Overnight French Toast Casserole – assemble the night before and let sit in the refrigerator until ready to bake. This is SO good!! The best part of the whole casserole is the yummy caramelized brown sugar on the bottom. French bread slices, brown sugar, butter, milk, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Ridiculously good! Great for overnight guests and Christmas morning!
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Pin This RecipeEasy Overnight Breakfast Casserole
This Overnight French Toast Casserole is a family favorite! Each mouthful is a delightful medley of flavors and textures that’ll have you swooning. The buttery, caramelized brown sugar base provides a sweet and gooey foundation, while the cubed French bread soaks up a rich, custardy mixture infused with vanilla and a hint of cinnamon. As it bakes, the bread transforms into a golden, slightly crispy crown that hides the creamy interior beneath. Every bite is a perfect balance of sweetness and warmth, and the aroma that fills your kitchen as it bakes is absolutely irresistible. Whether you enjoy it as a breakfast treat or a brunch centerpiece, French toast casserole is pure comfort food that makes your taste buds dance with joy. It’s the kind of dish that brings smiles and satisfaction with every heavenly forkful.
How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole
This dish is super easy to make with only a few simple ingredients. In a small saucepan, heat butter and light brown sugar over medium-low heat until sugar is dissolved. Pour in the bottom of a baking dish. Cube a loaf of French bread and arrange the cubes over the brown sugar mixture. In a mixing bowl, whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla extract, salt, and cinnamon. Pour egg mixture over bread cubes. Cover the pan and refrigerate overnight. Remove the dish from the fridge and bake in the morning. Drizzle with maple syrup or sprinkle with fresh berries and powdered sugar.
Tips and Frequently Asked Questions
- You can use any type of bread that you prefer – French, Italian, challah, brioche, sourdough, croissants will all work fine.
- Want to reduce the calories a bit? Substitute 1½ cups of Egg Beaters for the eggs.
- Can French Toast Casserole be frozen? Yes! You can freeze the casserole baked or unbaked.
- To freeze the casserole before baking, assemble the casserole up to the point of refrigerating. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze. When ready to bake, thaw in the refrigerator and bake as directed.
- To freeze the casserole after baking, let the casserole cool completely. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze. When ready to reheat, thaw completely and reheat covered in the oven at 350ºF until warm.
- Feel free to add almonds or pecans to the casserole.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
- Reheat in the microwave.
What to Serve with Baked French Toast Casserole
When it comes to serving up a delicious French toast casserole, you’ll want to complement its sweet and comforting flavors with some equally delightful sides. A classic choice is a drizzle of warm maple syrup, which enhances the natural sweetness of the casserole. Fresh berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries, add a burst of fruity goodness and a touch of tartness that balances the richness of the dish. For a satisfying contrast in textures, consider crispy bacon, ham, or sausage links – their savory goodness pairs wonderfully with the sweet custardy goodness of the casserole. And don’t forget a dollop of whipped cream or a dusting of powdered sugar for that extra layer of indulgence. With these options, your French toast casserole becomes a complete breakfast or brunch experience that’ll leave everyone’s taste buds dancing with joy.
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Overnight French Toast Casserole
Equipment:
Ingredients:
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 (8-oz) loaf French bread, cubed
- 2 cups milk
- 6 large eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp cinnamon
Instructions:
- Spray a 9×13-inch pan with cooking spray.
- In a small saucepan, heat butter and brown sugar over medium-low heat until sugar is dissolved. Pour in bottom of prepared pan.
- Arrange bread cubes on top of brown sugar mixture.
- Whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla, salt and cinnamon. Pour over bread cubes.
- Cover pan and refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat oven to 375ºF.
- Bake uncovered for 30 to 35 minutes.
Notes:
- You can use any type of bread that you prefer – French, Italian, brioche, sourdough, croissants will all work fine.
- Want to reduce the calories a bit? Substitute 1½ cups of Egg Beaters for the eggs.
- Can French Toast Casserole be frozen? Yes! You can freeze the casserole baked or unbaked.
- To freeze the casserole before baking, assemble the casserole up to the point of refrigerating. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze. When ready to bake, thaw in the refrigerator and bake as directed.
- To freeze the casserole after baking, let the casserole cool completely. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze. When ready to reheat, thaw completely and reheat covered in the oven at 350ºF until warm.
Steph
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Can you just use regular bread?
I have only made the recipe as written, so I can not say how your changes will turn out. You can certainly give it a try! My guess is that it would be fine.
This casserole is fantastic! It’s become our new Christmas morning tradition. Love that it’s make-ahead, so much better than standing over the stove making individual French toast slices like I used to.
Hi Stephanie! How many cups of bread cubes does this take? I am trying to make it gluten free for my celiac kids and can’t find GF french bread so am going to cube up just a gluten free loaf of bread and give that a try? The loaf is 24 Oz and you said 8 Oz so I figured half the loaf but that just doesn’t look like enough bread? Thanks!
I didn’t measure the cubes. I just used 8-oz of French bread. If you have a 24-oz loaf, you would use 1/3 of it.
This sounds delicious, Stephanie, but does it freeze well??
I haven't frozen this casserole, but I think it would be just fine.
Wonderful recipe! Made it once for breakfast at work and then the next day for family. Definitely a keeper! I added cream cheese and topped with blueberries while still warm.
I'm making the French toast casserole hope it turns out good tomorrow morning.
I'm sure it will be delicious!