Overnight French Toast Casserole
Overnight French Toast Casserole: A Perfect Make-Ahead Breakfast for Holidays and Brunch
There’s nothing better than waking up to the smell of a warm, sweet, and comforting Overnight French Toast Casserole baking in the oven. Whether you’re hosting a Christmas breakfast, planning a Christmas brunch, or simply want an easy but impressive dish for your weekend brunch menu, this recipe is the perfect solution. With minimal prep the night before, you can enjoy a relaxed morning with a delicious, baked brioche French toast casserole ready to go when your family wakes up.
This overnight French toast bake is ideal for any occasion that calls for a crowd-pleasing breakfast. Its combination of custardy soaked bread, warm spices, and a sweet, buttery streusel topping makes it an irresistible choice for Christmas breakfast ideas or any special brunch gathering.
Presentation Matters
When it comes to presenting your Overnight French Toast Casserole, the right baking dish can really elevate the look of your table. Opt for a beautiful, high-quality ceramic baking dish that not only evenly distributes heat for the perfect bake but also looks elegant when serving. Ceramic dishes hold heat longer, ensuring your casserole stays warm throughout your brunch, and their durability makes them ideal for special occasions like Christmas brunch. Plus, with a variety of colors and patterns available, you can choose one that complements your kitchen or seasonal decor. If you’re looking to invest in a reliable, attractive dish, check out this ceramic baking dish, which combines functionality with style for an unforgettable presentation.
Why You’ll Love This Overnight French Toast Casserole
The beauty of this overnight French toast recipe lies in its simplicity and flavor. After preparing the casserole the night before, the bread has plenty of time to absorb the rich egg mixture, resulting in a wonderfully soft and custardy inside with a crispy, golden top. Plus, it’s endlessly customizable—you can use French bread, brioche, or even challah, and add pecans or other nuts for extra texture. The finishing touch is a streusel topping, which adds a delightful crunch and sweetness, contrasting perfectly with the soft bread beneath it.
Ingredients for Overnight French Toast Casserole
- Bread: A loaf of French bread, challah, or brioche cut into 1-inch cubes. The slightly stale bread works best because it absorbs the egg mixture without becoming mushy.
- Eggs: You’ll need 6 large eggs to create the rich custard base.
- Dairy: A combination of whole milk and heavy cream gives the casserole a luxurious texture.
- Sugars: Both granulated sugar and brown sugar add sweetness, while brown sugar provides a deeper, caramel-like flavor.
- Spices: Cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt bring warmth and complexity to the dish.
- Vanilla extract: Enhances the overall flavor of the casserole.
- Pecans (optional): For added crunch, sprinkle chopped pecans on top before baking.
- Streusel topping: Made with cold butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon, the streusel gives the casserole a crunchy, sweet crust.
- Syrup & Powdered Sugar: For serving.
Step-by-Step Instructions for the Best Overnight French Toast Casserole
*printable recipe card is available at the bottom of this page
Step 1: Prepare the Bread
Start by greasing a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cut your bread of choice into 1-inch cubes and spread them evenly in the dish. French bread, brioche, or challah all work wonderfully in this recipe. The slightly stale bread is perfect because it absorbs the egg mixture without falling apart.
Step 2: Mix the Egg Custard
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. This rich custard mixture is what gives the overnight French toast bake its soft, fluffy texture.
Step 3: Pour Over the Bread
Once the egg mixture is well combined, pour it evenly over the bread cubes, ensuring every piece is coated. This is key to making sure the casserole has that perfect balance of crispy edges and a soft, custardy center. If you’re adding pecans, sprinkle them on top now for a bit of crunch.
Step 4: Refrigerate Overnight
Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil and place it in the fridge for at least 4 hours or, ideally, overnight. This gives the bread time to soak up all the flavors from the egg mixture. The longer it sits, the better!
FREE DOWNLOAD
30 Days of Dinners
Step 5: Make the Streusel Topping
In a medium bowl, mix together the cold butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon using a fork or pastry cutter. You’re looking for a crumbly mixture—this will give your overnight French toast casserole a deliciously sweet and crunchy top. Store the streusel in the fridge until you’re ready to bake.
Step 6: Bake the Casserole
When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Take the casserole out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature while the oven heats up. Evenly sprinkle the streusel topping over the casserole. Bake, uncovered, for 45-50 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the center is set. The smell of the cinnamon and vanilla wafting through your kitchen will have everyone ready for breakfast!
Step 7: Serve and Enjoy
Once baked, remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving. Dust it with powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness, and serve with warm maple syrup. The crispy top and custardy middle make this brioche French toast casserole an instant favorite on any Christmas brunch or brunch food recipes list.
Perfect for Special Occasions
This overnight breakfast casserole is the ultimate dish for when you want to serve a large group without spending hours in the kitchen. It’s ideal for Christmas breakfast or Christmas brunch because you can prepare everything the night before, allowing you to enjoy the holiday morning stress-free. Not only does this dish fit seamlessly into your Christmas breakfast ideas, but it’s also perfect for Easter, Mother’s Day, or any weekend you want to serve a special brunch.
Tips for Success
- Use slightly stale bread: Fresh bread can become too mushy when it soaks up the egg mixture. If your bread isn’t stale, you can leave it out for a few hours before using it in the recipe.
- Don’t skip the streusel topping: The buttery, crunchy topping is what makes this overnight French toast casserole so irresistible.
- Make it your own: Feel free to add fruit like blueberries or raspberries, or swap out the pecans for walnuts or almonds.
Conclusion
If you’re looking for a Christmas breakfast that’s as delicious as it is easy, this Overnight French Toast Casserole is a must-try. The combination of soft, custardy bread and a sweet, crunchy streusel topping is sure to make it a family favorite for years to come. Plus, the ability to make it the night before means you can relax and enjoy the holiday morning or brunch with your loved ones.
So the next time you’re planning a Christmas brunch or need an impressive dish for a brunch menu, remember this overnight French toast recipe. It’s guaranteed to be a hit!
Related Recipes:
Meal Prep Bacon, Egg, and Cheese English Muffin
Overnight French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
Ingredients:
- 1 loaf of French bread or challah or brioche, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
- ½ cup pecans optional, chopped
- Powdered sugar for garnish
- Maple syrup for serving
For the Streusel Topping:
- ½ cup cold butter cut into cubes
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
For Serving:
- syrup
- powdered sugar
Instructions
- Prepare the Bread: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Spread the cubed bread evenly across the dish.
- Mix the Egg Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Pour the mixture evenly over the bread, making sure all the cubes are coated. If you like, sprinkle chopped pecans over the top for added crunch.
- Refrigerate Overnight: Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. This allows the bread to soak up all the eggy goodness.
- Make the Streusel Topping: In a medium bowl, mix together the butter, flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon with a fork or pastry cutter until it forms a crumbly mixture. Cover and refrigerate this until you’re ready to bake.
- Bake the Casserole: When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Take the casserole out of the fridge and let it sit at room temperature while the oven heats up. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the casserole.
- Bake: Bake the casserole, uncovered, for 45-50 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the center is set.
- Serve: Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes. Dust with powdered sugar, if desired, and serve with warm maple syrup.
Video
@injamieskitchen Here’s and idea for Christmas breakfast. A overnight French Toast casserole that you make the night before, refrigerate, then bake in the morning. Take the stress out of preparing Christmas morning breakfast and make French Toast casserole ahead of time. All you have to do on Christmas morning is pop it in the oven. #frenchtoastrecipe #frenchtoastcasserole #christmasbreakfast #overnightcasserole #breakfastcasserole
♬ original sound – In Jamie’s Kitchen
I wonder if I can freeze this and put in fridge the night before Christmas morning and it’ll still hold up and not be mushy when cooked.
Where have you been all my life!!? Just found your post of ‘Christmas crack candy’
This looks delicious Can I just cut up a loaf of fresh bread & let it sit out uncovered to make it “stale”?