Easy Baked French Toast Casserole with a cinnamon and brown sugar syrup… DELICIOUS!
A delicious spin on a classic breakfast recipe that can feed a crowd with minimal work and effort. Filled with decadent flavours, prepare our French Toast Casserole overnight OR bake it right away!
FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE
Golden, caramelized toasts on the outside; creamy soft and pillowy on the inside with the perfect cinnamon syrup in every mouthful. All of the flavours of your favourite French toast made easy in a baking dish? YES, I’ll take it!
No dipping or flipping or frying, comfort food doesn’t get any better than throwing it in the oven. Imagine a dish full of warm and custardy French toast on a Sunday morning…
HOW TO MAKE FRENCH TOAST OVERNIGHT
It doesn’t get any easier to make a warm French toast casserole when you’re craving a classic French toast without the work. You don’t even need maple syrup to serve it with…it has its own!
Simple French toast prepared in minimal steps:
- Make your own syrup with butter and brown sugar. You can do this on the stove or in the microwave — whatever is easiest for you.
- Pour into a baking dish. I use a 9″ x 13″ baking dish (22 cm x 33 cm).
- Prepare a simple egg wash with eggs and milk. You could also use half and half (half whole milk and half heavy/thickened cream).
- Place bread in a single layer over the syrup in the dish. There’s no need to cube your bread if you don’t wish too. Just place the slices in and arrange them so they fit.
- Pour half of the egg wash over bread and top with a dusting of brown sugar/cinnamon.
- Layer remaining bread over the top and pour over more egg wash.
CAN YOU SOAK FRENCH TOAST OVERNIGHT?
ABSOLUTELY!
Lightly press bread into the egg wash to ensure every slice is evenly soaked in the custard egg wash. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. (If you don’t have time, you can refrigerate it for at least 30 minutes to soak up the custard mixture before baking.)
When ready to bake, take the dish out of the refrigerator 20 minutes before baking to get the chill out.
HOW TO BAKE FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE
When ready to bake, take the dish out of the refrigerator at least 20 minutes before baking if it has been in overnight to get the chill out. Bake for 45 minutes and prepare to have your mind blown!
Top with icing sugar or powdered sugar and serve with the syrup from the base of the dish!
LOOKING FOR MORE BREAKFAST RECIPES? TRY THESE!
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Breakfast Casserole with Bacon or Sausage
Best Fluffy Pancakes or Buttermilk Pancakes
Breakfast Egg Muffins 3 Ways (Meal Prep)
Cheesy Bacon And Egg Hash (Breakfast Skillet)
French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter
- 1 1/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 loaf thick sliced bread about 2-inches thick, (1.4 lb or 650 g loaf)
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups milk (full fat or 2%)
- 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Icing sugar, to dust
- Strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, kiwi fruits, pineapple, bananas or any other fruit to serve.
Instructions
- Lightly grease an oven safe 9"×13" baking dish (22 cm x 33 cm).
- Melt butter in a small pot over low heat. (Alternatively, melt in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave in 15 second increments, stirring in between, until melted.)
- Add 1 cup brown sugar, mixing well to combine. (If on the stove, let simmer for 1 minute to slightly dissolve the sugar.)Pour mixture into prepared dish and spread out to evenly coat.
- Beat together eggs, milk and vanilla. Set aside.
- Combine remaining brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg in a separate bowl. Set aside.
- Arrange bread in a single layer over the butter/sugar mixture in the dish.
- Pour half of the egg wash over bread. Top with half of the brown sugar/cinnamon.
- Arrange remaining bread slices over the top. Pour over remaining egg wash and top with remaining brown sugar/cinnamon. Lightly press bread into the egg wash to ensure slices are evenly soaked.
- Cover tightly with foil and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to soak up the custard mixture, or overnight for the best results
- When ready to bake, take the dish out of the refrigerator 20 minutes before baking (if it has been in overnight) to get the chill out. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake, covered, for 30 minutes. Uncover and continue baking for a further 15 minutes.
- Top with icing/powdered sugar. Serve with the syrup from the dish.
Ashti says
I’ve made this at least 3 times! Absolute hit for breakfast and brunches! Sometimes I tweak it a bit substituting part of the milk for heavy cream or condensed milk for a richer taste. But definitely a go to recipe!
Shay says
Made this for Christmas morning, and everyone loved it! They said it was the best French toast they ever had. I did make mine about 20 min longer and used Brioche bread. It turned out amazing. Will definitely be making this again.
Xehr says
I made this with my daughter when we’re staying at an AirBNB, found a bag of brown sugar and vanilla essence and cinnamon in the pantry thankfully and we had brought our own eggs and milk. This whipped up really quick and was super easy to make. It also filled the house with delicious brown sugary buttery aromas. I did half the cinnamon because I was a little afraid of it being too over powering, it was fine. Also I halved the milk because I needed it baked on time and didn’t want to risk having to put it in for bake longer and it turned out perfect. I didn’t have time to soak it either so for all these issues and it still turning out great really means this is a cool proof recipe!
David says
Have this recipe saved, this is the closest to what I have been doing for Years. Have not done make ahead French toast in a long time. Putting it together tonight for breakfast tomorrow.
Also saved page to desk top. Seen at least a few others to do.
Linda Z. says
This was amazing and very delicious. I MADE IT WITH GLUTON FREE BREAD.SO MY DAUGHTER WHO HAS A GLUTON SENSITIVITY. CAN ENJOY IT. I CUBED THE BREAD BUT FOLLOWED THE RECIPE EXCEPT II PUT IN BANANA EXTRACT ALONG WITH THE VANILLA. ALSO A MASHED BANANA IN THE EGG AND MILK MIXURE. IT WAS SO GOOOOOOD DIDNT KNOW IT WAS MADE FROM GLUTON FREE BREAD. I WILL DEFINITALY. MAKE IT AGAIN
Tricia says
Could I dip each piece of bread on egg/milk mixture before placing in dish instead of pouring over everything?
Bri says
Simply amazing. I used a brioche loaf and a can of coconut milk instead of regular milk.
This recipe is a must for future brunches.
Carmen says
So GOOD! Definitely easier than the homemade cinnamon rolls I make on Christmas Eve for Christmas morning and equally as yummy! So easy to put together! I baked it a tad longer then recommended and served with fresh raspberries which balanced out the sweetness perfectly. Definitely don’t need additional syrup. Will be my go to now for Christmas morning! ☺️
Stephanie says
Made for Christmas Eve morning, absolutely delicious! Could have used a few more minutes in my oven but I actually liked it a little mushy!
Jessica says
Hello so I plan to make this tonight for tomorrow morning will there be a problem if I soak it overnight? I’m a little afraid of how it will turn out.
Melanie Leith says
Made this tonight for Thanksgiving breakfast tomorrow, can’t wait to taste it! Also shared in my Snapchat and a friend asked for the recipe so I shared!
Caroline says
I made this over the weekend and it got rave reviews!! Everyone loved it! It was fast and easy to make and very decadent. What little was left over was saved in the fridge and was just as good the next day too. Not soggy like some other recipes I’ve tried. I will definitely keep this recipe for all special occasion brunches.
Alison says
This recipe is sooooo good! I love making it with French baguette instead of soft bread, and top with buttermilk syrup. Seriously delicious!
GetPay says
When using challah or sourdough bread, you made need two loaves if they are on the smaller side.
Kari Wanzer says
This recipe was absolutely delicious! Everyone in the family loved it. Can’t wait to look through more of your recipes and try them.
Tricia says
I made this for Easter brunch. The only change I made was the bread. I used thick slices of French bread. Because the slices were thick I only used one layer and had half of the brown sugar topping left over. I made it the day before and all of the egg mixture was absorbed by the bread. This was delicious and easy to make. I will definitely make it again.
Lia Ducedre says
Just wondering if you can omit the brown sugar and use maple syrup instead?
Karina says
You can try it. Please let me know how it goes.
lollipops says
We are making this thing! so happy! happy happy happy! haha
Mirna says
WOW! This is soooo amazingly good! I made this with a 3rd layer of bread and added more of the milk mixture and it was incredible. It was made for a work potluck and everyone raved about how soft and fluffy this was. HIGHLY RECOMMEND! It reminds me a bit of a cinnamonbon without all of the overpowering sweetness. Thank you for this wonderful recipe!
Teresa says
I made this yesterday with some leftover bread from our holiday denner. Incredibly simple and delicious, thank you!
Patricia Stull says
GOTTA TRY THIS ONE!!!
We love french toast.
Christmas started on Friday the 21st when we traveled to North Carolina to see my step-children. Then back home to enjoy Christmas Eve and Christmas day with my family.
June says
I have tried a lot of your recipes and my family is happy I found this site. Now I can’t wait to try the French toast recipe
Joan Lucas says
I want to enter your gift card contest….How I spent Christmas. I live in Gabriel’s House. It is a more permanent type homeless shelter. Rather than be depressed without family we went to the beach called Silver Strand with wind and waves to die for. Cell phones take good pictures and we did for a few hours. Looked at the murals. Drank water and soda and looked at/photgraphed each other and the wonderful views I hope we get a win The french toast was good too……JOAN
Tracy Brown says
We have a family tradition of “Poor Man’s Eggs Benedict” for Christmas Day breakfast, so after Face-Timing with Grandma so she could be with us for the gift opening, that’s exactly what we did. Of course, we had hot chocolate with marshmallows, too! After pajamas and games all day, we went to see Mary Poppins as a family, then had Christmas dinner with friends in front of a cozy fire! What a lovely Christmas!
Judy Beilman says
My exhusband and I spent the day shariing Memories & Dinner. We signed our Divorce papers & are moving forward together in a differnt role in one another’s lives. We returned to a place that will alway feels comfortable Best Friends, the way we started out 31 years ago. ❤
Debbie Clancy says
Love this make ahead casserole. Easy and delicious
Christina says
This was absolutely delicious! I prepared it Christmas Eve and while kids were opening their gifts Christmas morning, I put it in oven. It was a hit! Everyone loved it. Definitely a recipe to keep. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Tara says
My family and my husbands’s family came over, including my sister in law who in flee in from Florida Christmas Eve morning as a surprise! We had snack food and appetizers. There was so much laughter and fun! I love your recipes!
Jammer says
Had the whole gang here in Western NY this year. The grandkids loved it!! Thanks for the recipe and have a blessed new year!!
Linda Keigwin says
This looks amazing! I had this at a friends house years ago but never found the recipe. I will be spending my Christmas morning making this dish here in California for my HUGE visit family. It is sunny out with blue skies, so perhaps brunch on the deck today! Merry Christmas.
Karina says
Thank you Linda! Sounds like a perfect day for you and your family to enjoy this recipe, Merry Christmas!
Ashley Livi says
Yum, this will be perfect for Christmas morning breakfast. I love all your delicious recipes!
Josephine B says
Hi Karina, Love this breakfast casserole, but it’s more a dessert type that we’d serve here in Australia. I’m going to try this one this New Year’s Eve as we’ve invited some of our neighbours over to celebrate the coming of the New Year.
I still have a problem with not being able to post any of your beautiful recipes onto Pinterest, so I don’t know what the problem is there.
Hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and Happy and Prosperous New Year.
Linda says
Merry Christmas,will make this xmas morning!My son in law and I were just talking about french toast this morning,thanks.
Sherri Apicella says
I will be spending Christmas with my family. My girls made it home from college and my mom is flying in this evening. And my brother sister in law and nephew will be coming in after Christmas for New Years. And my dogs Alyssa who’s 9 1/2 and Molly who will be 2 the end of January. A house full of cheer and a lot of cooking.
Michele Godfrey says
This recipe is amazing. In fact your recipes are my go-to whenever I want to cook something special. I’ve been trying at least one a week and they all turned out wonderfully. I’m so grateful for you in this website. I’m not a big fan of cinnamon and I was out of vanilla extract so I came up with the idea to use almond extract and replaced the cinnamon and Nutmeg with cocoa when I made this French toast Casserole which came out with a chocolate almond taste that was wonderful. I’m just saying you totally rock Karina!