Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole for Stress-Free Mornings
Prepare this rich, custardy French toast casserole the night before. Wake up to a simple bake that delivers impressive flavor for your weekend brunch or holiday morning.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 50 min
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 min (plus overnight chilling)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Brunch
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 loaf (about 1 pound) thick-cut bread, such as brioche or challah, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 6 large eggs
- 1 1/2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup maple syrup, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup butter, melted (for topping)
- 1/4 cup packed brown sugar (for topping)
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Arrange the bread cubes evenly in the prepared dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and salt until well combined. This creates your custard base.
- Slowly pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread cubes, pressing down gently to help the bread absorb the liquid.
- Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight (up to 12 hours). This step is key for a custardy French toast.
- When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the plastic wrap.
- In a small bowl, mix the melted butter and brown sugar together until crumbly. Sprinkle this topping evenly over the soaked bread.
- Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the casserole is puffed, golden brown on top, and the center is set (no liquid remains when poked).
- Let the baked French toast casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving. Drizzle generously with maple syrup.
Notes
- Using brioche bread results in the softest, most custardy texture, making this a truly impressive breakfast idea.
- If you prefer a crispier top, you can add a streusel topping instead of the butter and brown sugar mixture.
- This recipe is excellent for a crowd-pleasing breakfast or holiday morning meal.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 180mg