French Toast Casserole

This easy French Toast Casserole is a make-ahead breakfast made with cubes of bread soaked in a rich cinnamon-vanilla custard and topped with a buttery cinnamon crumble. Prep it at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours ahead, then bake and serve warm with maple syrup and berries.

I’ve been making this French Toast Casserole for years, and it’s still one of my favorite breakfasts when I’m feeding family or overnight guests. The bread soaks in a cinnamon-vanilla custard until it’s soft and rich, while a buttery brown sugar crumble bakes into a crisp topping. Best of all, almost all the prep happens ahead of time, so in the morning all you need to do is add the topping and bake.

Why You’ll Love This French Toast Casserole

This make-ahead French Toast Casserole has everything I want in an easy breakfast for holidays, brunch, or overnight guests: simple prep, plenty of servings, and a warm cinnamon flavor everyone loves.

• Make it ahead: Assemble the casserole at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours before baking.
• Soft inside, crisp on top: The bread becomes tender and custardy while the buttery brown sugar crumble turns golden and crisp.
• Perfect for a crowd: One 9×13-inch casserole serves about 12, with no standing at the stove making individual slices of French toast.
• Easy to customize: Serve with maple syrup and berries, or add whipped cream, toasted pecans, cranberries, or other favorite toppings.
• Great for holidays and brunch: Assemble it the night before Christmas, Easter, a family brunch, or whenever you have overnight guests.
• Leftovers reheat well: Refrigerate extra servings and warm them up for an easy breakfast the next day.

How to Make French Toast Casserole

French Toast Casserole is easy to assemble, but it does need time in the refrigerator so the bread can absorb the custard. Most of the work can be done well before you plan to bake it.

• Prepare the bread. Cut the French bread or sourdough into 1-inch cubes and spread them evenly in a buttered 9×13-inch baking dish.
• Make the custard. Whisk together the eggs, whole milk, half-and-half, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon.
• Soak the bread. Pour the custard evenly over the bread, cover, and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
• Make the crumble topping. Combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, then cut in the cold butter until crumbly. Refrigerate until needed.
• Add the topping and bake. Sprinkle the crumble over the chilled casserole and bake at 325°F until the custard is set and the top is golden.
• Serve warm. Let the casserole stand for 5–10 minutes, then cut or scoop into servings and add warm maple syrup, berries, or your favorite toppings.

How Long Should French Toast Casserole Soak Before Baking?

French Toast Casserole should refrigerate for at least 4 hours before baking so the bread has enough time to absorb the egg custard. You can also assemble it the night before and refrigerate it for up to 24 hours, making it especially convenient for holiday mornings or brunch.

Best Bread for French Toast Casserole

French bread or sourdough are my favorite choices for French Toast Casserole because they hold their shape while soaking up plenty of custard. Slightly stale bread works especially well because it absorbs the egg mixture without becoming overly soft.

• French bread: A dependable choice with a soft interior and enough structure to hold the custard.
• Sourdough: Adds a little more chew and subtle tang that balances the sweet topping.
• Brioche or challah: Richer and softer, with a more decadent finished texture.
• Slightly stale bread: Ideal for absorbing the custard; this is also a great way to use bread that’s a day or two old.

How to Get a Crispy Crumble Topping

The buttery crumble topping is what gives this casserole its crisp contrast to the soft, custardy bread underneath. For the best texture, keep the butter cold and add the topping just before the casserole goes into the oven.

• Cut cold butter into the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until you have pea-size crumbles.
• Keep the prepared topping refrigerated while the casserole soaks.
• Sprinkle it evenly over the casserole immediately before baking.
• For extra crunch, add chopped pecans or walnuts to the crumble.

French Toast Casserole vs. Bread Pudding

French Toast Casserole and bread pudding are very similar because both are made by soaking bread in an egg-and-milk custard before baking. The biggest difference is how they’re typically served and the final texture. French Toast Casserole is generally served for breakfast or brunch and this version has a crisp cinnamon crumble topping, while bread pudding is usually sweeter, softer and served as a dessert.

• For a softer, more custardy texture: Bake for about 45 minutes.
• For a firmer French toast texture: Bake closer to 1 hour, until the custard is fully set and the top is crisp and golden.

Substitutions and Variations

This recipe is easy to adapt depending on the bread, dairy, spices, and toppings you have on hand.

• Milk and cream: Whole milk plus half-and-half gives the casserole a rich but balanced custard. Heavy cream can replace the half-and-half for an even richer result.
• Brown sugar: Light or dark brown sugar both work; dark brown sugar gives the casserole a deeper molasses flavor.
• Spices: Add a little extra cinnamon, or substitute pumpkin pie or apple pie spice for a seasonal variation.
• Berries: Add blueberries or cranberries to the bread before pouring over the custard, or use fresh berries as a topping after baking.

Best Toppings for French Toast Casserole

Serve French Toast Casserole warm with classic maple syrup or set out several toppings and let everyone finish their own serving.

• Warm pure maple syrup
• Fresh blueberries, raspberries, or sliced strawberries
• Melted butter
• Freshly whipped cream
• Toasted or candied pecans
• A light dusting of powdered sugar

Serving Suggestions

This sweet breakfast casserole pairs especially well with something savory or fresh for a complete brunch.

• Buttermilk Syrup – A rich, buttery homemade syrup that’s especially delicious served warm over French toast.
• Sausage Breakfast Casserole – Add a savory egg and sausage casserole when you’re serving a larger brunch.
• Fresh Fruit Salad – A fresh, lighter side to balance the rich French toast.
• Crisp bacon or breakfast sausage
• Scrambled eggs
• Coffee, tea, or fresh orange juice

How to Store and Reheat French Toast Casserole

Leftover French Toast Casserole should be refrigerated once it has cooled. Store it covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. The crumble topping will soften somewhat during storage, but the casserole reheats very well.

• To reheat individual servings: Microwave until warmed through for the quickest option.
• To reheat several servings: Cover loosely and warm in a 325°F oven until heated through; uncover toward the end if you’d like to help crisp the topping again.
• To freeze: Cool the baked casserole completely, cut it into individual portions, wrap well, and freeze. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

Whether you’re planning a holiday breakfast, weekend brunch, or simply want something special without spending the morning in the kitchen, this French Toast Casserole is an easy one to come back to. The soft, custardy center and crisp cinnamon crumble make it especially good served warm with maple syrup and fresh berries—and having most of the work done the night before makes it even better.

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4.94 from 15 votes

French Toast Casserole

This easy French Toast Casserole is a make-ahead breakfast made with cubes of bread soaked in a rich cinnamon-vanilla custard and finished with a buttery cinnamon crumble. Assemble it at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours ahead, then bake and serve warm with maple syrup and fresh berries.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword baking, Breakfast, brunch, comfort

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time 1 hour hour

Refrigerator time 4 hours hours

Servings 12 people

Calories 350

Author Sally Humeniuk

Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark

Ingredients 

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French Toast:

• Butter, for greasing baking dish
• 1 loaf French bread or sourdough
• 10 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• ½ cup half and half or whipping cream
• ½ cup granulated sugar
• ½ cup brown sugar firmly packed
• 2 Tbsps vanilla extract
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon

Crumble topping:

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup brown sugar firmly packed
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• ½ tsp freshly grated nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt
• ½ cup cold butter cut into pieces

For serving, optional:

• Warm maple syrup
• Fresh blueberries or other berries
• Whipped cream
• Chopped toasted or candied pecans
• Melted butter

Instructions

• Prepare the bread. Generously butter a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes and spread evenly in the prepared dish.
• Make the custard. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, half-and-half, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon until well combined. Pour evenly over the bread. Cover and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to 24 hours.
• Make the crumble topping. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry cutter or fork until the mixture forms pea-size crumbles. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.
• Add the topping and bake. Preheat the oven to 325°F. Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and uncover. Sprinkle the crumble evenly over the top. Bake for about 45 minutes for a softer, more custardy texture, or up to 1 hour for a firmer French toast texture with a crisper top.
• Serve. Remove from the oven and let stand for about 5–10 minutes before serving. Cut into squares or scoop into individual servings and serve warm with maple syrup, fresh berries, or other desired toppings.

Equipment

9 x 13 baking or casserole dish

Notes

• Make ahead: The casserole needs to refrigerate for at least 4 hours before baking so the bread can absorb the custard. It can be assembled and refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
• Choose your texture: Bake for about 45 minutes for a softer, more custardy texture similar to bread pudding. Bake closer to 1 hour for a firmer French toast texture and crisper topping.
• Bread options: French bread or sourdough both work well. Slightly stale bread is especially good because it readily absorbs the custard. Brioche or challah can also be used for a richer casserole.
• Add berries: Fresh blueberries, raspberries, or cranberries can be scattered among the bread cubes before adding the custard. Berries can also simply be served on top after baking.
• Add nuts: For extra crunch, mix chopped pecans or walnuts into the crumble topping before baking.
• Storage: Cover leftovers and refrigerate for up to 3 days. The crumble topping will soften somewhat during storage.
• Reheating: Reheat individual servings in the microwave, or warm several servings in a 325°F oven until heated through.

Nutrition Facts

French Toast Casserole

Amount Per Serving

Calories 350 Calories from Fat 99

% Daily Value*

Fat 11g17%

Saturated Fat 6g38%

Cholesterol 167mg56%

Sodium 285mg12%

Potassium 187mg5%

Carbohydrates 50g17%

Fiber 1g4%

Sugar 25g28%

Protein 9g18%

Vitamin A 529IU11%

Calcium 109mg11%

Iron 2mg11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Recipe adapted from my friend Janet, aka JBR.