Overnight French Toast Casserole Recipe (2024)

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One of our favorite things to make for our Christmas morning breakfast is this Overnight French Toast Casserole.

Not only does it taste absolutely delicious, but it actually is made the day before the big holiday.

So all that is required in the morning is to put the casserole in the oven and let it bake.

No standing over a hot griddle making individual servings of French Toast slices.

Instead, you can enjoy extra time with your family. And everyone can eat at the same time, including you!

Our Other Favorite Overnight Breakfast Recipes

  • Overnight Breakfast Casserole
  • Monkey Bread
  • Slow Cooker Breakfast Casserole
  • Overnight Cinnamon Rolls

Overnight French Toast Casserole Recipe

Because this is a casserole recipe, the ingredients list is a little larger than when making standard French Toast.

Not only will you need a few more eggs to bind the bread together when baking. You will also add a crumb topping to the top that is to die for!

Ingredients Required

  • Loaf of thick bread
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Heaving Whipping Cream
  • White and Brown Sugar
  • Vanilla Extract
  • Cinnamon
  • Flour
  • Salt
  • Butter

Instructions

This Overnight French Toast Casserole recipe requires thick bread slices instead of the thin slices of bread that you use to make a sandwich.

You can find a loaf of Texas Toast bread in most grocery stores. However, if you can’t seem to find it, you can use Sourdough or a French Bread Loaf from the bakery.

Day old, slightly stale bread works best for this recipe as it stands up firm to the baking process. However, if you buy a fresh loaf of bread, you can definitely still make this recipe.

First, cut your bread slices into 1-2 inch cubes. Then let it air dry so that the bread becomes hardened.

If you are short on time, you can also place the bread cubes on a rimmed baking sheet and place it in a preheated oven set at 250°F for 10-15 minutes.

Remember, you want the bread firm and dried, but not toasted.

Next, place the dried out bread in the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish that has been sprayed with non-stick spray and set aside.

Now it is time to prepare the custard that will bind the French Toast Casserole together.

Wet Ingredients

In a large bowl add the eggs, milk, cream, sugars, vanilla and cinnamon. Whisk the mixture until well incorporated.

Next, pour the liquid over the cut bread pieces that are in the casserole dish.

Using a spatula, lightly press the bread pieces so that each one has been coated with the egg mixture.

Cover and refrigerate for several hours, or preferably overnight.

Prepare the Crumb Topping

In a medium bowl add the topping ingredients. Using a pastry cutter or fork, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until it forms small crumbles.

A little patience is required here. It will take a few minutes for the butter to become part of the mixture.

Once the mixture is nice and crumbly, cover and refrigerate until you are ready to bake the French Toast Casserole.

Baking Instructions

In the morning, take the casserole dish out of the refrigerate and preheat the oven.

While you wait for the oven to heat up, sprinkle the crumb topping on top of the bread. You will notice that the bread has soaked up the egg and milk mixture.

Once the oven is preheated, bake for 45-60 minutes. If you like your French Toast casserole to be a little more moist, remove from the oven at the 45 minute mark.

However, if you like it a little more firm, I would suggest baking it for up to 60 minutes.

When you remove the casserole from the oven, it will be inflated. No worries, once it is removed from the heat the bread will deflate.

Therefore, let it cool for 5 minutes before serving. Top with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fruit!

Enjoy!

Mary and Jim

Overnight French Toast Casserole Recipe (9)

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Overnight French Toast Casserole

Overnight French Toast Casserole Recipe (10)

All the flavors of a classic French Toast in an easy to eat, casserole. Make ahead the night before for a quick and easy breakfast meal the next day. The perfect holiday breakfast recipe.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound loaf Sourdough, French Bread or Thick Texas Toast
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Topping Ingredients

  • 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, cut into pieces

Instructions

  1. Grease a 9 x 13 casserole dish and set aside.
  2. Cut bread into 1 inch chunks and spread evenly in the bottom of the casserole dish.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, sugars, vanilla and cinnamon. Pour the mixture evenly over the bread and toss to coat the bread in the egg mixture.
  4. Cover the casserole and store in fridge for several hours or overnight.

Topping:

  1. In a medium mixing bowl, mix together flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Add butter and cut into the flour mixture with a fork or pastry cutter until it forms a crumble. Store in the refrigerator.

Baking Instructions

  1. Take the baking dish out of the refrigerator and Preheat oven to 350°F
  2. Crumble the streusel topping evenly over the top of the casserole.
  3. Bake for 45-60 minutes. Less baking time will leave you with a moist texture, and more time will give you a drier texture.
  4. Serve warm with syrup, fruit and/or powdered sugar.

Notes

Recipe courtesy of Old World Garden Farms

Nutrition Information:

Serving Size:

1 grams
Amount Per Serving:Unsaturated Fat: 0g

Overnight French Toast Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should French toast be soaked overnight? ›

Start with dry bread.

Dry bread is primed for soaking up that creamy custard. You can either leave it out overnight or do what I do and toast it in the oven. Lightly press the bread into the custard to make sure it absorbs evenly. Don't stress if the bread is a bit drier on the top.

How do you keep French toast casserole from getting soggy? ›

It could be because of the bread you used. If the bread you start with is too soft (such as white sandwich bread), it won't absorb all of the wonderful custard that it should, and it might end up soggy. If you find yourself with a soggy casserole, for whatever reason, try baking it a bit longer until it firms up some.

Should I leave bread out overnight for French toast? ›

Ideally, the bread should be slightly stale. A drier bread will soak up all the custard. Bread can be left out with the wrapper open the day before cooking. If you find yourself in a pinch, dry your bread slices in a 275°F oven for 10 minutes before soaking them in the custard.

Is overnight French toast soggy? ›

If you want to get the best results with your overnight French toast, I recommend you let your bread dry out for about 30 minutes before adding it to the custard. This will help prevent your french toast from becoming too soggy and will help it achieve a more even texture.

What should we avoid when making French toast? ›

The 7 Most Common French Toast Cooking Mistakes
  1. Adding too much dairy and sugar to the custard. Don't go overboard with the dairy. ...
  2. Not mixing the custard thoroughly. ...
  3. Not choosing the right bread. ...
  4. Under-soaking the bread. ...
  5. Using too much heat or not enough. ...
  6. Not preheating the pan. ...
  7. Only using butter.
Mar 29, 2013

What happens if you soak French toast too long? ›

The first is using fresh bread, which soaks up too much of the egg mixture and doesn't cook through, remaining eggy and soggy in the middle. Leaving the bread in the egg mixture for too long is another route to soggy French toast.

Why is my breakfast casserole soupy? ›

Why Is My Breakfast Casserole Runny? The key to a breakfast casserole that is moist and delicious but not runny is to make sure you have the proper ratio of bread, eggs, and milk. If there is too much liquid for the bread to absorb, the result could be a runny casserole.

Why is my breakfast casserole soggy? ›

Incorrect oven temperature - Casseroles that are baked at an oven temperature that is too low may not cook evenly, resulting in a soggy top and a firm or crunchy bottom. Too much liquid - Casseroles that have too much liquid may not be able to absorb all of the moisture, leading to a soggy top.

What is the best bread for French toast? ›

For a solid French toast, aim for sturdy bread with a uniform texture and a soft crust. Hearty sandwich bread, brioche, challah, and shokupan (Japanese milk bread) are all great choices.

How do you dry bread overnight for French toast? ›

Oven-drying of cut slices — super-lightly toasting it — works best of all, but in a pinch, you could also cut the bread the night before and let it sit on a cooling rack until morning, or simply lightly toast in the toaster. The key is to dry the outside while leaving the inside moist.

What's the difference between eggy bread and French toast? ›

What's the difference between French toast and eggy bread? In general, French Toast tends to be sweet and eggy bread is more savoury. With French toast, you might have cinnamon, syrup and berries, whereas eggy bread is more likely to be paired with bacon or a fried egg. However, French toast can also be savoury.

What is French toast casserole made of? ›

French Toast Casserole Recipe Ingredients
  1. Bread – The quality counts! ...
  2. Eggs – A signature French toast ingredient! ...
  3. Milk – For moisture. ...
  4. Brown sugar – You'll whisk some into the custard mixture and sprinkle more on top of the casserole.
  5. Cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract – For warm, cozy depth of flavor.

How long is too long to soak French toast? ›

Ideally it's best if you can soak the bread in the french toast batter overnight however, if this cannot be done I suggest leaving it soak for a minimum of 30 minutes to 1 hour. As we want that custard like middle, cut very thick slices of bread.

Can French toast be gooey in the middle? ›

There are a couple of common mistakes that can really mess up your french toast. You don't want to turn your griddle heat up too high- the outsides will burn and the inside will be soggy. You don't want to use too much milk. Your batter should be more egg-y than milk-y if you want non-soggy toast.

Can you soak French toast too long? ›

There are several possible reasons for soggy French toast. The first is using fresh bread, which soaks up too much of the egg mixture and doesn't cook through, remaining eggy and soggy in the middle. Leaving the bread in the egg mixture for too long is another route to soggy French toast.

Can French toast be wet in the middle? ›

You don't want to turn your griddle heat up too high- the outsides will burn and the inside will be soggy. You don't want to use too much milk. Your batter should be more egg-y than milk-y if you want non-soggy toast.

How do you keep French bread soft overnight? ›

How can you store fresh bread and rolls so they stay soft for as long as possible? Resealable plastic bag: A resealable plastic bag seals in moisture and locks out air, keeping your bread soft.

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