Overnight French Toast Casserole – Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast
Overnight French Toast Casserole is honestly one of my favorite lazy-morning breakfast hacks, and you’re going to love how easy (and delicious) it is!
This easy breakfast recipe is the ultimate make-ahead meal that turns simple ingredients into a cozy, crowd-pleasing dish.
Imagine thick slices of bread soaked in a sweet, cinnamon-spiced custard overnight, then baked to golden perfection in the morning. It’s warm, fluffy, slightly crisp on top, and packed with comforting flavor in every bite.
Whether you’re hosting brunch, feeding overnight guests, or just want to treat yourself to a no-fuss morning, this casserole brings major flavor with minimal effort.
What are the ingredients for French toast casserole?
Typically a base of thick-cut bread is used — like brioche, challah, or French bread — cut into cubes. Eggs, milk (or cream), sugar, and vanilla extract are used to make the custard mixture for the bread to soak in. Many recipes also include warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg for added flavor.
How to Make French Toast Casserole
Making this breakfast casserole is super easy and perfect when you want a warm, cozy breakfast without a lot of morning prep.
Start by cutting a loaf of thick bread into evenly sized cubes (about 1–2 inches) to ensure even soaking and baking.
Place them in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk (or a mix of milk and cream), sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon.
Pour that mixture evenly over the bread cubes, making sure they’re all coated. Cover the dish and refrigerate it overnight, or for at least a few hours so everything soaks in.
To make the topping for French toast casserole, simply mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt in a freezer bag. Store it in the fridge alongside the casserole.
When you’re ready to bake, preheat the oven, take the casserole out of the fridge, uncover it, sprinkle the topping evenly over the casserole and bake for 45–50 minutes until it’s golden brown and set in the middle.
Finish it off with warm maple syrup, powdered sugar, or even a drizzle of cream cheese or melted butter for a delicious final touch.
What are the different variations of French toast casserole?
- Berry – Add fresh or frozen berries.
- Cinnamon Roll – Use chopped cinnamon rolls in place of the bread and drizzle with icing.
- Cream Cheese – Layer in cream cheese chunks for richness.
- Apple Cinnamon – Add sliced apples and cinnamon.
- Pumpkin Spice – Mix in pumpkin purée and pumpkin spice.
- Pecan Praline – Top with a pecan and brown sugar crumble.
- Chocolate Chip – Stir in chocolate chips for a sweet twist.
- Savory – Skip the sugar and add cheese, sausage, or veggies.
The best bread is thick and sturdy so it can soak up the custard without turning soggy. Brioche, challah, and French bread are top choices — they’re soft, slightly sweet, and hold their shape well after baking. Day-old or slightly stale bread works even better since it absorbs more of the egg mixture. Avoid thin, soft sandwich bread — it tends to fall apart and get mushy.
Yes. You can freeze the assembled, unbaked casserole for up to 2 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.
This can result from using overly soft bread, insufficient soaking time, or underbaking. Use sturdy bread and allow enough time for soaking and baking.
If you’re loving the idea of a cozy breakfast casserole, you’ll definitely want to check out these great ideas too!
- Thick slices of bread make this Texas Toast French Toast Recipe extra fluffy, golden, and perfect for soaking up all the maple syrup.
- From sweet bakes to savory favorites, these brunch recipes are just what you need to impress a crowd or treat yourself.
- Explore all kinds of delicious French toast recipes, from classic stovetop versions to baked and stuffed variations you’ll love.
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Best Overnight French Toast Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- Butter
- 1 loaf sourdough bread
- 8 whole eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream or coffee creamer
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 stick of butter cubed
Instructions
- Grease the casserole dish with the butter.
- Tear the bread into chunks and put into the casserole.
- Whisk the eggs, milk, cream, sugars, and vanilla in a bowl.
- Pour over the bread in a casserole.
- Cover the overnight french toast casserole and store in the fridge until you need it. Overnight is best.
- To make the topping, mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and butter in a freezer bag.
- Mix together until the mix is like small pebbles.
- Store the topping in the fridge with the casserole.
- When ready to bake your overnight french toast casserole, sprinkle the topping on top of the casserole and bake at 350 degrees for 45-60 minutes.
- The longer you bake, the crispier the casserole will become.
This looks lovely for Christmas morning and quite easy for the kids to help out in the preparation.