This French toast casserole is crispy on the outside, soft and custardy inside, with warm cinnamon, a hint of orange, and a buttery nut crumble on top. A simple make-ahead breakfast that comes together with very little effort, tastes absolutely delicious and is totally worth waking up for!
We’re big fans of French toast (and waffles and pancakes) for breakfast in my home, and this is truly the best French toast casserole recipe. It's a fun and convenient take on the classic.
Golden and puffed up fresh out of the oven, top it with powdered sugar and some berries, and it transforms into a breakfast bake that just feels so special!
If you love breakfast casseroles like this one, you must try carrot cake baked oats, banana baked oatmeal, and this savory veggie-loaded casserole too!
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
✨ One pan, easy clean up. Everything comes together in a single baking dish, which means minimal dishes to wash...always a win-win!
✨ A great make-ahead recipe. Do all the prep the night before, cover, and refrigerate. Next morning, add the crumble and bake. No stress - perfect for busy mornings.
✨ The buttery, nutty crumble on top makes this French toast casserole truly special. It bakes into a gorgeous crust that adds so much texture to every bite.
✨This feeds a crowd without the fuss! Great for weekend brunch, holiday mornings or when you have guests staying over.
Recipe Ingredients
Bread: When making bread pudding or classic French toast, I love using brioche. But a challah or a sourdough loaf also works well. You can also use croissants as I did for my croissant French toast casserole!
Any hearty, thick bread is a good choice because they soak up the custard nicely, and yet holds its shape. Day-old or slightly stale bread works the best.
Milk: I love using full-fat coconut milk for this recipe for French toast casserole. The creaminess it has is unmatched. You can also use whole milk or half and half.
Sugar: I used brown sugar for a lovely caramel flavor. Regular granulated sugar will work in a pinch.
Flavors: Vanilla, cinnamon, and orange zest add a wonderful warmth to the casserole.
Crumble: Made with butter, all-purpose flour, brown sugar, walnuts, and pecans, this crumble topping adds a ton of texture to the breakfast casserole.
Please see the recipe card below for full information about the ingredients and quantities.
How To Make French Toast Casserole
Step 1: Using a sharp knife, cube your bread and place it in a baking tray.
Step 2: Whisk milk and eggs with vanilla, cinnamon powder, a pinch of salt, brown sugar for sweetness, and orange zest for a surprise.
Step 3: Pour the custard over the chopped bread, making sure all the pieces are well coated, and let it sit (either for an hour or overnight).
Step 4: Meanwhile, make the crumble topping for the French toast bake by mixing softened butter with all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and chopped walnuts and pecans till you have moist clumps.
Step 5: Spread the crumble evenly on top of the casserole and bake for 40 to 50 minutes in a preheated oven until the custard is puffy, and the crust is golden.
Final step: Let the baked French toast casserole sit for a couple of minutes and then serve!
Pro Tips
- Whisk the custard thoroughly until smooth and fully combined, so there are no eggy bits left in it.
- You can also make French toast casserole with sliced bread. Just tear it into bite-sized pieces with your hands or slice it. Layer the sliced bread for that pretty visual.
- For an overnight French toast casserole, assemble everything the night before. Cover your tray with cling wrap and then refrigerate overnight.
- Tent the dish with aluminum foil if the casserole is browning too much on top.
- Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. They’ll keep well for 2 to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
How To Serve
French toast casserole is scrumptious as is! A dusting of powdered sugar is all it needs. Top with fresh strawberries and blueberries on top and serve warm with maple syrup or honey.
If you're feeling extra, top it with Nutella, caramel sauce, or some whipped cream...so so good!
Recipe FAQs
Yes! Assemble the bread and custard, cover and refrigerate overnight. The bread soaks up all that goodness and the result is even better. Add the crumble just before baking.
Yes, this French toast casserole can be stored for 3 to 4 weeks in the freezer. Bake it, cool it completely, double-wrap it, and then freeze it. The day before, thaw it overnight in the fridge and then heat it in the oven the next morning.
On the face of it, both French toast bake and bread pudding look the same. However, the milk-to-egg ratio differs. Bread pudding uses a lot more milk than eggs. French toast is heavier on eggs.
French toast casserole is also less sweet, given that it is served for breakfast or brunch. Bread pudding, generally enjoyed as a dessert, is much sweeter.
📖 Recipe
The Best French Toast Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 slices Bread, cut into cubes I used Brioche.
Custard
- 1 3/4 cup Coconut milk, full fat You can also use half milk ( full fat) and half cream
- 4 Eggs
- 1/2 cup Brown sugar
- 1 tsp Vanilla extract
- 1 tsp Cinnamon powder
- 2 tsp Orange zest
- 1/2 tsp Salt
Crumble Topping
- 3 tbsp Butter, softened
- 2 tbsp All-purpose flour
- 3 tbsp Brown sugar
- 1/3 cup Nuts, walnuts and pecans chopped
Instructions
- Place the cubed bread in a 9" baking dish.
Custard
- In a large bowl, combine the milk, eggs, brown sugar,, vanilla extract, cinnamon powder, orange zest, and salt.
- Whisk well and pour over the bread. Press the bread down gently so it soaks the custard well.
- Cover and keep aside for at least an hour. You can refrigerate the casserole at this point overnight as well.
- When you're ready to bake, preheat the oven to 180 C / 350 C.
Crumble Topping
- Combine the softened butter, brown sugar, flour and nuts in a small bowl using a fork, until small moist crumbs are formed.
- Scatter the crumble evenly over the soaked bread and bake for 50-55 minutes at 180 C / 350 F, until the top is golden and puffy and the custard is set.
- Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving with maple syrup/ honey and fruits on the side. Enjoy!
- Store the leftover casserole, covered, in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or in a preheated oven at 180 C / 350 F for 5-10 minutes.
Video
Notes
- Whisk the custard thoroughly until smooth and fully combined, so there are no eggy bits left in it.
- French toast casserole with sliced bread: You don’t have to cube the bread. Just tear it into bite-sized pieces with your hands or slice it. Layer the sliced bread for that pretty visual.
- For an overnight French toast casserole, assemble everything the night before. Cover your tray with cling wrap and then refrigerate overnight.
- Tent the dish with aluminum foil if the casserole is browning too much on top.
- Store the leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate. They’ll keep well for 2 to 3 days and can be reheated in the oven or microwave.
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