Overnight French Toast Casserole

Q: What Bread should I use for Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole?

A thick crust bread is the best option to use in our Overnight French Toast Casserole! For this recipe, I’ll be using fresh sourdough from a local bakery. I love to use sourdough in French toast because its thick and crustiness will allow the custard and toppings to hold well! Here are other options you can consider: brioche bread challah bread Texas toast If anything, you can use simple white sandwich bread, but just ensure that it’s thick enough so that it doesn’t get mushy! As I describe in my Make Cooking Fun!! free motivational guide to explore your potential in the kitchen and to spark creativity, I always recommend you use on hand! If there’s an old loaf of bread that needs to be eaten, then that’s actually the perfect bread to use! Older bread will be great to use for your casserole because drier bread is less likely to get soggy.

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Two slices of overnight baked French toast casserole dusted with powdered sugar on a white plate.

Why Make Overnight French Toast Casserole?

Easy to assemble: The assembly of this overnight French toast casserole is really simple to do!
Fun to make: Honestly this was quite fun to do! I loved the different elements involved in here and it looked so good going into the oven!
Perfect family meal: This overnight French toast casserole can feed many mouths for a very special meal! Unlike regular French toast where the breads are pan-fried, everyone can eat at the same time without any food getting cold!
Minimal hands-on time: While the bake time is quite awhile, the good news is that you don’t have to babysit the casserole, unlike with regular French toast where you need to flip and pay close attention. Here you can just bake it first thing in the morning and get the kitchen ready for the family while they’re asleep!
Budget-friendly: While it seems like we’ve got a fair amount of ingredients here, they’re all pantry and fridge staples, and lots of the ingredients are used in the multiple components in the recipe.
So delicious: I think this is the main reason why you’d want to make this! Honestly, I love the layers of the French toast here, and the crumble is sweet and crisp! You gotta experience this for yourself to have a breakfast of champions, and it’s a completely different experience from eating traditional French toast!

Overnight French toast casserole with cinnamon streusel topping in a yellow baking dish, scored into squares.

What Bread should I use for Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole?▼

A thick crust bread is the best option to use in our Overnight French Toast Casserole! For this recipe, I’ll be using fresh sourdough from a local bakery. I love to use sourdough in French toast because its thick and crustiness will allow the custard and toppings to hold well! Here are other options you can consider:

brioche bread
challah bread
Texas toast

If anything, you can use simple white sandwich bread, but just ensure that it’s thick enough so that it doesn’t get mushy! As I describe in my Make Cooking Fun!! free motivational guide to explore your potential in the kitchen and to spark creativity, I always recommend you use on hand! If there’s an old loaf of bread that needs to be eaten, then that’s actually the perfect bread to use! Older bread will be great to use for your casserole because drier bread is less likely to get soggy.

Unbaked french toast casserole with cinnamon sugar topping in a yellow and white baking dish

How to Prevent the French Toast Casserole from getting Soggy▼

The main reason why your French toast would get soggy is because you’ve soaked the bread for too long based on its thickness. To be safe, you want crusty bread that can absorb the custard and maintain its shape. If you notice the bread slices getting limp, then you’ve over-soaked it. If you’re working with softer bread, you could leave it out at room temperature to dry out so that it can hold the moisture better.

WHAT IS THE MOST COMMON MISTAKE IN MAKING FRENCH TOAST?▼

The most common mistake when making French toast is believing that the longer you soak it for, the more delicious the French toast will be. However, this does not apply if your bread is too soft, which is why a thicker bread is recommended. When you’ve soaked thin slices of bread for too long, you’ll get sogginess! Additionally, under-cooking and over-cooking the French toast can result in a less than ideal French toast. If you bake the French toast casserole at a heat that’s too high, the outside will be done before the inside has finished cooking. On the other hand, if you’re not cooking at a high enough heat, then you won’t get a lovely golden brown colour we’re looking for.

Overnight French toast casserole with cinnamon sugar topping in a yellow baking dish, scored into squares.

Why Is It that You can Soak The Bread For Longer in a casserole but not in regular French Toast?▼

The primary reason is while baking french toast in a casserole, you don’t need to handle the bread as often as when making a traditional french toast on a pan. Traditionally, the bread is dipped in the egg-milk mixture for a couple of seconds and then transfer to a pan to cook until golden brown. Bread slice that is over-saturated may come apart and be impossible to handle.

Since in a casserole, the bread will remain in the same vessel for the duration of the absorption and the cooking phase, there is no minimum requirement for soak time. The longer you soak, the longer the flavours can come together to deliver a tastier dish.

Two slices of baked French toast casserole dusted with powdered sugar, served with whipped cream on a white plate.

What Size is your casserole?▼

My KitchenAid casserole is 15 inches by 5 inches and is 4.2 quarts.

Tools Needed for Baked French Toast

Microplane (if grating whole nutmeg)
Measuring spoons
Measuring cup
Whisk
Mixing bowl
Casserole
Spatula
Sieve

Ingredients for Overnight Baked French Toast Casserole

Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of this post to see the FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE CARD with all ingredient measurements and to save the recipe for later! The recipe card will also allow you to scale the recipe based on if you want to make this in a personal casserole or a huge casserole - all individual quantities will automatically be adjusted for you!

Ingredients for overnight French toast casserole arranged on a wooden board, including eggs, butter, milk, bread, and spices.

For the Custard

Eggs: An important base for our custard!
Milk: Whole dairy milk is what I’ll be using in this recipe. For a richer French toast, you could even experiment with half and half cream.
Spices and flavorings: We’ll use some ground cinnamon and nutmeg to add warm cozy spices into the custard. Additionally, vanilla extract and almond extract will add wonderful aromas to complement the sweetness here!
Butter: I like to use unsalted butter in my baking so that I can control the amount of salt. If you’re using salted butter, you won’t need to add more. You’ll want a stick of melted butter.
Sweeteners: White sugar and brown sugar will sweeten our custard.
Salt: This is crucial to bring out all the sweet flavors that went in here!

For the Cinnamon Sugar Crumble

Butter: One square at room temperature.
Flour: You can use regular all-purpose flour or 1 to 1 gluten-free baking flour if you’re making this for someone who has a gluten intolerance.
Cinnamon sugar

FOR the CINNAMON SUGAR

Cinnamon: 1 part cinnamon.
Brown sugar: 1 part brown sugar.
White sugar: 2 parts white sugar.

For the French Toast Casserole

Bread: A thick crusty bread will give the best results in holding the custard and not getting soggy. I’m using white sourdough in this French toast casserole recipe. Some recipes cut the bread into pieces and then add those to the casserole, but I like the idea of keeping the slices whole and layering that way!
Cinnamon sugar
Cinnamon sugar crumble
Brown sugar + molten butter: To coat the bottom of the casserole and to spread in between the layers of bread slices.
Powdered sugar: For garnish.

How to Make Easy Baked French Toast Casserole

Set the bread slices out on the counter for 30 minutes to an hour to allow them to dry out slightly.

Sliced white bread arranged on a wooden board drying out before making French toast casserole.

In the meanwhile, prepare the egg mixture by whisking together eggs, milk, vanilla extract, almond extract, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.

Eggs, milk, and vanilla being whisked together in a white bowl for French toast casserole egg mixture.

Pouring milk into a bowl with whisked eggs and vanilla extract for French toast casserole batter.

Egg mixture being poured into a white bowl containing milk and other ingredients for French toast casserole.

Cinnamon and nutmeg being sprinkled over cream-colored egg mixture in a white bowl.

Creamy egg custard mixture topped with cinnamon and brown sugar in a white bowl, ready for French toast casserole assembly.

Egg mixture being poured into a white bowl containing bread pieces for French toast casserole

Prepare the cinnamon sugar by mixing all the ingredients listed above for it.

White bowl containing whisked egg mixture with milk and spices for overnight French toast casserole.

Cinnamon and nutmeg spices mixed together in a white bowl for the egg mixture.

Cinnamon sugar mixture being scooped with a spoon in a white bowl for French toast casserole topping.

Also, prepare the mix for the cinnamon sugar crumble as well by mixing all the ingredients together and cutting the butter until it turns into pea sized granules and set aside.

White powder ingredient mixed in a white hexagonal bowl on a marble surface.

Cinnamon sugar mixture in a white bowl with a spoon, being prepared for overnight French toast casserole.

Cinnamon sugar crumble mixture in white bowl with butter square and spoon, ready to combine.

Hands mixing cinnamon sugar crumble ingredients in a white bowl with a fork.

Melt the 1/2 Cup of butter and 1 Cup of brown sugar.

Melted butter and brown sugar mixture being spread on a white plate during French toast casserole preparation.

Melted butter and brown sugar mixture in a white bowl on a gray countertop.

Spread half of the mixture at the bottom of the casserole.

Melted butter and brown sugar mixture in a yellow bowl with a red spoon.

Then, arrange the pieces of bread in a single layer, breaking any slices of bread to fill gaps. Pour and spread 1 cup of the egg-milk mixture.

Hand dipping bread into egg-milk mixture in yellow casserole dish for French toast casserole.

Hand arranging bread pieces in yellow casserole dish with egg mixture for overnight French toast casserole.

Sprinkle the bread with cinnamon sugar and add another layer of bread, 1 Cup of the egg-milk mixture, the rest of the butter-brown sugar mixture and a dusting of cinnamon sugar.

Assembled overnight French toast casserole in yellow baking dish with cinnamon sugar layers and bread pieces soaking in egg mixture.

Hand arranging sliced bread in a yellow and white baking dish for overnight French toast casserole.

Unbaked French toast casserole in a yellow and white baking dish with cinnamon sugar topping before soaking overnight.

Let the bread soak in the layers for 4-6 hours or preferably overnight.

Bake uncovered for 30 minutes in the middle rack. Remove the casserole from the oven and evenly distribute the cinnamon sugar crumble over the top to make a thin layer - you may have extra crumble mix leftover which you can reserve for next time.

French toast casserole with cinnamon sugar topping baking in oven on middle rack.

Overnight French toast casserole in a yellow-handled baking dish with cinnamon sugar crumble sprinkled on top before baking.

Bake for 15-25 minutes or until the crumble is browned. Once ready, the crumble should become crisp once cooled slightly.

Cinnamon sugar crumble distributed over overnight French toast casserole before baking.

Slice and serve warm with whipped cream and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

Baked cinnamon crumble topping in a white and yellow baking dish, golden brown and crispy.

Overnight French toast casserole with cinnamon streusel topping being served with a spatula, topped with whipped cream.

Tips on How to Bake the Best Overnight French Toast Casserole!

Since the bread will bake in the casserole itself, allow the slices to soak in the egg-milk mixture to absorb the most amount of flavor.
The level of sweetness can easily be adjusted so the casserole can fit your personal needs. I don’t think you’d need to add more, but feel free to add less if needed.
Salt, may seem out of place in this recipe, but it actually enhances the flavors to make ingredients like cinnamon, sugar, eggs, milk, vanilla and anything else you add to this recipe.
Get a dose of morning buzz with a teaspoon or two of instant coffee to this recipe, the salt here would make the coffee taste even better and more wholesome.

Serving Suggestions for Overnight French Toast Casserole

Beverages

Savoury Options

Making Overnight French Toast Casserole in Advance

As the name suggests, unlike regular French toast, you CAN prep the casserole in advance, allowing the bread to soak overnight. In fact, soaking the bread overnight will yield the best results here! Then, when you’re ready to bake, you just need to pop it in the oven! Even if you’ve got leftovers, the slices of French toast will not get mushy and taste incredible! You can store your leftover French toast pieces in an airtight container or just leave them in your casserole dish covered.

To reheat your slices of overnight French toast, simply reheat for about 30 seconds. You just want to warm the pieces up but not have them too hot, or else the slices will turn to mush.

Other Wonderfully Sweet Breakfast Recipes!

Coconut Banana Chocolate Chip Overnight Oats

Let me know what you think of this recipe in the comments! If you’ve tried this recipe, be sure to post it on social media and tag it with #cookingwithanadi and mention me @cooking.with.anadi. Thank you!

Recipe by Anadi Misra

Ultimate Sunday Brunch: Overnight French Toast Casserole

Make your best brunch yet with this overnight French toast casserole. Prep it the night before for an effortless, crowd-pleasing morning bake that is golden, custardy, and absolutely irresistible.

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Saved to your collection

20 min

Prep

55 min

Cook

4 hr

Rest

5 hr 15 min

Total

slices

easy

Level

Ingredients

Tap any quantity to scale

For the French toast

sourdough bread(3/4-1 inch thick)
(120 ml) milk
eggs
(5 ml) vanilla extractShop →
(5 ml) almond extractShop →
(3 g) ground cinnamonShop →
(0 g) nutmegShop →
saltShop →
(220 g) brown sugarShop →
(115 g) butter(molten)
(38 g) cinnamon sugar(see below)Shop →
brown sugar cinnamon crumble(see below)
powdered sugar(for garnish)Shop →

For the brown sugar cinnamon crumble

(38 g) cinnamon sugarShop →
gluten-free baking flour
(28 g) butter(cold)

For the cinnamon sugar

(15 g) cinnamonShop →
(28 g) brown sugarShop →
(50 g) white granulated sugarShop →

Instructions

1
Set the bread slices out on the counter for 30 minutes to an hour to allow them to dry out slightly.
Set the bread slices out on the counter for 30 minutes to an hour to allow them to dry out slightly.
2
In the meanwhile, prepare the egg mixture by whisking together eggs, milk, vanilla extract, almond extract, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
In the meanwhile, prepare the egg mixture by whisking together eggs, milk, vanilla extract, almond extract, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.
3
Prepare the cinnamon sugar by mixing all the ingredients listed above for it. Also, prepare the mix for the cinnamon sugar crumble as well by mixing all the ingredients together and cutting the butter until it turns into pea sized granules and set aside.
Prepare the cinnamon sugar by mixing all the ingredients listed above for it. Also, prepare the mix for the cinnamon sugar crumble as well by mixing all the ingredients together and cutting the butter until it turns into pea sized granules and set aside.
4
Melt the ½ cup of butter and 1 cup of brown sugar and spread half of the mixture at the bottom of the casserole. Then, arrange the pieces of bread in a single layer, breaking any slices of bread to fill gaps. Pour and spread 1 cup of the egg-milk mixture.
Melt the ½ cup of butter and 1 cup of brown sugar and spread half of the mixture at the bottom of the casserole. Then, arrange the pieces of bread in a single layer, breaking any slices of bread to fill gaps. Pour and spread 1 cup of the egg-milk mixture.
5
Sprinkle the bread with cinnamon sugar and add another layer of bread, 1 cup of the egg-milk mixture, the rest of the butter-brown sugar mixture and a dusting of cinnamon sugar.
Sprinkle the bread with cinnamon sugar and add another layer of bread, 1 cup of the egg-milk mixture, the rest of the butter-brown sugar mixture and a dusting of cinnamon sugar.
6
Let the bread soak in the layers for 4-6 hours or preferably overnight.
Let the bread soak in the layers for 4-6 hours or preferably overnight.
7
Bake uncovered for 30 minutes in the middle rack. Remove the casserole from the oven and evenly distribute the cinnamon sugar crumble over the top to make a thin layer - you may have extra crumble mix leftover which you can reserve for next time.
Bake uncovered for 30 minutes in the middle rack. Remove the casserole from the oven and evenly distribute the cinnamon sugar crumble over the top to make a thin layer - you may have extra crumble mix leftover which you can reserve for next time.
8
Bake for 15-25 minutes or until the crumble is browned. Once ready, the crumble should become crisp once cooled slightly.
Bake for 15-25 minutes or until the crumble is browned. Once ready, the crumble should become crisp once cooled slightly.
9
Slice and serve warm with whipped cream and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.
Slice and serve warm with whipped cream and a sprinkling of powdered sugar.

Nutrition per serving

345

Calories

Protein

47g

Carbs

15g

Fat

Fiber

33g

Sugar

410mg

Sodium

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Tested & written in Anadi’s kitchen

Why Make Overnight French Toast Casserole?

Tools Needed for Baked French Toast