This post may contain paid links. If you make a purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission.
My Overnight French Toast Casserole recipe is a total game-changer for the holidays and special weekday meals! Ready in about 40 minutes using simple ingredients, this is an easy recipe for french toast casserole that everyone at the table will love!
Jump to:
Overnight French Toast Casserole Recipe
Over the holidays this year, I decided to try something totally new by making my usual French toast recipe into a casserole. And let me tell you, it was a hit with everyone!
My easy French Toast Casserole recipe immediately became a household favorite. Everyone who tried a bite of it wanted seconds, and it was practically gone as quickly as it was placed on the table!
I knew right away I had to share this with you. This is a truly special dish. Not only is it super delicious, but it’s really easy to make – you can have it ready to serve in no more than 40 minutes using simple ingredients.
Make this french toast casserole recipe for the holidays or a special brunch where you just want to treat yourself and your loved ones, and I bet you will want to make it again as soon as the first serving is gone. Trust me, I did the same thing!
Sooooooo good I made it for my husband and I the last time you shared & we had breakfast for like 4 days
– Julie on Instagram
Overnight French Toast Ingredients
- Brioche or Challah bread loaf
- Butter
- Brown sugar, packed
- Eggs
- Milk
- Vanilla extract
- Cinnamon
- Powdered sugar (optional)
- Fresh fruit (optional)
Overnight French Toast Casserole Recipe
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Butter a 9 by 13-inch baking dish and cut or tear your bread loaf into cubes.
- In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add brown sugar and mix well until the sugar dissolves completely and the mixture is smooth and beginning to thicken.
- Pour the mixture into the bottom of your greased baking dish. Smooth out evenly across the bottom of the dish.
- Add cubed bread to the baking dish.
- In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, and half of your cinnamon. Once whisked well, pour egg mixture over the cubed bread. Make sure all pieces of bread have been saturated. Mix together remaining cinnamon and sugar to make cinnamon sugar, then sprinkle over the loaf.
- Bake 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and fluffy. Remove from the oven and top with powdered sugar and fresh fruit if desired. Enjoy!
Make Ahead French Toast Casserole Tips
- If your casserole is browning too quickly, cover it with foil for part of the cooking time.
- I recommend using brioche or challah bread for this recipe. Chocolate chip brioche is an incredible choice. I do not recommend using regular bread or any thin bread.
- 1-2 days old bread works best for French toast as it holds up better to the liquid. Fresh bread will become soggy more easily. If your bread is too soft for French toast, let it dry by setting it out of its packaging for a few hours.
- You can make this an overnight French toast casserole by allowing it to absorb the flavors in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
French Toast Casserole FAQs
French toast casserole is easy to freeze. Assemble the casserole completely, but do not bake it. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil, or a freezer-safe plastic bag with the air pushed out. Label with the freezing date and freeze for up to 3 months. I recommend storing it in the same container you plan to bake it in to make it even easier. When ready to enjoy, bake it straight from the freezer at 425°F until golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 30-40 minutes.
There is no need to cover french toast casserole when baking unless you see that it is browning too quickly. If you find the top is browning more quickly than the center is cooking, cover it with foil for some of the baking time.
Use a loaf of challah or brioche bread for the best french toast casserole you will ever eat. I used chocolate chip brioche bread for mine, and it was delicious.
Brunch Ideas
- Banana Bread Waffles
- Fluffy Pancake Recipe
- Sausage Breakfast Casserole
- Ham Quiche
- Sheet Pan Pancakes
Check out 60 of my favorite buffet menu ideas!
📋 Recipe
Overnight French Toast Casserole
Equipment
- 1 9 by 13 inch baking dish
- 1 Saucepan
- 1 Whisk
Ingredients
- 1 loaf Brioche or Challah bread; we used chocolate chip brioche bread, how fun!
- ½ cup butter
- 1 cup brown sugar packed
- 8 eggs
- 3 cups milk
- 3 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 teaspoons cinnamon divided (one half is for egg mixture, other half is for topping)
- 1 Tablespoon brown sugar mixed with 1½ tsp. cinnamon for topping
- Powdered sugar for topping – optional
- Fresh fruit – optional
See our Cooking Conversions Chart for help converting measurements!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Butter a 9 by 13-inch baking dish and cut or tear your bread loaf into cubes. In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter. Add brown sugar and mix well until the sugar dissolves completely and the mixture is smooth and beginning to thicken.½ cup butter, 1 cup brown sugar
- Pour the mixture into the bottom of your greased baking dish. Smooth out evenly across the bottom of the dish.
- Add cubed bread to the baking dish.1 loaf Brioche
- In a bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, and half of your cinnamon. Once whisked well, pour egg mixture over the cubed bread. Make sure all pieces of bread have been saturated. Mix together remaining cinnamon and sugar to make cinnamon sugar, then sprinkle over the loaf.8 eggs, 3 cups milk, 3 teaspoons vanilla extract, 3 teaspoons cinnamon, 1 Tablespoon brown sugar
- Bake 25-30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and fluffy. Remove from the oven and top with powdered sugar and fresh fruit if desired. Enjoy!Fresh fruit – optional, Powdered sugar
Video
Notes
- If your casserole is browning too quickly, cover it with foil for part of the cooking time.
- I recommend using brioche or challah bread for this recipe. Chocolate chip brioche is an incredible choice. I do not recommend using regular bread or any thin bread.
- 1-2 day old bread works best for french toast as it holds up better to the liquid. Fresh bread will become soggy more easily. If your bread is too soft for french toast, let it dry by setting it out of its packaging for a few hours.
- You can make this an overnight french toast casserole by allowing it to absorb the flavors in the refrigerator overnight before baking.
Stacy says
Hello I plan on making this for dinner. Quick question, if I let it soak does brioche bread get soggy?
Isabel Laessig says
Hi there, Stacy! Thank you for your question! If the bread is a bit older, 1-2 days old, it will hold up better to the liquid. If it’s still very soft, fresh bread, I’d be hesitant to let it soak for too long or it will become soggy. As long as you’re not letting it soak overly long, it should be fine. If you’re making it for dinner, I think it will work out well. And, enjoy!