French Toast Casserole Recipe (2024)

By Lidey Heuck

Published Oct. 20, 2023

French Toast Casserole Recipe (1)

Total Time
1 hour 25 minutes
Prep Time
10 minutes
Cook Time
1 hour 15 minutes
Rating
4(242)
Notes
Read community notes

A good breakfast casserole is not only a crowd pleaser, it’s also a practical addition to any breakfast or brunch spread for many reasons: It comes together with a simple ingredient list, it can be assembled, then refrigerated overnight until the next morning, and it is much easier to cook for a crowd than traditional French toast. Day-old French bread works best here, but you can substitute any fluffy white bread or enriched bread like challah or brioche; just remove the crusts if they’re on the thicker side. The butter and brown sugar topping creates a crunchy, caramel-like crust as the casserole bakes, and the inside remains moist and tender. This casserole is plenty sweet on its own, but feel free to dress it up with powdered sugar, maple syrup and fresh berries.

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Ingredients

Yield:8 servings

    For the Casserole

    • 1tablespoon unsalted butter
    • 10cups (1-inch) cubed bread, from a large loaf of day-old French bread (see Tip)
    • 2cups/480 milliliters whole milk
    • 6large eggs
    • ¼cup/50 grams lightly packed light brown sugar
    • teaspoons vanilla extract
    • 1teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • 1teaspoon kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)

    For the Topping

    • 4tablespoons/57 grams unsalted butter, melted
    • ½cup/100 grams lightly packed light brown sugar
    • ½teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • Pinch of kosher salt (such as Diamond Crystal)
    • Fresh berries, confectioners’ sugar, maple syrup and/or toasted chopped nuts, for serving (optional)

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (8 servings)

405 calories; 14 grams fat; 7 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 4 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 56 grams carbohydrates; 2 grams dietary fiber; 25 grams sugars; 14 grams protein; 465 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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French Toast Casserole Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Grease a 9-by-13-inch (or other 14-cup) baking dish with the butter, then place the bread cubes in the pan and spread them into an even layer.

  2. Step

    2

    In a medium bowl or large measuring cup, combine the milk, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Whisk until smooth. Pour the custard mixture over the bread and press gently to help the bread absorb the liquid. Set aside, covered, for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or up to 12 hours in the refrigerator.

  3. Step

    3

    Heat the oven to 400 degrees and let the casserole sit at room temperature while the oven heats. Meanwhile, make the topping: In a small bowl, mix the butter, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt with a fork until smooth. Dollop the mixture all over the casserole, then gently spread it with the back of a spoon until the entire surface is covered. (If preparing the casserole the day prior to baking, don’t add the topping until just before it goes into the oven. Reheat the topping, if needed.)

  4. Step

    4

    Bake, uncovered, until puffed and golden brown, 30 to 35 minutes. Cut into squares, and serve hot. Top as desired.

Tips

  • To dry out bread cubes, spread them on a sheet pan and bake at 350 degrees until dry to the touch but not browned, 10 to 15 minutes.
  • To freeze: Assemble the casserole through Step 2 and refrigerate for at least 3 hours (or overnight). Tightly cover with plastic wrap, then foil, and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then resume the recipe at Step 3.

Ratings

4

out of 5

242

user ratings

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Laura

This was delicious. I just used whatever bread I had leftover. I baked it covered for 30 minutes and then uncovered for another 10-15 minutes.

Elena

Wondering if this dish would be ok without topping to minimize sugar and fat. Could use powdered sugar or syrup when served. Any thoughts before I try it?

Andrea

I think you won't get the crunchy top, but otherwise should be fine. I was going to cut back the sugar in the topping to 1/4 cup.

carter

perfect for an overnight bake — add orange zest!!

Paul S

For the topping, I just softened the butter, used half the sugar (but full cinnamon), and worked it together with a lot of sliced almonds, like a crumble topping. It baked up nicely, toasting the almonds, and gave it some nice crunch without too much sweet.

Paige

This is…bread pudding.

maya

added orange zest and a bit of almond extract and this was so delicious! my friends admitted they don’t usually like french toast but ended up loving this. the leftovers made weekday breakfasts so lovely too.

Laura Krauss

Has anyone used oat or almond milk?

anne

Made for Sarah and kids Jan, 2024. Used sourdough. I’d use French bread or country white bread next time, It was good!

Susan in Maryland

This is delicious and so much easier than traditional french toast. I thought the recipe could have used a little more milk and maybe an extra egg. Next time I make it, I'll give that a try.

KB

I thought my casserole was somewhat too large so I used 9 eggs and 3 cups of liquid (half milk, half cream). Seemed about right.

ritz

I’ve made this type of casserole many times but the topping in this recipe really elevates it and makes it bakery quality! It was absolutely delicious.

Sam S

Could you make this two days ahead of time, without freezing?

leah

I’ve made this several times; it’s freaking amazing. I don’t even need or use any syrup, nor does my 6 year old sugar fiend. Today I dusted it with powdered sugar and roasted walnuts and also didn’t have regular milk so I used a homemade walnut milk and it was just as delicious as the original recipe.

mm. Mary James

Put this together last night with 6 cups sourdough, halved everything else except vanilla. Prepped topping and microwaved 40 seconds this morning, before dousing the top. Used a buttered souffle dish; 30 minutes covered; 15 uncovered. Perfect, without adding syrup!

Delicious

This was absolutely delicious. I toasted chopped pecans and served with Canadian bacon and maple syrup. My only thing would be that it requires a non-stick spray rather than just butter because we buttered the heck out of the pan and it still stuck badly to the pan. Still totally worth it!!!

Bethany L

Any idea if this could be with non-dairy milk? like oat or soy?

Mary

If you are able to give out weight measurements for all other ingredients, why not for the bread? Would be much easier than weighing out 10 cups of bread cubes.

carter

perfect for an overnight bake — add orange zest!!

Scott

Orange zest is a must for next-level french toast!

Catherine

I made this with Panetone and, first time out, it was fabulous. A crowd pleaser. I used an entire 750 gm loaf (minus the crustier bottom), not dried out, half the sugar called for, added chopped pecans to the topping (did not melt butter, but put dollops of the softened butter mix on the overnight-soaked bread), baked covered for 30 minutes and then an extra 15-20 uncovered. This extra time was essential to the puffing of the casserole.

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French Toast Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is French toast casserole made of? ›

French Toast Casserole Recipe Ingredients
  1. Bread – The quality counts! ...
  2. Eggs – A signature French toast ingredient! ...
  3. Milk – For moisture. ...
  4. Brown sugar – You'll whisk some into the custard mixture and sprinkle more on top of the casserole.
  5. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract – For warm, cozy depth of flavor.

What's the difference between Texas French toast and French toast? ›

Quite simply, Texas French toast is exactly what it sounds like, French toast that has been made using the extra thick slices endemic to Texas toast. Since the cut of bread is so thick, it allows for greater absorption of the egg and cream mixture and longer frying times.

What is the secret to good French toast? ›

The secret ingredient in this fluffy French toast recipe: all-purpose flour! Flour binds the liquids together, which creates a more traditional “batter” and helps prevent soggy results. This extra ingredient ensures the French toast is crispy on the outside, but soft and fluffy on the inside.

What is one common mistake when preparing French toast? ›

If the pan isn't hot enough when you put your first slice in, the custard spreads out, forming a "foot" on the bottom of the French toast. When the pan is hot enough, the batter won't have time to seep; the custard will start cooking as soon as it hits the pan. Give the pan a light coating of neutral oil and butter.

What happens if you soak French toast too long? ›

The first is using fresh bread, which soaks up too much of the egg mixture and doesn't cook through, remaining eggy and soggy in the middle. Leaving the bread in the egg mixture for too long is another route to soggy French toast.

Why is my French toast bad? ›

For French toast, the amount of ingredients can make all the difference in the finished product. Too much, says Bon Appetit, could turn your bread into a soggy mess. The same could happen if you measure out a bit too much dairy.

How does Martha Stewart make French toast? ›

Directions
  1. Preheat oven and beat eggs: Preheat oven to 375°F with rack in the middle of the oven. ...
  2. Beat in other liquid ingredients: Beat in liqueur, sugar, large pinch of salt, and orange zest and juice. ...
  3. Prep baking sheets; dip brioche into egg mixture: ...
  4. Bake: ...
  5. Broil; repeat with remaining slices: ...
  6. Serve:
Jan 22, 2024

Can you let French toast soak overnight? ›

One of the great things about this overnight French toast recipe is its simplicity. The bread slices are layered in a casserole dish, covered in an egg mixture, and left to soak overnight, making it a hassle-free option for a morning feast!

What's the difference between French toast and egg toast? ›

What's the difference between French toast and eggy bread? In general, French Toast tends to be sweet and eggy bread is more savoury. With French toast, you might have cinnamon, syrup and berries, whereas eggy bread is more likely to be paired with bacon or a fried egg. However, French toast can also be savoury.

What do French people call French toast? ›

The usual French name is pain perdu (French: [pɛ̃ pɛʁdy] 'lost bread', reflecting its use of stale or otherwise "lost" bread. It may also be called pain doré 'golden bread' in Canada.

What do the English call French toast? ›

The British call french toast “eggy bread," “gypsy bread" or “french-fried bread." And sometimes they serve it with ketchup. The people of New Zealand prefer their french toast served with bananas, bacon and maple syrup.

Is French toast healthier than pancakes? ›

On one hand, the average plate of pancakes contains around 500 calories, 88 grams of carbohydrates, and 4 grams of saturated fat, while a similar-sized serving of French toast has around 990 calories, 120 grams of carbohydrates, and 18 grams of saturated fat. These numbers would appear to make pancakes the winner.

Why is my breakfast casserole soggy? ›

Frozen potatoes might release too much liquid, which could water down the casserole. Covering the dish with aluminum foil for the first part of the bake time helps the casserole heat through to the center without drying out on top. Remove the foil for the last half of the bake time so that the top can crisp up.

How do you fix a wet casserole? ›

Thicken a meat casserole the most popular way with flour.

This way, the flour will soak up the juices and fat in the pan. Add about one teaspoon of flour at a time until you get the right thickness. Use oatmeal four if you have a gluten allergy.

Why is my breakfast casserole soupy? ›

Why Is My Breakfast Casserole Runny? The key to a breakfast casserole that is moist and delicious but not runny is to make sure you have the proper ratio of bread, eggs, and milk. If there is too much liquid for the bread to absorb, the result could be a runny casserole.

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