This Overnight French Toast Casserole recipe is everything you love about classic French toast, but made easier! A buttery brown sugar layer caramelizes at the bottom, while the bread cubes puff up in a cinnamon vanilla custard.
Not a morning person? No problem. Since it’s prepped the night before, this easy recipe is a lifesaver for weekend breakfasts or special occasions like Christmas morning.
The next morning, pop it in the oven, and less than an hour later, you’ll have the perfect breakfast for the whole family! Let’s bake up some comfort!
The Players for Overnight French Toast Casserole
Ingredients:
- Butter – I use salted butter for this easy overnight French toast casserole.
- Brown Sugar – Feel free to use light or dark brown sugar for this easy breakfast recipe. I prefer dark brown sugar as it gives a deeper, richer flavor from the molasses.
- Honey – Adding a few tablespoons of honey to the brown sugar layer creates a more caramel-like base.
- Milk – I use whole milk for this French toast bake. You can also use skim or fat-free milk, but using full-fat milk makes this delicious breakfast even better!
- Heavy Cream – The addition of heavy cream makes the ‘bread pudding’ thicker and more indulgent. Half and half would be a good substitute.
- Eggs – You’ll need lots of eggs for this easy French toast casserole recipe. Without enough eggs, you would have a soggy casserole, and that’s not fun.
- Vanilla Extract – Pure vanilla extract is needed for this easy make-ahead breakfast.
- Spices – The combination of cinnamon and ground nutmeg gives that cozy, sweet warmth we associate with traditional French toast and cinnamon rolls.
- Salt – Just a pinch to bring all the flavors together.
- French Bread – While I prefer using day-old French bread, you can also use cubed brioche bread, Italian bread, challah bread, or even sourdough bread. Cut the stale bread into 1-inch cubes.
Tools:
- Casserole Dish – To make this Overnight French Toast Casserole, you’ll need a 13″x9″ baking dish. You can also use an aluminum foil pan for easy cleanup. Perfect for a holiday breakfast when no one wants to clean! I also use this baking dish to make my Overnight Baked Creme Brulee French Toast!
Overnight French Toast Casserole
In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the brown sugar and melt the brown sugar until smooth and glossy. Turn off the heat and whisk in the honey.
Pour the mixture evenly into a greased 13-inch pan. Set it aside while you prepare the custard.
Make the Custard
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until fully combined.
Assemble the Casserole Bake
To the large bowl, stir in the 1-inch cubes into the egg mixture until the custard has soaked into the bread cubes.
Pour the soaked French toast cubes over the brown sugar and spread the cubes evenly into the baking dish. If there’s custard mixture left in the bowl, pour it over the tops of the cubes until it’s nice and saturated with the custard. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon
Cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight for at least 10 hours.
Bake the French Toast Casserole
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the casserole from the fridge, remove the foil or wrap, and let it rest at room temperature for 20 minutes while the oven preheats.
Bake for 30 minutes, uncovered. Remove the dish from the oven and gently turn the French toast cubes over to ensure that the top doesn’t get too crispy and the bottom doesn’t get too soggy. Continue baking for another 20-25 minutes. Total bake time is 55 minutes.
Switch the oven to broil and toast the tops of the bread cubes for 2–3 minutes, watching closely so they don’t burn. This will create a golden brown crust on the top.
Allow the French toast casserole to sit for about 10 minutes before serving. Serve with fresh berries and a drizzle of maple syrup over the top. Enjoy!
Storage and Reheating Instructions
To store any leftover overnight French toast casserole, place cooled leftovers into an airtight container. Store in the fridge for up to 3 days.
To reheat, place individual portions on a microwave-safe plate for about 1–2 minutes at 50% power, or until warmed through.
Pin it for Later!
If you end up making this Overnight French Toast Casserole, leave me a comment! I’d love to chat with you.
Looking for other easy breakfast ideas? Check these out next!
- The Best Homemade Golden Buttery Waffle Recipe
- Starbucks Copycat Kale and Mushroom Egg Bites Recipe
- Overnight Baked Creme Brulee French Toast Recipe
- How to Make Healthy Homemade Granola
- Chorizo and Potato Breakfast Burritos (Freezer Prep!)
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- Easy Butter Croissant French Toast Recipe
- The Best Starbucks Pumpkin Scone Recipe (Copycat!)
- How to Make Overnight Oats (Base Recipe with Flavor Ideas!)
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Buttery Brown Sugar Overnight French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
Brown Sugar Base
- 1 stick butter (1/2 cup)
- 1 cup brown sugar, packed
- 2 tbsp honey
French Toast Casserole
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 7 eggs
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp cinnamon
- 1 tsp nutmeg
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 French Bread loaf, cut into 1-inch cubes
Instructions
Make the Brown Sugar Layer
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Stir in the brown sugar and melt the brown sugar until smooth and glossy. Turn off the heat and whisk in the honey.
- Pour the mixture evenly into a greased 13-inch pan. Set it aside while you prepare the custard.
Make the Vanilla Custard
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, heavy cream, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until fully combined.
Assemble the French Toast Casserole
- To the large bowl, stir in the 1-inch bread cubes into the egg mixture until the custard has soaked into the bread cubes.
- Pour the soaked bread cubes over the brown sugar layer and spread the cubes evenly into the baking dish. If there's custard mixture left in the bowl, pour it over the tops of the cubes. Sprinkle with extra cinnamon if desired.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight for at least 10 hours.
Bake the French Toast Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Remove the casserole from the fridge, remove the foil, and let it rest at room temperature for 20 minutes while the oven preheats.
- Bake for 30 minutes, uncovered. Remove the dish from the oven and gently turn the French toast cubes over to ensure that the top doesn't get too crispy and the bottom doesn't get too soggy. Continue baking for another 20-25 minutes. Total bake time is 55 minutes.
- Switch the oven to broil and toast the tops of the bread cubes for 2–3 minutes, watching closely so they don’t burn.
- Allow the French toast casserole to sit for about 10 minutes before serving. Serve with fresh berries and a drizzle of maple syrup over the top. Enjoy!
Notes
1 John 1:7 - "But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin."
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