Baked French Toast Casserole
Baked French Toast Casserole is a classic that’s devoured anytime I make it! This simple breakfast casserole never goes out of style!
Why We Love Easy French Toast Casserole
- French toast casserole recipe is a crowd-pleasing breakfast you can throw in the oven and forget about while you make the rest of your morning meal. Or serve up this casserole by itself and enjoy a cup of coffee or two while it bakes. It’s the perfect start to a lazy morning.
- I made this recipe one year for Christmas breakfast and now I make it every year. I make it on the weekends too, because cravings, but always on Christmas no matter what.
- I think my favorite thing about this recipe is that it doesn’t mess with a classic. Sure you could add in some crumbled breakfast sausage or even mix in fresh berries. But it’s just as easy to serve them up alongside. Keep it simple and add maple syrup on top for the best French toast casserole around!
Ingredients You’ll Need to Make Baked French Toast
BREAD: You’ll need a loaf of French bread for the base of this recipe. Italian bread or any other crusty bread will work just fine too.
REFRIGERATED ITEMS: Grab some milk, egg, and butter. The milk and eggs are the base for the custard, and the butter helps to topping come together.
PANTRY ITEMS: We’re going to season the French toast with salt, vanilla, sugar, and ground cinnamon. Some will go into the custard and some on top. Yum!
How to Make French Toast Casserole
Jump to RecipeSTEP 1 Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Then cut the French bread loaf into 1-inch cubes and put them into the baking dish.
STEP 2 In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, 2 tablespoons of sugar, salt, and vanilla until it’s evenly combined. Pour the custard mixture over the bread cubes.
STEP 3 Gently press the bread into the custard to help make sure all the bread has contact with the liquid. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes.
STEP 4 Break the butter into small pieces and dot it over the bread. In a small bowl, stir together 2 tablespoons of sugar with the ground cinnamon until it’s evenly mixed. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar all over the casserole.
STEP 5 Bake for 40-55 minutes until the top is golden brown. Remove the French toast casserole from the oven, and let it rest for 5 minutes before cutting it into pieces. Serve warm with maple syrup.
Tips & Tricks
- The French bread is best for French toast casserole when it’s been sitting for 1 or 2 days. If your bread is fresh from the store, cut down on prep time by cutting the bread into cubes the night before. This gives the bread a chance to dry a bit too so it will soak up the custard better when assembling the casserole. That being said, you can absolutely use fresh French bread if needed. I’ve done it and the casserole comes out fine.
- You can add any add-ins you like to this baked French toast. After the custard is poured over the bread, stir in your add-ins and then let the casserole rest. For berries, use 1 ½ cups total – use all one kind or mix a few types. For sweet and savory, add 8 ounces of cooked and crumbled breakfast sausage. Add extra flavor with some fresh citrus zest, you’ll need 2-3 teaspoon of fresh grated zest.
- Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven or in the microwave.
French Toast Casserole Recipe FAQ
Can you freeze French toast casserole?
Yes! You can freeze it before baking or after. Fancy that!
- Freeze before baking: Prepare this recipe all the way up to the bread soak in custard. Cover with plastic wrap, being sure the wrap touches the top of the bread. Then wrap the entire casserole up with plastic wrap and then foil. Freeze for up to 1 month. Defrost in the fridge for 24 hours. Then add the butter and cinnamon-sugar topping before baking as directed.
- Freeze after baking: Bake and cool your french toast casserole. Then wrap the entire casserole in plastic wrap and then foil. Freeze for 1-2 months. Defrost in the fridge for 24 hours. To serve, unwrap and warm your casserole in the oven at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.
Can I prepare French toast the night before?
Absolutely. When we have family in town for the holidays I love making this an overnight french toast casserole. Prep the casserole the night before, cover it with foil, and pop it in the fridge. Letting the casserole rest overnight gives the bread extra time to soak up the custard mixture. In the morning, take off the foil, top the casserole with cinnamon sugar and butter, and then bake. Super easy.
Other Recipes You May Like
- Stuffed Hawaiian Roll French Toast
- Air Fryer French Toast Sticks
- Cheesy Sausage Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole
- Apple Raisin Breakfast Casserole
- Overnight Blintz Bake
Baked French Toast Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread (1-2 days old)
- 2 ¼ cups milk (2% or whole)
- 6 large eggs
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 ¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
Topping
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat the inside of a 9-inch x 13-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Cut the French bread loaf into 1-inch cubes (about 5 to 6 cups). Place the bread cubes into the prepared dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, 2 tablespoons sugar, salt, and vanilla. Pour the custard mixture over the bread cubes. Gently press down on the bread to help it soak up the custard mixture. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes.
- Break butter into small pieces and place it all over the top of your casserole. Combine 2 tablespoons sugar with cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Bake for 40 to 50 minutes, until the top is golden brown and crispy.
- Remove from the oven. You can serve it immediately or let the casserole rest for 5 minutes for easier cutting. Top with syrup and some berries, if desired.
Nutrition
All nutritional information is based on third party calculations and is only an estimate. Each recipe and nutritional value will vary depending on the brands you use, measuring methods and portion sizes per household.