5 from 1 votes
ByTrisha HaasPublished: Updated:
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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.
From My Kitchen to Yours: Hey there! I’m a big breakfast fan, just like you.
I’ve made many breakfast casserole recipes over the years, and trust me, I’ve got it down to science. I make these dishes so often, and everyone always asks for my recipes. So when I share one with you, it’s one of the easy and delicious breakfast ideas everyone loves—not just online and on Pinterest, but in real life, too!
Give it a try. I promise you’ll love it as much as my friends and family do!
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
- Grease a 2-1/2 quart casserole baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Place bread crust cubes into the prepared casserole dish and set aside.
- Combine eggs, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon sugar in a mixing bowl. Whisk the mixture until well blended.
- Pour the egg mixture over the bread. Ensure the bread is fully submerged in the creamy custard by pressing it down gently, if necessary.
- 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.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- 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.
Serve warm. Optionally, top with powdered sugar, maple syrup, or one of our alternative topping suggestions below before serving. Enjoy!
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.
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.
Fresh Fruit:
- Fresh Berries: Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries add color and tang.
- Banana Slices: These add a tropical sweetness and a soft texture.
- Dried Fruits: Raisins, cranberries, or apricots can be sprinkled on top for added sweetness.
Change up the flavor:
- Cinnamon Stick: Grate fresh cinnamon or a dash of pumpkin pie spices on top for an added warm fall scent.
- Chocolate Chips or Cocoa Drizzle: This transforms the dish into a dessert delight for those with a sweet tooth.
What type of bread is best for French Toast Casserole?
In this recipe, we use white bread crusts.
Texture: The crusts of white bread, being denser than the soft centers, absorb the egg and milk mixture very well without becoming too soggy. This ensures that your casserole has both the softness and a slight chewiness of the crusts.
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.
5 from 1 votes
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French Toast Casserole (Not Soggy!)
Author Trisha Haas – Salty Side Dish
Prep Time 15 minutes mins
Cook Time 45 minutes mins
Kickstart your day with our easy-to-make French Toast Casserole. It's just like the classic French Toast you know and love, but baked in one pan for simplicity. Perfect for any morning, this dish is a tasty way to bring everyone to the breakfast table. Dive in and enjoy!
Equipment
2½ Quart Baking Dish we use oval
Ingredients
- 8 cups White Bread Crusts using crusts help keep the casserole from being too soggy
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- ¼ cup granulated white sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extra
- 2 tsp cinnamon sugar
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F.
Spray a 2.5-quart casserole dish with nonstick spray.
Add bread crust cubes to the casserole dish.
In a bowl, combine eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon sugar. Whisk thoroughly.
Pour the mixture over the bread, ensuring all pieces are soaked. Push down any floating bread.
If making ahead, cover and let it sit in the fridge overnight. If short on time and making same day, let the custard mixture soak the bread for at least 30 minutes.
Bake for 45-55 minutes or until a knife comes out clean from the center.
Serve warm with a sprinkle of powdered sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup.
Notes
Using white bread crusts helps keep the breakfast casserole from being soggy. While the homemade cinnamon custard can soak through the crust, it doesn’t absorb as fast as the internal parts of bread. You can make breakfast casseroles with several bread types, including challah, Italian, French bread, or plain old stale from the pantry.
Toppings are really common with French Toast Casserole dishes, and we recommend a dust of powdered sugar, a drizzle of maple syrup and honey, or even a sprinkling of walnuts or pecans. See the article for an extensive list if you are hosting a brunch.
Nutritional Disclaimer: The nutritional data provided here is auto-calculated and intended for your convenience only. As it’s generated via automation, its accuracy may be compromised. For precise nutritional insight, please compute the values utilizing the actual ingredients in your recipe through your chosen nutrition calculator or application.
Sharing of this recipe is encouraged and appreciated. Copying of full recipe to any social media is prohibited.
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5 from 1 votes
