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Make breakfast a breeze with this Easy French Toast Casserole, baked to perfection in just one pan. Whether you prepare it overnight or on the same day, this dish is topped with a delightful cinnamon brown sugar crumble and is perfect for feeding a hungry crowd at breakfast or brunch!
Why You'll Love This French Toast Casserole:
- Quick and Easy: It only takes 30 minutes to prepare, and while it bakes, you can relax with your family. No need to stand over the stove flipping slices of French toast!
- Serve Everyone at Once: Since it bakes in one dish, everyone can eat together, and it stays warm.
- Perfect for Special Occasions: Whether it’s for a cozy Sunday morning, Christmas brunch, or Mother's Day breakfast, this casserole is always a hit.
- Delicious Cinnamon Topping: The brown sugar and cinnamon topping adds a sweet, crunchy layer, making every bite irresistible.
- Budget-Friendly: Made with basic pantry ingredients, this recipe is easy on your wallet and doesn’t require any fancy ingredients.
Ingredients for the French Toast Casserole:
- Sandwich Bread: While you can use white sandwich bread, feel free to substitute with challah, brioche, cinnamon swirl bread, or even croissants for a richer flavor.
- Pecans: Adds a nutty crunch. You can substitute walnuts, almonds, or omit them entirely if preferred.
- Eggs: The backbone of the custard mixture, giving the casserole its rich texture.
- Whole Milk: You can use 2%, skim, or even non-dairy alternatives like almond or oat milk, but whole milk gives the creamiest result.
- Maple Syrup: Opt for pure maple syrup, not imitation syrup, for a rich, natural sweetness.
- Vanilla Extract: A cozy, warm flavor that enhances the overall taste.
- Cinnamon & Nutmeg: Classic spices that give the dish a comforting, fall-like flavor.
- Butter: For the topping—if dairy-free, use a vegan butter substitute.
- Brown Sugar: Mixed with cinnamon and butter for the topping that melts into a deliciously sweet crust.
How to Make Easy French Toast Casserole:
Make the Casserole:
- Prepare the Bread: Slice your bread into 1-inch cubes and arrange them in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. Add chopped pecans evenly throughout the bread cubes.
- Whisk the Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg. This mixture will soak into the bread, creating a rich custard base.
- Combine the Ingredients: Pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes and pecans, ensuring all the bread is evenly coated. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 to 6 hours, or overnight, so the custard can fully absorb.
Make the Topping:
- Prepare the Crumble: In a small bowl, mix together butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon using a pastry blender or your fingers. The topping should form small, moist clumps.
Bake the Casserole:
- Preheat the Oven: When you're ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Top and Bake: Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar topping evenly over the casserole. Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 25-30 minutes. Then, uncover and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until the top is golden brown and the casserole is set.
- Serve: Let the casserole cool for a few minutes before slicing. Serve with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or your favorite toppings!
Expert Tips:
- Make Ahead: For the best texture, prepare the casserole the night before to let the bread soak up all the custard. However, if you're short on time, you can bake it right away—just be sure the bread is well-soaked.
- Gluten-Free/Dairy-Free Options: Use gluten-free bread and substitute almond milk or coconut milk for a dairy-free version.
- Use Stale Bread: Slightly stale or day-old bread works best, as it absorbs the custard more efficiently without becoming soggy.
- Customize It: Try adding fresh fruit, chocolate chips, or even crumbled bacon for a savory twist!
Topping Suggestions:
- Powdered Sugar Glaze: For extra sweetness, drizzle a simple powdered sugar glaze over the top before serving.
- Fresh Berries: Add a burst of freshness with sliced strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.
- Syrups: While maple syrup is a classic choice, try flavored syrups like blueberry or cinnamon.
Why This Recipe Works:
This French Toast Casserole is a combination of classic French toast flavors and the indulgent texture of bread pudding. The bread soaks up the egg mixture overnight, creating a creamy interior, while the cinnamon brown sugar topping adds a crunchy contrast. Best of all, it’s a make-ahead dish, which means you can spend less time cooking and more time enjoying breakfast with your loved ones!
Serve it alongside savory options like scrambled eggs, sausage, or crispy bacon for a complete breakfast feast.
Reader Praise for This Recipe:
“I’ve made this twice now, and it’s a huge hit with my family! The cinnamon topping is to die for, and it pairs so well with maple syrup.” – Denise
“Prepped it the night before and the flavors were amazing. My kids said it was the best breakfast they’ve had all week!” – Mandy
“I used eggnog instead of milk for a holiday twist, and everyone raved about it. This recipe is a keeper!” – Valerie
Make this Easy French Toast Casserole the next time you want a no-fuss breakfast that will satisfy everyone at the table. Whether it’s a special holiday brunch or just a cozy weekend morning, this dish will quickly become a family favorite!
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The above recipe draws inspiration from the renowned culinary experts, Sally, Chris and Lindsay.
Ingredients
Casserole:
- 20 ounces sandwich bread
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Topping:
- 4 tablespoons salted butter sliced
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Equipment
- Whisk
- Mixing Bowl
- 9×13 Baking Dish
- Pastry Blender
- Aluminum Foil
Instructions
- Grease a 9"x13" baking dish.
- Cut the bread into small 1-inch cubes, and layer with the chopped pecans in the baking dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, pure maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg, to make a sort of custard mixture.
- Pour the egg milk mixture over the bread and pecans in the baking dish.
- Cover and chill for a good 4 to 6 hours or overnight.
- When you're ready to bake the casserole, remove it from the fridge, and pre-heat the oven to 350° F.
- Using a pastry blender, mix together the sliced butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a small mixing bowl.
- Crumble or clump the topping on the top of the casserole.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, and bake at 350° F for about 25 to 30 minutes. Then uncover and bake it for an additional 15 to 20 minutes, 'til it's golden brown.
- Once it's thoroughly cooked through, remove it from the oven and let it cool for just a few minutes.
- Then slice and serve with powdered sugar and maple syrup.
Notes
*20 ounces is about 22 slices of the butter bread (or white bread) that I use. You can use a loaf of sourdough, Texas toast, challah bread, French bread, Kings Hawaiian Rolls, brioche, cinnamon swirl bread, crescent rolls, or really any other type of fresh baked bread. Any of them will be delicious.
*Be sure to use real maple syrup. Table syrup will change the texture, flavor, and especially the amount of sweetness in your casserole.
*While this really is best as an overnight French toast casserole, you don't have to chill it. But let me just say, the flavors will be at their best after chilling for at least a few hours. If you're in a hurry, didn't have time to plan ahead, and need to make it now, that's ok. Just mix it up, make sure the bread is moistened well with the egg mixture, add the topping, and bake it.
Store any leftovers in the fridge.
