This in a single day French toast casserole recipe is the right breakfast for a crowd! It is easy and scrumptious, with a crisp topping and custardy center.
This French toast casserole recipe is the best method to make French toast for a crowd. As a substitute of standing on the range, flipping slices to order, you pile cubed bread right into a casserole dish, douse it in a wealthy, cinnamon-spiced custard, and bake it with pecans and brown sugar on high.
It’s a breeze to assemble on the morning you intend to serve it, however if you wish to streamline this French toast casserole recipe much more, you’ll be able to put it collectively the day earlier than and let it sit in a single day within the fridge. The subsequent morning, all you need to do is add the nutty topping, pop it within the oven, and bake!
When it comes out of the oven, this French toast casserole is crisp on high and moist and custardy within the center, form of like a breakfast bread pudding. Topped with a drizzle of maple syrup, it’s simply pretty much as good as basic French toast, if not higher. I hope you like it!
French Toast Casserole Recipe Elements
Right here’s what you’ll must make this straightforward French toast casserole recipe:
- Bread – The standard counts! Select a great loaf of challah, brioche, French bread, or sourdough bread. No matter you do, keep away from pre-sliced sandwich bread, which rapidly turns into soggy.
- Eggs – A signature French toast ingredient! They add richness and bind the bread cubes collectively.
- Milk – For moisture. I exploit almond milk as a result of it’s what I preserve readily available, however be happy to make use of one other kind of milk should you favor. For instance, entire milk and oat milk would each be nice.
- Brown sugar – You’ll whisk some into the custard combination and sprinkle extra on high of the casserole.
- Cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla extract – For heat, cozy depth of taste.
- Butter or coconut oil – It helps the highest of the casserole crisp up within the oven.
- Pecans – They add wealthy, nutty crunch.
- Sea salt – It makes all of the flavors pop.
- And maple syrup – For serving.
Discover the entire recipe with measurements under.
The way to Make In a single day French Toast Casserole
This baked French toast casserole recipe is really easy to make!
First, prep the bread. Reduce it into 1-inch cubes and layer them in a greased 9×13-inch pan.
Then, make the custard combination. Whisk collectively the eggs, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, nutmeg, and salt.
Subsequent, pour the egg combination over the bread. Attempt to pour it as evenly as doable, moistening as a lot of the bread as you’ll be able to. A number of dry spots are okay—they get good and crispy within the oven!
In the event you’re making this French toast casserole recipe forward, cowl it with aluminum foil, plastic wrap, or a lid and refrigerate it in a single day. In the event you’re making it day-of, let it stand for half-hour at room temperature. Each choices give the bread an opportunity to melt and absorb the wealthy egg combination.
Then, bake. Drizzle the melted butter over the breakfast casserole and sprinkle on the brown sugar and pecan topping. Cowl and bake for 35 minutes at 350°F, then uncover and bake for one more 10 to twenty minutes, or till the topping is browned and the egg combination has largely set.
Take away the casserole from the oven, cowl it loosely with foil, and let it stand for 10 minutes earlier than digging in. Take pleasure in!
Recipe Tip
- Use stale bread. Purchase it a day or two forward of time in order that it has an opportunity to dry out. Dry bread soaks up extra of the custard combination than recent bread does. This makes the casserole even moister(!) and softer within the center.
What’s the finest bread to make use of?
Challah is my favourite bread to make use of on this recipe, however it’s on no account the one possibility! Brioche, French bread, and crusty sourdough are wonderful decisions too.
Keep away from tender, pre-sliced sandwich bread. It may end up in a soggy French toast casserole!
What to Serve with French Toast Casserole
Don’t skip the maple syrup! Whereas some French toast casserole recipes are very candy on their very own, I make this one somewhat savory in order that it goes nicely with maple syrup. I really like the candy maple taste with the toasted pecans and heat spices. I don’t advocate skipping it.
If you wish to costume up this French toast casserole much more, high it with a dusting of powdered sugar and recent fruit along with the maple. Banana slices, pomegranate seeds, and recent berries like strawberries or raspberries would all be nice.
This recipe is ideal for particular events like Christmas morning, however it will even be at residence at any weekend brunch. Pair it with one thing savory, like a frittata or scrambled eggs, and recent fruit. Don’t overlook the espresso, tea, or mimosas to drink!
The way to Retailer French Toast Casserole
This recipe is finest on the day it’s baked, however leftovers preserve nicely in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days.
Reheat them within the microwave, or cowl and warmth in a 325°F oven till warmed by way of.
You can even freeze baked french toast casserole. Enable it to chill to room temperature. Then, seal it in an hermetic container, or wrap it tightly in aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Freeze for as much as 3 months.
Enable the frozen casserole to thaw in a single day within the fridge earlier than reheating within the microwave or a 325°F oven.
Extra Favourite Brunch Recipes
In the event you love this casserole, strive certainly one of these scrumptious brunch recipes subsequent:
French Toast Casserole
Serves 8 to 12
This French toast casserole recipe is a scrumptious, straightforward breakfast or brunch! It has a crisp brown sugar topping and a moist, custardy center. To get forward, assemble it the evening earlier than and bake the following morning. Serve with maple syrup!
Forestall your display from going darkish
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Grease a 9×13-inch or comparable baking dish. Place the bread cubes within the baking dish.
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In a big bowl, whisk collectively the eggs, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Pour the combination evenly over the bread. If making the casserole forward, cowl the baking dish and refrigerate in a single day. In any other case, let stand for half-hour at room temperature to permit the bread to take in the egg combination.
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Preheat the oven to 350°F.
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Add the topping: Drizzle the casserole with the butter and sprinkle with the brown sugar and pecans. Cowl and bake for 35 minutes, then uncover and bake for one more 10 to twenty minutes, or till the topping is browned and the egg combination has largely set. Take away from the oven, cowl loosely with foil, and let stand for 10 minutes.
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Serve with maple syrup.
