French Toast Casserole
Make your mornings special with this easy French Toast Casserole. It has everything you love about traditional French Toast, and is baked all in one pan!
When I was growing up, my older sisters did a lot of the cooking. They each had their own specialties, and my younger brother and I always looked forward to their meals.
One of our favorites is French Toast, and to this day my sister makes it better than anyone I know. Since we are separated by lots of land, I don’t get to scarf down her French Toast as much as I would like.
But I have found that no matter if you’re missing your family or simply just the food of your memories, sometimes the only solution is to head to the kitchen and get a little creative.
I’m telling you right now that this French Toast Casserole is so good, you may find yourself wanting it for not only breakfast, but also for your lunch, midday snack, dinner, and dessert as well!
You will make the bottom layer with brown sugar and melted butter, and it is just absolutely swoon-worthy!
Ingredients to make French Toast Casserole
- french bread
- butter
- brown sugar
- eggs
- milk
- vanilla extract
- cinnamon
- powdered sugar
How to Make French Toast Casserole – Step by Step
- You’ll start out with half a loaf of French Bread and then cut it into cubes. I am going to be a stickler for this one, because while you could substitute other breads, it really just won’t have that perfect flavor and texture. After you chop up the bread, then next melt some butter in a small sauce pan and stir in a cup of brown sugar. This is the bottom layer of your French Toast Casserole and it gives it an amazing caramelly flavor once it’s been baked.
- Next you’ll add in your bread cubes, then pour a mixture of eggs, milk, cinnamon, and vanilla over the top.
- Pop it into the oven and bake for about 30 minutes, and you are on your way to one of the most yummy breakfasts you’ll ever sink a fork in to! Really, I mean it!
Tips and Notes
Which bread is best for French Toast Casserole?
I prefer to use french bread, and it’s best if the bread is dry and not too soft. This allows it to soak up the yummy sauce from the casserole better and prevents the the french toast from becoming too soggy. If time allows, cut your french bread into cubes and place in a single layer on a cookie sheet over-night or for around 12 hours to help the bread dry out before baking.
You could also use sourdough, brioche, or Italian bread in this recipe, but like I said french bread is my favorite!
Can French Toast Casserole be Frozen?
Yes! Make the casserole in a freezer safe baking dish (such as a disposable aluminum foil pan) and bake as directed, then allow it to cool completely. Wrap in both plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze for up to three months. Allow the casserole to defrost completely in the refrigerator for roughly 24 hours before baking. Reheat the casserole, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.
Can this be Made Ahead of Time?
Yes, and that’s one reason why I love it for the holidays! It makes a great Christmas morning breakfast because you can prepare it in advance and pop it in the oven to bake while you open presents! Simply prepare as directed up until the final baking step. Cover the unbaked casserole with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight, then bake as directed in the morning!
Gluten Free and Dairy Free Options
This recipe can be made with gluten free french bread, and can also be made dairy-free by substituting the butter and milk. You can replace the butter with either coconut oil or dairy free butter, and the milk with your favorite dairy free substitute like almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk. All of these substitutions would be a 1:1 ratio.
More Delicious Breakfast and Brunch Recipes
Recipe: French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- ½ a loaf of French bread, (about 8 oz) cut into cubes
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon, divided
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar, for topping
- powdered sugar for topping, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Butter a 13x9 inch baking pan and set aside.
- In a small sauce pan, melt butter over medium heat. Once butter has melted, stir in brown sugar until dissolved and mixture is smooth. Pour mixture into the bottom of a 9x13 pan and spread evenly.
- Add bread cubes to the pan, spreading over the top of the brown sugar/butter mixture.
- In a medium sized bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and 1 tsp of cinnamon. Pour egg mixture over the top of bread cubes, insuring that all pieces of bread are saturated. Sprinkle with remaining 1 teaspoon of cinnamon and 1 tablespoon of brown sugar.
- Bake in preheated oven for 25-30 minutes until top is golden brown. Remove from oven and sprinkle with powdered sugar if desired. Enjoy!
Notes
- Best Bread to Use: I prefer to use french bread for this recipe, and it's best if the bread is dry and not too soft. This allows it to soak up the yummy sauce from the casserole better and prevents the the french toast from becoming too soggy. If time allows, cut your french bread into cubes and place in a single layer on a cookie sheet over-night or for around 12 hours to help the bread dry out before baking. You could also use sourdough, brioche, or Italian bread in this recipe, but like I said french bread is my favorite!
- Freezer Option: This can be frozen by making the casserole in a freezer safe baking dish (such as a disposable aluminum foil pan) and bake as directed, then allow it to cool completely. Wrap in both plastic wrap and aluminum foil and freeze for up to three months. Allow the casserole to defrost completely in the refrigerator for roughly 24 hours before baking. Reheat the casserole, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes.
- Make Ahead Option: This recipe can be made in advance and makes a great holiday breakfast or a great option for busy mornings. Simply prepare as directed up until the final baking step. Cover the unbaked casserole with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight, then bake as directed in the morning.
- Gluten Free and Dairy Free Options: This recipe can be made with gluten free french bread, and can also be made dairy-free by substituting the butter and milk. You can replace the butter with either coconut oil or dairy free butter, and the milk with your favorite dairy free substitute like almond milk, coconut milk, or soy milk. All of these substitutions would be a 1:1 ratio.
Made this for my sister in law and yes said I did a great jobs. I will be making this more often.Thank you so much for the recipe.
Has anyone tried to make this in the crockpot? I am camping and would like to make this for a group.
This recipe is my go-to! It is so easy and everyone loves it.
Does this recipe work well being fully cooked and cut up into individual size proportions, put into microwave-safe containers and frozen? Then take single proportion and put directly in microwave to warm through?
I think that would work fine!
I have made this casserole countless times and always to rave reviews. I usually bring it to work when we have staff breakfasts and it is usually the first casserole to go. It is so simple to make and incredibly delicious. I make it the night before to let the egg mixture soak in and then bake it in the morning. Just outstanding!!
Hi Ashlyn,
Can I substitute the milk with evaporated milk? Please let me know asap as I am planning to make this soon
Hi Samantha, so sorry to just be getting back to you. We were out of town last week. I have not tried this with evaporated milk so I’m not sure how it would turn out. Let us know if you tried it.
I made this (The French Toast Casserole) tonight. The family liked it but the top of the bread got tough and almost too brown. Would covering it in Tin foil while baking stop this from happening? Thanks.
Scrumptious and easy! Always turns out exactly so with a wonderful Carmel like layer at the bottom!
Great recipe, will make again. Thank you.
Great recipe! Easy to make and this was popular with kids and adults at a brunch I hosted. I followed the recipe exactly except for baking it at 400 decrees instead of 425, just because of needing to share the oven with other dishes. I had to bake for about 35 minutes and it was perfect!
Adjusted recipe for 10 people. Didn’t need syrup. Everyone loved it.
Used challah and French bread both from Cobbs Bread.
Adjusted recipe for 10 people. Didn’t need surprise. Everyone loved it.
Can you add apples, to this recipe?
I think that would be delicious!
After a friend brought this to my baby shower, I’ve made it 5 or 6 times!! It’s so delicious! Sometimes I add a scoop or 2 of protein powder to the egg mixture and it still turns out great! Recently whenever I have extra end pieces or older bread, I’ll cut them into squares and keep in a ziploc in the freezer so we have cut up bread ready to go for this! Thanks for such a yummy recipe!
Suggest using day old bread from Jimmy John’s. Only .75 per loaf one it’s day old!
Orange Marmalade
Yep, Orange Marmalade!
Melted some butter, added maybe 1/4 cup of the marmalade then mixed it with the egg mixture.
This sounds like a very delicious twist. How much butter did you melt to add to the marmalade? I have some blood orange marmalade I recently made and would love to try this idea!
HI! I am making this in the morning so hopefully I get a response! My grocery store was out of french bread – but i got a loaf of texas toast. Should I leave it out over night to dry out?! I hope its not too soggy! Thank in advance, and Happy Easter!
Hi Holly, that should work fine! You can leave it out to dry but it’s not necessary.
Recipe as always delicious. I Need to make this in the make in advance. Do I pour the egg mixture to the cut up bread before putting it in the refrigerator?