This East Overnight French Toast Casserole can be made ahead and baked fresh in the morning – serve with berries and maple syrup!
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Make ahead friendly: Assemble it the night before, then pop it in the oven in the morning. Easy-peasy!
- Perfect for the holidays: It's great for Christmas morning, Mother's Day brunch, and other holiday breakfasts.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Loaf of bread – brioche, challah and French bread are best.
- Eggs – use a flax egg for a vegan option.
- Milk – use any dairy or dairy-free milk of your choice.
- Maple syrup – honey or brown sugar can be used, but will have a different flavour.
- Cinnamon – pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg would also be good.
- Butter – or a butter substitute like margarine.
- Frozen mixed berries – fresh berries would also be good.
Toppings
- Icing sugar – leave this off if you don’t have any on hand.
- Maple syrup – honey, almond butter or jam would all be yummy.
- Fresh berries – top with other fruit like banana or peaches.
How to make French toast casserole
Step 1: Cut the bread.
Cut it into 1-2″ inch” cubes.
Step 2: Whisk the eggs.
Whisk the eggs and milk together, then add the maple syrup and cinnamon.
Step 3: Soak the bread.
Toss the bread in the egg mixture and let it sit overnight.
Step 4: Top with berries and bake.
Drizzle the bread with butter, top with berries and bake in the oven.
Recipe tips
Here are my top tips for making this overnight French toast casserole:
- Use slightly stale bread: It will prevent the bread from getting soggy while it soaks.
- Use frozen berries: Add the frozen fruit before baking so the juices soak into the casserole.
- Try different flavours: Try pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, vanilla extract, ginger, cloves, orange or lemon zest.
- Make it gluten or dairy free: Use gluten-free bread and/or dairy-free milk.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of bread is best for French toast casserole?
Brioche, challah and French bread are best for this recipe, since they'll soak up the egg mixture without getting soggy.
Why is my casserole soggy?
The bread you were using might have been too soft. If you're using regular bread, limit the soaking time to 10 mins max. You can try baking a bit longer so it's less soggy.
Can you make it the same day?
If you're on a time crunch, you can make it the same day. Just make sure you soak the bread really well before baking.
What to serve with French toast casserole
This recipe is great for holiday mornings or big brunches! Serve it with:
- More fresh fruit like strawberries and raspberries
- A side of bacon or sausage
- Home fries or hashbrowns
Make ahead and storing
Make ahead: Assemble the casserole the night before, then bake in the morning.
Storing: Store baked leftovers in the fridge for 5 days.
Reheating: Reheat in the oven for 10 mins at 350°F, or in the microwave for 1-2 mins.
Freezing: Freeze without the berries for 1-2 months. Add the berries then reheat right from frozen for 30-40 mins at 350°F.
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More make-ahead breakfast ideas
Meal prep tools
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this recipe into your leftovers.
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Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 loaf bread
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
- icing sugar, for topping
- maple syrup, for topping
- 1 cup fresh berries, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Cut bread into 1-2 inch cubes. Set aside.
- Whisk eggs and milk together in a very large bowl until well mixed. Add maple syrup and cinnamon, stirring well. Add in cubes of bread and toss until combined. Let sit for 5 min or up to 12 hours overnight.
- Grease an 9×13 oven safe dish and add bread to it, then drizzle with butter and top with frozen berries. Bake in the oven for 30 min.
- Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with maple syrup and fresh berries. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Nutrition
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