French Toast Casserole

Elevate your mornings with the undeniable charm of our French Toast Casserole.

It seamlessly blends the comfort and flavor of classic French Toast into a convenient, shareable one-pan wonder.

As the holiday season approaches, imagine a busy weekend, starting with a Thanksgiving breakfast that requires minimal fuss yet offers maximum satisfaction. And our amazing French Toast Casserole Recipe hits the spot perfectly.

Why You’ll Adore This French Toast Casserole on Busy Mornings:

• Simplicity in Preparation: One of the biggest appeals of this dish is its straightforwardness. Combine your ingredients, pour them into a pan, and let the oven do the heavy lifting. It’s culinary magic with minimum effort.
• Make-Ahead Marvel: The beauty of a casserole recipe lies in how easy it is to mix it up. Prepare it the night before, and on a busy morning—or for a holiday breakfast like Thanksgiving or Christmas—all you need to do is bake. It’s a time-saving godsend that doesn’t compromise on flavor.

• All the flavor, none of the fuss: Craving the custardy, cinnamon-rich goodness of French Toast? This casserole gives you all that and more, minus the hassle of dipping and flipping individual slices. Plus, there is SO MUCH CLEANUP with traditional French Toast!
• Perfect for Gatherings: Everyone will ask you for this recipe, whether it’s a family brunch or a gathering of friends.

Ingredients:

• 8 cups white bread CRUSTS, cubed (about 1″ in size)
• Six eggs
• 2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup granulated white sugar
• Two teaspoons of vanilla extract
• Two teaspoons of cinnamon sugar

How to make French Toast Casserole

1. Grease a 2-1/2 quart casserole baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Place bread crust cubes into the prepared casserole dish and set aside.
3. Combine eggs, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon sugar in a mixing bowl. Whisk the mixture until well blended.

4. Pour the egg mixture over the bread. Ensure the bread is fully submerged in the creamy custard by pressing it down gently, if necessary.
5. Cover the dish and refrigerate overnight. If you’re short on time, let it stand for 30 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the egg mixture.
6. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
7. Bake the French toast casserole in a preheated oven for 45–55 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. This can vary depending on if you have an electric or gas stove and how hot the oven gets. It’s always best to check about 5 minutes before the recommended time. The tops of the bread will be a slight golden brown.

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What is a 2 1/2 quart dish?

A 2 1/2 quart dish holds approximately 10 cups of ingredients, although it can be different shapes. The shape of a dish can alter how long it cooks.

If it’s taller, for example, it could cook less in the middle. If it’s wider, it can cook quicker instead. Depending on your dish, you may have to adjust the timing to be a little less or a little more.

We love an oval-shaped casserole dish like this Corning Ware. It is the right shape and size for this recipe and comes with a lid to easily store leftovers.

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Enhance French Toast Casserole with Toppings

Optional Toppings for French Toast Casserole

Elevate your French Toast Casserole experience with these popular, favorite toppings:

Sweet Choices:

• Drizzle of Maple Syrup: The classic sweetener for all things breakfast.
• Honey: A natural alternative to syrup that adds a golden touch.
• Powdered Sugar: A light dusting can make your casserole look and taste gourmet.
• Fruit Compote: A blend of your favorite fruits cooked down with sugar. Blueberries, strawberries, and apples are favorites.
• Whipped Cream: A dollop can transform your casserole into a dessert-like treat.

Add some crunch.

• Chopped Nuts: Pecans, walnuts, or almonds add a delightful crunch.
• Nut Butter Drizzle: Melted peanut or almond butter gives a creamy, nutty flavor.

Other Options: While brioche, challah, and Italian bread are all crowd favorites, a stale French Bread baguette and sourdough bread can work wonders, too.

Using stale bread for French Toast Casserole offers several advantages.

While it may not always be possible, stale bread is a great option and provides a few benefits to a French toast recipe.

• Better Absorption: Stale bread has a drier texture, which allows it to soak up the egg and milk mixture more effectively than fresh bread.
• Economical: Buying day-old bread from bakeries or stores is less expensive, and we could all use a budget break!

Sweet Breakfast Casserole Variations

You’re in for a treat because this isn’t our first time making a delicious, sweet breakfast casserole!

The Blueberry French Toast Casserole bake is an ode to summer, bursting with juicy blueberries. Apple Breakfast Bake is like a warm fall hug on a plate for those who adore classic flavors.

Did you know you can skip the bread and use cinnamon rolls? Yep, try our overnight cinnamon roll casserole recipe as well (kid’s favorite).

And for berry lovers, a strawberry french toast bake promises a sweet start to your day.

But there is more than just sweet to eat!

Savory Choices

At the Haas house, breakfast is always special.

It’s not unusual to find evenings graced with a sausage hashbrown breakfast casserole, breakfast sliders with eggs and cheese, or simple but filling biscuits and gravy.

We will dive into our favorite recipes at 7 a.m. or 7 p.m.

Of course, someone always prefers a savory taste when it comes to brunch recipes, so if I am speaking to you, make sure to try our perfect Sunday Morning Casserole, the Ultimate Cowboy Breakfast, and find out why cracker barrel hashbrowns casserole is a must-make.