Buttery Brown Sugar Overnight French Toast Casserole
This Overnight French Toast Casserole has a buttery brown sugar base and bread cubes baked in a cinnamon vanilla custard. Prep it the night before and enjoy an easy, comforting breakfast perfect for weekends or holidays.
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
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.