Delicious, Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe (2024)

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5 from 88 votes

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Total Time: 5 hours hours

Published: December 16, 2021Updated: August 14, 2022

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Whether you’re baking for a few or a crowd, this overnight baked French toast casserole is sure to wow. So thick, rich, delicious, and chock full of vanilla and eggy goodness, then topped with AMAZING cinnamon streusel and baked to golden perfection and served with syrup.

For more breakfast casserole ideas, head on over to my popular posts for my Apple Dutch Baby, my Biscuits and Gravy Casserole, and my Overnight Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole.

Delicious, Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe (1)

Even though we’re all about tradition here at our house, I do like to try new recipes out over our holiday breaks from work and school, especially at breakfast time. It’s kind of like Christmas morning every morning in that way, having my three little ones wake to the smells of something yummy baking in the oven.

They don’t know it yet but this year they’re going to be waking up to the cinnamon-sugar deliciousness of this French toast casserole recipe. It’s all the things they love about French toast wrapped up in one easy-to-make casserole dish.

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Thick-Cut White Bread– I use Texas toast. If you can’t find that, any thick-sliced bread will do, or purchase a whole loaf and cut it thickly (but evenly) yourself.
  • Fat Free Half and Half– I find that, with all the other ingredients, fat free half-and-half works great. But you can use whole milk or heavy cream, too, if you prefer.
  • Eggs – I use large eggs. If you only have medium, you might need 7 eggs because they are smaller.
  • Vanilla Extract – I prefer real vanilla extract over imitation whenever possible. I think the real flavor comes through more in pure extract, but you can use whatever you have on hand.
  • Sugar – Any refined, white sugar is good here.
  • Syrup – What’s a breakfast French toast without maple syrup? Mmmm I love it but if you’re not a fan, you can leave it off.
  • Powdered Sugar – I like to serve this overnight French toast with a dusting of powdered sugar right after I bake the casserole and before serving. Tasty and pretty!
  • Butter– Chill the butter and cut into cubes before using in the streusel. I prefer to use unsalted butter.
  • Flour – Any brand all-purpose flour works for the brown sugar cinnamon streusel topping.
  • Brown Sugar – Brown sugar in the cinnamon streusel tastes better than regular sugar. Any type of brown sugar will do (make sure it’s not old and clumpy or hard though).
  • Cinnamon – Any well-known cinnamon brand works just great in this recipe.
  • Salt – Just a pinch of salt helps the flavors of all the other ingredients really stand out.
Delicious, Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe (2)

Why this Recipe Works

Texas toast — Sure, you can use any bread you want, but I think you’ll enjoy this French toast bake more if you have some thick bread to soak up all the egg batter overnight.

Streusel — Guys, this cinnamon streusel takes French toast to the next level. It’s all warm and crumbly and buttery and…BRB I have to wipe some drool from my mouth just thinking about it.

Overnight set — You really do need to let the bread soak up all the ingredients overnight or at the very least 4 hours for this cinnamon french toast casserole to truly work. It’ll be worth the wait, I promise.

Leftovers — Unless you have a bunch of hungry breakfast monsters in your house like I do, you’ll probably be lucky enough to have some leftovers. And let me tell you, this is just as amazing the next morning!

Delicious, Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe (3)

Step By Step Directions

Preparing the French toast

  1. Use cooking spray to grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish or casserole pan.
  2. Cut bread into 1-inch cubes, then add the cubes to the prepared pan or dish.
  3. Next, whisk together the milk (I used whole dairy milk), eggs, vanilla, and sugar in a bowl or large measuring cup.
  4. Pour this mixture over the bread cubes. Try to get them as evenly covered as possible so none of the bread is dry. Cover the pan with plastic wrap and put in the fridge.
Delicious, Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe (4)

Preparing the Streusel

  1. In another medium-size bowl, whisk together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and kosher salt. Using a fork or pastry cutter, cut the butter into the flour mixture.
  2. When the mixture starts to look like coarse crumbs, smoosh it with fingers to work the butter in just a bit more.
  3. Cover this bowl tightly with plastic wrap and pop it in the fridge alongside the casserole dish for four hours or overnight.
Delicious, Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe (5)

Putting it together

  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Take the plastic wrap off the casserole dish and cover it with foil.
  3. Bake the bread mixture for 30 minutes, covered.
  4. Take off the foil, and sprinkle the streusel mixture over the top. Pop it all back in the oven for another 20-25 minutes, or until the bread is cooked through to your desired doneness.
  5. Drizzle the French toast casserole with syrup, cut, and serve!
Delicious, Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe (6)

What Type of Bread is the Best?

The best type of bread for this French toast casserole is a kind I find at the grocery called “Texas toast.” It’s basically just a white bread baked in a square shape and cut quite thick. The thick bread helps hold the egg mixture without getting too soggy.

If you can’t find Texas toast, any thick-sliced bread will do: From French bread to sourdough bread and from Italian to whole wheat. You’ll cut the thick slices into bread cubes before adding egg mixture and getting it read to bake.

Delicious, Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe (7)

Expert Tips and Tricks

  • One of the most common complaints I hear about French toast bake is that it’s too soggy. That’s why I think thicker slices of bread work better here, to really absorb that egg mixture and bake up without getting soggy.
  • Also, be sure to really pour the egg mixture over the bread as evenly as you can, so that you don’t end up with some overly soaked, wet pieces that won’t bake as well as the drier pieces.
  • Another trick is to cover the casserole dish and bake it for a longer period of time. Bake the French Toast Casserole for 30 minutes covered with foil before removing the foil and baking for another 15-20 minutes. This ensures the bottom is fully cooked through by the end and you don’t get soggy bread on the bottom and crisp bread on the top!
  • Finally, make sure you bake the bread for 30 minutes first before adding the streusel and baking some more.
  • Store leftovers in the fridge, tightly wrapped or in a lidded container, for up to three days. Eat cold or warm in the microwave.
  • Let’s talk bread: While I always use “Texas toast” (thick-cut bread) for French toast, you can use any bread you like. I just think that thicker is better because it absorbs the egg mixture best and will hold up to cooking without getting too mushy. But regular bread or sourdough works great too!
  • I think it’s easiest to make the cinnamon streusel while I’m making the French toast, but you could totally make it before you bake the casserole. If you do make it ahead of time, do refrigerate with the bread so that the butter remains cold before baking.
Delicious, Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe (8)

Storage Instructions

Yes, you can prepare this French toast casserole ahead of time and freeze. I bake it uncooked. So prepare the casserole up through step 6. After it’s chilled in the fridge, seal it tight and put it in the freezer for up to 2 months.

When it’s time to bake, first thaw in the fridge overnight then bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes covered, then take the cover off and put back in the oven to bake another 20-25 minutes or until the bread is cooked through.

If you prefer to be baking French toast casserole before freezing, just know that it will be pretty dry after you reheat it.

Delicious, Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe (9)

More Amazing Breakfast Recipes

  • Chocolate Cinnamon Rolls
  • Apple Dutch Baby
  • Apple Cinnamon Coffee Cake
  • Baked Cinnamon French Toast Muffins
  • Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole
  • Easy Crepes
  • Best Easy French Toast Recipe

Did you make this French Toast Casserole recipe? YAY! Please rate the recipe below!

@cremedelacrumb1

Overnight French Toast Casserole: perfect Easter weekend recipe! https://www.lecremedelacrumb.com/french-toast-casserole/

♬ FEEL THE GROOVE – Queens Road, Fabian Graetz

Delicious, Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe (10)

French Toast Casserole Recipe

Easy overnight French Toast Casserole topped with cinnamon streusel and baked to perfection.Serve with syrup and powdered sugar for the ultimate breakfast!

5 from 88 votes

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Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes

Chill time: 4 hours hours

Total Time: 5 hours hours

Servings: 12 servings

Ingredients

  • 12 slices thick-cut white bread - often called "Texas toast"
  • 2 cups fat free Half and Half - or whole milk
  • 6 large eggs
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • syrup and powdered sugar for serving

Cinnamon Streusel

  • 8 tablespoons butter - chilled and diced into small cubes
  • cup flour
  • cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • teaspoon salt

Instructions

  • Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking pan/casserole dish.

  • Cut bread slices into 1-inch cubes. Fill prepared pan with the bread cubes.

  • In a large liquid measuring cup or bowl whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla, and sugar.

  • Slowly pour egg mixture over the bread cubes, making sure to get them all covered as much as possible so you don't have any dry bread showing. Cover pan tightly with plastic wrap and set aside.

  • In a medium bowl whisk together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the streusel. Use a fork or pastry cutter to cut butter into flour mixture. Once mixture resembles coarse crumbs, smoosh it with your fingers to work the butter into the mixture a little more.

  • Cover bowl tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate along with the casserole for at least 4 hours, or overnight. (See note)

  • Preheat oven to 350. Remove plastic wrap from the casserole dish and cover with foil.

  • Bake for 30 minutes, covered, then remove foil, sprinkle streusel mixture over the top, and bake for another 20-25 minutes until bread is cooked through to your liking (I like it baked through a little more and more "dry" throughout so I bake mine for 25-30 minutes).

  • Drizzle with syrup, cut into squares, and serve!

Notes

For the bread I always use “Texas toast” for this casserole, it is a thick-sliced, soft white bread and it can be found with the regular loaves of bread in the bread aisle. You can also use a loaf of sourdough bread!

For the streusel… You can make this ahead, as written in the recipe, or just before baking the casserole. It does not necessarily need to be refrigerated before using, but if you are making it the night before I recommend leaving it in the fridge to keep the butter cold until you’re ready to use it.

Nutrition

Calories: 318 kcal, Carbohydrates: 55 g, Protein: 11 g, Fat: 6 g, Saturated Fat: 2 g, Cholesterol: 127 mg, Sodium: 348 mg, Potassium: 266 mg, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 28 g, Vitamin A: 228 IU, Vitamin C: 1 mg, Calcium: 209 mg, Iron: 3 mg

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Author: Tiffany

Did You Make This Recipe?Tag @cremedelacrumb1 on Instagram and hashtag it #cremedelacrumb!

Delicious, Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What kind of bread is best to use for French toast? ›

For a solid French toast, aim for sturdy bread with a uniform texture and a soft crust. Hearty sandwich bread, brioche, challah, and shokupan (Japanese milk bread) are all great choices. Avoid rustic loaves with thick crusts or large holes in the interior.

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 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 do you keep French toast from being too eggy? ›

If the balance is off and you include too many eggs or not enough milk, the finished French toast will have a scrambled egg-like flavor. When scaling this recipe up or down, keep in mind that you need 1/4 cup of milk for every egg.

Should I cook French toast in butter or oil? ›

As you cook the French toast, bits of that nutty brown-butter flavor slowly develop — much slower than they would if you cooked with just butter alone — so the the French toast has time to cook evenly without burning. A neutral oil, like canola, is the way to go since it won't disrupt the flavor of the butter.

What to eat with French toast casserole? ›

Serve French toast casserole with sausage links or patties, crispy bacon, or veggie sausage, because the combination of maple syrup and savory breakfast meat is one of the finer things in life.

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 difference between a casserole and a French oven? ›

A French Oven is a more modern version of the Dutch Oven made in France from enamelled cast iron. A Casserole dish is a shallower dish, designed for slow cooking or baking in the oven.

How to dry out bread for French toast casserole? ›

Oven-drying of cut slices — super-lightly toasting it — works best of all, but in a pinch, you could also cut the bread the night before and let it sit on a cooling rack until morning, or simply lightly toast in the toaster. The key is to dry the outside while leaving the inside moist.

Should you toast bread before making French toast? ›

Use stale bread or toast the bread until it's golden-brown. It needs to be sturdy to hold up to the egg mixture. If the bread is fresh from the bag or you toast it too lightly, the finished dish will be soggy. Soak the toasted or untoasted bread for about 10 seconds per side to achieve the optimal texture.

How long to dry out bread for stuffing? ›

Spread bread cubes in even layer on 2 rimmed baking sheets. Bake until edges have dried but centers are slightly moist (cubes should yield to pressure), 45 to 60 minutes**, stirring several times during baking.

Should you wet bread before baking? ›

Wetting the dough causes the surface to steam. Covering it traps the moisture. This partnership stops the bread from drying out on the surface in the hot air of the oven and forming a premature crust. Your bread rises more and produces a richer colour, becoming glossy on the surface.

References

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