Transform your morning meals into a celebration with this Easy Baked French Toast Casserole, a delectable dish that takes the classic comfort of French toast and turns it into a fuss-free, make-ahead brunch masterpiece. Perfect for lazy weekends, special occasions, or when you’re hosting a breakfast crowd, this casserole combines soft, custardy bread with a golden, crispy top, all infused with sweet, cinnamon-spiced flavors. Prepare it the night before and simply bake it in the morning for a stress-free, yet impressively delicious, start to your day.
Why You’ll Love Easy Baked French Toast Casserole:
- Make-Ahead Convenience: Assemble the night before and enjoy more morning relaxation.
- Crowd-Pleaser: Ideal for feeding a group, ensuring everyone gets a warm, hearty start to the day.
- Customizable: Easy to adapt with your favorite add-ins like nuts, fruit, or chocolate chips.
- Comforting and Cozy: Delivers the heartwarming taste of traditional French toast in every bite.
Ingredients Notes For Easy Baked French Toast Casserole:
- Bread: Day-old challah, brioche, or French bread is perfect for soaking up the custard without becoming too soggy.
- Eggs and Milk: The base of the custard mixture, providing richness and moisture to the casserole.
- Sugar and Cinnamon: Adds sweetness and warmth, creating that classic French toast flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor with its sweet, aromatic essence.
- Toppings: A crumble topping of flour, butter, and brown sugar adds a delightful crunch. Optionally, serve with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh fruit.
Recipe Steps:
- Prepare the Bread: Cut the bread into cubes and arrange them in a greased baking dish.
- Mix the Custard: Whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Pour the mixture evenly over the bread, ensuring all pieces are coated. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Make the Topping: Combine flour, brown sugar, and cold butter in a bowl. Mix until crumbly. Sprinkle over the soaked bread before baking.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the casserole for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is golden and crisp.
- Serve: Let the casserole cool slightly before serving. Enhance with your choice of toppings like maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh berries.
Storage Options:
- Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.
- Freeze: Freeze individual portions for a quick and easy future breakfast. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat as desired.
INGREDIENTS
For the Casserole:
- 1 loaf French bread, brioche, or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 10–12 cups)
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream (optional, for extra richness)
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
For the Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
INSTRUCTIONS
- Prep the Night Before:
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Place the cubed bread evenly into the dish.
- Make the Egg Mixture:
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream (if using), granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Pour this mixture evenly over the bread cubes, ensuring all pieces are coated. Press down with a spatula to make sure the bread soaks up the egg mixture.
- Cover and Refrigerate:
- Cover the casserole with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, allowing the bread to absorb the egg mixture.
- Prepare the Topping (Optional):
- In a small bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add the cold butter pieces, and using a fork or pastry cutter, mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Bake the Casserole:
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the casserole and topping from the refrigerator. If you’ve prepared the crumb topping, sprinkle it evenly over the top of the casserole.
- Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes, or until the casserole is puffed up, golden brown, and set in the center.
- Serve:
- Let the casserole cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh fruit on the side.
