French Toast Casserole

This baked French toast casserole is rich and custardy with a soft-pillowy texture. The top crust is golden, crunchy, and topped with a sweet cinnamon streusel. This easy, make-ahead breakfast is guaranteed to be a family favorite!

What is French toast casserole?

French toast casserole is a delicious breakfast casserole that combines the classic flavors of French toast with the convenience of a make-ahead dish. The dish is made with small pieces of bread that are soaked in a mixture of milk, eggs, and sugar, then baked in a casserole dish until golden brown and delicious. The result is a fluffy, custardy, and indulgent breakfast dish that is perfect for a special occasion or a lazy weekend morning.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

• 3-in-1 breakfast – This French toast casserole recipe is like bread pudding meets French toast and cinnamon streusel coffee cake, all combined into one amazingly delicious breakfast!
• Easy to make – Simply cut up some bread, soak it in a custard mixture, top with streusel, and bake.
• Can be made in advance – You can bake it right away or leave it overnight in the fridge to bake in the morning.
• Feeds a crowd – This breakfast casserole can feed up to a dozen people, so it’s great for company or leftovers for the week.

Ingredients you’ll need:

• day-old or stale bread – any kind that you would normally use for French toast like brioche, challah, French bread, or Texas toast
• eggs
• milk – dairy or plant-based
• granulated sugar & salt
• ground cinnamon & vanilla extract
• AP flour
• butter
• powdered sugar & maple syrup for serving

How to make French toast casserole:

(the ingredient amounts are listed in the printable recipe card further below)

1. Cut the bread into bite-sized cubes and transfer to a 9×13″ buttered baking dish.
2. In a large bowl or 2-cup measuring cup, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon. Evenly pour the mixture on top of all the bread cubes.
3. Gently press down the bread to make sure all of it gets soaked into the egg mixture. Tilt the casserole dish all around to make sure all the edge pieces get soaked too. Let stand for 15 minutes while the oven preheats or cover and refrigerate overnight until ready to bake.
4. In a small bowl, toss together flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Mix in the melted butter until all is moistened. Sprinkle this mixture on top of the casserole just before placing it in the oven. Bake at 375F for 30 minutes or until a thin knife inserted into the center comes out clean.

Expert tip:

Stale bread is best – Stale bread holds its shape better when soaking up the custard mixture. Fresh bread tends to fall apart and get mushy.

How to quickly make bread stale:

Lay out the slices of bread on a cooling rack overnight, or if you are in a pinch, dry your bread slices in a 275°F oven for 10 minutes and let cool for a few minutes.

Variations & Substitutions:

• Milk – replace up to half of the milk with heavy cream for a more decadent casserole
• Flavorings – add some orange zest, nutmeg, or almond extract if desired
• Mix-ins – add a cup or two of fresh berries, chopped apples, sliced bananas, or chocolate chips
• Streusel – instead of a streusel crumb topping, you can sprinkle some coarse sugar, a mix of brown sugar and cinnamon, or chopped nuts for crunch. Hack: use crushed-up cinnamon toast crunch as a mock streusel.😉

How to serve:

Serve it with a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup. It’s also great served with fresh berries.

FAQ:

Why is my French toast casserole soggy?

Either the bread was too moist, there was not enough bread to absorb all the custard, or it was underbaked.

Can you freeze French toast casserole?

Yes, it can be frozen without the streusel topping for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge, top with streusel, and bake at 350F for 20 minutes.

How long does French toast casserole last in the fridge?

It will last up to 3 days tightly covered in the fridge.

How far in advance can you make French toast casserole?

Up to 24 hours in advance. Cover and store in the fridge until ready to bake.

You might also like:

• Croissant Bread Pudding
• Easy Bread Pudding
• Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding with Bourbon Sauce

Did you make this recipe? Please kindly leave a comment with your star rating below.

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