Best French Toast Casserole Recipe (2024)

The Best French Toast Casserole Recipe happens to be an easy overnight dish that can be completely prepared ahead of time. This is French toast bake is about to become a favorite among your family and friends.

Commonly Asked Questions

What is French Toast Casserole?

A French toast casserole is a popular breakfast or brunch dish made by layering slices of bread in a baking dish, soaking them in a mixture of eggs, milk, and spices, and baking until it’s cooked through and golden.

What type of bread is best for French toast casserole?

Sturdy and thick bread like French bread, brioche, challah, or sourdough is ideal because it can absorb the egg mixture without becoming too soggy. Avoid thin or light breads.

Can I use regular sandwich bread for French toast casserole?

While you can use regular sandwich bread, it’s not the best choice, as the heartier bread varieties mentioned above hold their shape and texture during baking and can handle soaking up the egg custard. If you’d like to use regular sandwich bread, we recommend this French Toast Casserole with Streusel.

How long should I soak the bread for French toast casserole?

You should allow the bread to soak in the egg mixture for at least 30 minutes, or preferably overnight in the refrigerator for the best results.

What is the difference between French toast casserole and bread pudding?

These two dishes are similar in that they both use bread and a custard-like mixture, but they can have different textures and flavors. French toast casserole is often sweeter and resembles traditional French toast, while bread pudding is typically denser and may have a more custard-like texture.

Best French Toast Casserole Recipe (1)

Best French Toast Casserole

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The Best French Toast Casserole Recipe also happens to be an easy overnight dish that can be completely prepared ahead of time. This will become a favorite among your family and friends.

Prep Time: 20 minutes mins

Cook Time: 40 minutes mins

Total Time: 1 hour hr

Servings: 20

Author: Amy Dong

Ingredients

Cinnamon sugar mixture

Optional toppings

Instructions

  • Use hand whisk to combine eggs, milk, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt until fully incorporated. Mixture should be about 2 3/4 cup total. Set aside.

  • Put butter in a microwave safe bowl and microwave in 20 second increments, stirring in between, until melted. Add 1 cup brown sugar and stir until well incorporated. Use rubber spatula to evenly press mixture into bottom of a greased 9×13 pan, spreading mixture evenly.

  • Lay a single layer of Texas Toast in pan (about 6 whole slices), cutting additional pieces to fill pan bottom, if needed. Very gradually and slowly brush 1 cup of egg mixture evenly over every slice of bread, taking care to saturate edges – do not hastily pour egg mixture or all of it will end up at the bottom.

  • Sprinkle evenly with most of the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture, reserving about 2 tsp of the mixture for topping. Repeat with second layer, using another 6 slices or so of bread. Slowly brush remaining egg mixture over that layer, again paying special attention to the edges. Ensure all slices are well saturated.End with sprinkling of remaining cinnamon sugar mixture.

  • Cover tightly and chill overnight in fridge, or at least long enough for custard to thoroughly soak bread.

  • Preheat oven to 350F, with rack on lower middle position. Let casserole rest at room temp while oven preheats. Bake for 40-45 minutes, covered for the first 30 minutes, and uncovered after that.

    Be sure to scrape up all the bottom sticky goodness when serving. Serve with a dusting of powdered sugar and maple syrup.

Notes

  • If you don’t have time to chill overnight, let the casserole soak for at least 35 minutes at room temp before baking.
  • For substitutions, variations, and serving suggestions, see original article.
  • French bread casserole is best served fresh. Leftovers can be wrapped airtight and kept at mild room temperature for a day, or chilled for several days. For best results, reheat in the oven.
  • If you made and enjoyed this recipe, please come back and give it a rating. We ❤️ hearing from you.

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Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 115kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 0.4g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 76mg | Potassium: 61mg | Fiber: 0.1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 226IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 0.3mg

Course: Breakfast

Cuisine: American

Diet: Vegetarian

Method: Bake

Best French Toast Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you fix a soggy French toast casserole? ›

Why is my baked French toast casserole soggy? Too Wet- Soggy casseroles happen when there is too much of the egg mixture. Our recipe is on the “drier” side of breakfast casseroles, which is how our family prefers it. Make sure you use stale bread… and a thick heavy bakery bread works better than sandwich loaf slices.

What's the difference between Texas French toast and French toast? ›

Quite simply, Texas French toast is exactly what it sounds like, French toast that has been made using the extra thick slices endemic to Texas toast. Since the cut of bread is so thick, it allows for greater absorption of the egg and cream mixture and longer frying times.

What happens if you soak French toast too long? ›

The first is using fresh bread, which soaks up too much of the egg mixture and doesn't cook through, remaining eggy and soggy in the middle. Leaving the bread in the egg mixture for too long is another route to soggy French toast.

How do you make a moist casserole? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

Why is my overnight French toast soggy? ›

It could be because of the bread you used. If the bread you start with is too soft (such as white sandwich bread), it won't absorb all of the wonderful custard that it should, and it might end up soggy. If you find yourself with a soggy casserole, for whatever reason, try baking it a bit longer until it firms up some.

What do French people call French toast? ›

The usual French name is pain perdu (French: [pɛ̃ pɛʁdy] 'lost bread', reflecting its use of stale or otherwise "lost" bread. It may also be called pain doré 'golden bread' in Canada.

What is the best bread to use for French toast? ›

Look for bread that is labeled “hearty,” “thick-cut,” or “Texas toast.” Thin slices are more likely to collapse when soaked. You can also opt for a pullman loaf and slice the bread yourself to your desired thickness. Sliced wheat bread also makes good French toast, but might require a little extra soaking time.

What do the English call French toast? ›

The British call french toast “eggy bread," “gypsy bread" or “french-fried bread." And sometimes they serve it with ketchup. The people of New Zealand prefer their french toast served with bananas, bacon and maple syrup.

What is the secret to good French toast? ›

The secret ingredient in this fluffy French toast recipe: all-purpose flour! Flour binds the liquids together, which creates a more traditional “batter” and helps prevent soggy results. This extra ingredient ensures the French toast is crispy on the outside, but soft and fluffy on the inside.

Is French toast good without vanilla extract? ›

Your French bread will be perfectly delicious if you decide to just skip over the vanilla and continue making your French toast as-is. However, if you'd like to incorporate a little more flavor into the dish, you can try replacing the vanilla with a substitute like maple syrup, bourbon, or almond extract.

How to make your toast crispy? ›

Toast Bread In The Oven

A heat of 350º will cause your toast to be more browned, while a heat of 400º will result in a crunchy texture. Remember that the higher the temperature is, the less time it needs on each side. Try leaving your toast in for four to five minutes on each side.

Should I dry bread before making French toast? ›

Ideally, the bread should be slightly stale. A drier bread will soak up all the custard. Bread can be left out with the wrapper open the day before cooking. If you find yourself in a pinch, dry your bread slices in a 275°F oven for 10 minutes before soaking them in the custard.

Why does toast get soggy on plate? ›

For the British, toast is something of an obsession, so it's no surprise that the Brits came up with a gadget that keeps slices from getting soggy. When you place hot toast on a plate, the steam released by the bread collects underneath the slice, causing it to turn soft.

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