Prepare a delicious, low-effort breakfast for a crowd with a French toast casserole. It’s custardy inside, crisp along the edges, and sweet with hints of cinnamon, lemon zest, and vanilla. You can even prepare it the night before to bake in the morning!

As much as I love French toast, the process requires a lot of hovering and hands-on effort and isn’t great for feeding a crowd (you can only fit a couple of slices in a skillet at once). For a version that’s such low effort you can prepare it the night before, with no hovering, and is still UTTERLY delicious and satisfying, try this easy French toast casserole.

This baked French toast recipe is everything you love about the traditional version but baked in a single pan. It requires only 8 simple ingredients and a few minutes of preparation and can even be adapted in several ways with extras like chocolate chips or berries. It’s perfect for a weekend treat, impressive brunch, and during the holidays.

French Toast Casserole Ingredients

• French bread: I prefer day-old Brioche or Challah for a super creamy French toast bake if baking immediately, or French baguette/sourdough for overnight French toast. Use gluten-free bread if required.
• Butter: It’s best to use unsalted butter, though a tiny pinch of salt in it can help to enhance the overall flavor.
• Sugar: Brown sugar creates a wonderful caramel-like flavor. Use a more raw/unrefined sugar option, though, if preferred – like turbinado, demerara, or coconut sugar.
• Milk: Use whole milk for the creamiest egg custard.
• Eggs: Eggs help to make the custardy texture.
• Vanilla extract: Use pure, natural vanilla extract for the best flavor.
• Cinnamon: A little cinnamon is the perfect addition to any French toast recipe. Add a dash of nutmeg for a more warming flavor.
• Lemon zest: While not technically necessary, a small amount of lemon zest is perfect for making French toast that doesn’t taste “eggy” while adding a subtle citrus brightness I love. Orange zest will taste great, too.

What Type of bread is Best for French Toast Casserole?

For the best French toast casserole, use day-old bread so it isn’t too soft and prevents sogginess. It’s best to use bread with a dense crumb, like brioche (fluffy and sweet) or challah (less sweet but otherwise similar).

A French baguette or sourdough bread (which is slightly sour) also works well, especially for an overnight version, as they take longer to soak, and their firm crust provides more texture to the French toast bake.

Did you know it’s possible to use leftover simple glazed doughnut rings OR torn-up slightly stale croissants to make this recipe?

How to Make French Toast Casserole

Prepare the Baking Dish

First, preheat the oven to 425ºF/220ºC and butter a 13×9-inch baking pan (using separate butter or a small amount of the melted butter from the next step), then set it aside.

Then melt the butter, stir in the brown sugar, and pour it into the baking pan, ensuring it’s evenly spread. This creates a delicious caramel-like base.

Keep a tablespoon of the sugar on one side to use later on.

Cut and Layer the Bread

Leaving the crusts on, use a serrated knife to cut the bread into 1-inch cubes (or tear it apart by hand – though the pieces will be uneven).

Then, spread the bread cubes over the butter-sugar mixture.

Prepare the Egg Mixture

First, zest the lemon. Then, in a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla, lemon zest, and cinnamon until thoroughly mixed.

Be careful to whisk it into a smooth mixture, ensuring there aren’t any noticeable bits of egg white.

Pour the egg custard mixture over the bread evenly, ensuring the pieces are well-saturated. Then, sprinkle over the reserved sugar.

Bake the Casserole

Transfer the casserole to the oven and bake it for 25-30 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the middle is fully cooked.

If required, broil the casserole for a few minutes at the end to brown the top more.

Then, finally, remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for just a few minutes before slicing/spooning into bowls, optionally sprinkling with powdered sugar, and enjoying!

What to Serve with French Toast Casserole

You can serve this brioche French toast casserole just like you would regular French toast:

• A dollop of yogurt, vanilla ice cream, or whipped cream,
• A fruity compote/sauce,
• Southern fried apples,
• A drizzle of maple syrup, Agave, or Caramel sauce,
• A simple glaze icing (for more of a dessert treat),
• Blueberry or chocolate syrup,
• Another sprinkle of cinnamon,
• Fresh fruit – fresh berries, banana, apple, etc.,
• A sprinkle of chopped nuts – walnuts, pistachios, pecans, almonds.

This breakfast casserole also pairs well with brunchtime favorites, like bacon, sausage, eggs, fruit salad, etc.

FAQs

More Breakfast Recipes

• Ricotta Pancakes
• Apple Crisp
• Yogurt Parfaits
• Pineapple Casserole

If you try this baked French toast casserole recipe, let me know how it goes in the comments below. I’d appreciate a recipe card rating and would love to see your recipe recreations – tag me on Instagram @Alphafoodie!