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.
Does this reheat well?
Yes! We eat the leftovers all the time.
Seriously best French toast I have had in years!!! Super easy to make & I did cut up the French loaf bread the night before. It was perfectly crusty in the morning and my husband absolutely loved it!! I can’t wait to make this for when family visits! I might add in chocolate chips next time!
Used 10 slices of daves killer seed bread that I lightly toasted then allowed to dry out. it was delicious
I only have Italians bread and it’s not hard. Could I put it in the oven for a few mins to toast in before making the casserole?
The Italian bread will work fine. And it’s ok if it’s not hard; but if you want to toast it a bit in the oven that will definitely work!
This casserole was delicious. We didn’t have French bread in the house but we did have thick cut cinnamon raisin bread which worked out very well.
Delicious!! #1 hit for christmas morning!!!!
A easy winner here! Always a Christmas morning favorite. I grate orange in the custard mix and sprinkle walnuts on top
I made this for the family Christmas brunch and it was SO GOOD! I used Italian bread rather then French just because they were out of French. Cubed it the night before so I would dry up a little.
I added a 1/2 tsp of almond extract and about doubled the cinnamon.
Put everything together this morning and then tossed it in the fridge for a couple of hours to sit before baking.
I will certainly be making this again!
OMG!! Made this today for Christmas breakfast , a definet hit. Made exactly as the recipe said and it was amazing!
When you say French bread, are you talking about a baguette or brioche?
Delicious! Easy for Christmas morning. I used half a loaf of Great Harvest White and my family loved it!
Delicious, but 30 minutes wasn’t enough for me and it was still eggy in the middle.
Making this recipe tonight for Christmas morning. Can’t wait. I make a variation of this every year. Makes the house smell amazing. Adding blueberries to half.
I used crusty french bread, added a little cinnamon swirl bread and topped this with pecans and pre-cooked bacon. I saved some of the butter/sugar mixture and poured it on top when it was almost done baking. Delish!
I made this recipe a few months ago, I preparedthe nightbefore and baked in the morning.. ive been waiting for Christmas to make it again! I can’t wait, it so good the caramel bottom is genius!
Has anyone used regular bread? I have a whole loaf sf bread and hate to tackle the grocery store on Christmas Eve.
This recipe was simple and delicious. The recipe does not say whether to cook it covered or open. I cooked it open for 30 minutes, using french bread, and it was perfect. I used more bread and I had to squish the bread into the egg mixture. Next time I think I would put the bread and egg mixture in a bowl to make sure all the bread was covered, then put it in the pan.
Can you make this with less sugar?