• Brown Sugar: It forms a crumbly, sweet layer on top of the bake.
• Cinnamon: A classic spice that infuses warmth and depth into streusel.
• Salted or Unsalted Butter: Combines with brown sugar and flour to create a crumbly and buttery texture that bakes into a golden, sweet crust.

Pro Tip: Be sure to use stale bread when making this french toast casserole. This ensures that the bake is not soggy but crispy on the outside and perfectly moist on the inside.

Tools You'll Need

• Mixing Bowls
• Measuring Cups and Spoons
• Whisk
• 13”x9” Pan or Casserole Dish

Best Bread for Overnight Baked French Toast

The kind of bread you choose makes a big difference! Opt for slightly stale or day-old bread, like French bread, sourdough, brioche, Italian bread, or a hearty challah bread. Stale bread absorbs the custard mixture better, resulting in a creamier texture.

Ensure the bread slices are cut into 1-inch cubes and fully soaked in the custard mixture. This overnight soaking allows the flavors to meld and the bread to absorb the liquid for a richer taste. It will end up having a bread pudding-like texture.

How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole

1. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, and vanilla.

2. Arrange bread in an even layer in a greased 13"x9" pan or baking dish.
3. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread, and lightly press the bread cubes down into the mixture.

4. For the topping, mix together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Grate butter or use a pastry cutter to incorporate the butter into the mixture. Mix until crumbly.

5. Cover both the baking dish and bowl. Refrigerate overnight.
6. Next morning, remove both from the refrigerator to come to room temperature while the oven preheats to 350°F. Evenly sprinkle the crumble mixture on top of the casserole. Bake 45-50 minutes or until the casserole is golden brown and set. Serve with toppings on the side.

French Toast Toppings

The fun part about serving this decadent breakfast is that everyone can dress up their serving however they'd like. They can keep it simple with drizzle of maple syrup or load it up Elf style!

Some excellent toppers to have on the side are:

• Fresh Berries
• Powdered Sugar
• Whipped Cream
• Banana Slices
  • Bananas Foster French Toast is a decadent take on this breakfast classic! This recipe adds an indulgent rich sauce of caramelized bananas and crunchy pecans!
• Chopped Nuts
• Greek Yogurt
• Cream Cheese
• Compote or Fruit Sauce
• Nutella or Chocolate Sauce
• Cinnamon Sugar
• Fruit Syrups
• Caramel Syrup
• Coconut Flakes
• Lemon Curd
• Sprinkles
• Chopped Chocolate or Candy

Recipe Tips and Substitutions

• Customize Flavors: Experiment with flavorings in the custard mixture. Add a pinch of nutmeg or a dash of almond extract for a unique twist.
• Add Fresh Fruit: Integrate fresh fruit into the cubes of bread for bursts of flavor and natural sweetness. Berries, sliced apples, or peaches work well. Blueberry French Toast Casserole is a family favorite.
• Nuts and Seeds: Add chopped nuts or seeds to the streusel topping for extra crunch and flavor.
• Streusel Option: While it adds extra crunch and a savory sweetness, you can omit the topping if desired.
• Reduced Sugar: If you prefer a lower-sugar option, reduce the amount of sugar in the custard mixture. The sweetness from fruits or a light dusting of powdered sugar can compensate. You can also try replacing white sugar with maple syrup, honey, or agave nectar for varied sweetness levels.
• Individual Portions: This decadent French toast casserole can also be made in individual ramekins or small baking dishes. Simply butter each dish, fill evenly with the cubed loaf of bread and milk mixture, sprinkle the streusel on top and adjust the baking time as needed. It will need less time depending on the size of your dishes.

What to Serve with French Toast Bake

So many foods complement this easy baked French toast recipe. A variety of sides and beverages can create a festive and well-rounded holiday breakfast or brunch. Here are some delicious side dish ideas:

1. Fresh Fruit Salad: Prepare a vibrant fruit salad with seasonal fruits like berries, citrus segments, and pomegranate seeds.
2. Crispy Bacon or Breakfast Sausage: Add a savory element to the meal with crispy bacon strips or flavorful breakfast sausages.
3. Hash Browns or Potatoes O'Brien: Serve crispy hash browns or Potatoes O'Brien on the side for a hearty and satisfying addition.
4. Greek Yogurt Parfait: Create individual yogurt parfaits with layers of Greek yogurt, granola, and fresh berries.
5. Cheese Platter: Arrange a festive cheese platter with a selection of cheeses, crackers, and sliced fruits.

Since this french toast casserole is perfect for brunch, you must make sure you have a delicious beverage to pair with it too. Here are some of my favorites:

1. Hot Chocolate Bar: Set up a hot chocolate bar with various toppings like whipped cream, marshmallows, and crushed peppermint. It's a comforting and seasonal drink.
2. Mulled Apple Cider: Warm up the gathering with mulled apple cider flavored with cinnamon, cloves, and orange slices.
3. Eggnog: Serve traditional eggnog or a non-alcoholic version as a festive and creamy beverage option.
4. Coffee or Tea: Offer a selection of coffee or tea.
5. Festive Mocktails or Cocktails: Celebrate the holiday season with festive drinks made with sparkling wine, champagne, sparkling juice, and freshly squeezed orange juice or fruit juice.

Storage and Freezing

• Refrigeration: Once the Overnight French Toast has been baked and cooled, cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. Refrigerate up to 2-3 days.
• Freezing: Once cooled, wrap the entire baking dish tightly with plastic wrap, ensuring that it is well-sealed. It is recommended to consume a frozen French Toast Bake within 1 to 2 months.
• Reheating from the Refrigerator: Preheat your oven to 300°F. Remove the plastic wrap or foil and cover the baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake 15-20 minutes or until warmed through.
• Reheating From the Freezer: Allow the dish to thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Follow the same reheating instructions as for refrigerated leftovers.

Frequently Asked Questions

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