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Easy Overnight Baked French Toast Casserole: Best Recipe

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This easy overnight baked French toast casserole is a warm, comforting, and absolutely delicious breakfast that requires minimal morning effort. Prep it the night before, let the bread soak up the creamy custard, and bake it in the morning for a golden, crowd-pleasing dish.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large loaf (about 12 cups cubed) sturdy bread (brioche, challah, French bread, or Italian loaf), day-old preferred
  • 8 large eggs, at room temperature
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar (plus more for topping)
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg (optional)
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted (plus more for greasing the dish)
  • Powdered sugar for dusting (optional)
  • Pure maple syrup for serving

Instructions

  1. Prepare the bread: Cut bread into roughly 1-inch cubes. If fresh, spread on a baking sheet and dry in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes, or leave out for about an hour.
  2. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish generously with butter.
  3. Layer half of the bread cubes evenly in the prepared dish.
  4. Make the custard: In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs until well beaten and slightly frothy. Add whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk until completely combined and sugars begin to dissolve.
  5. Pour half of the custard mixture evenly over the first layer of bread. Let sit for a minute, then gently press down with a spatula to help absorption. Add remaining bread cubes on top, then pour the rest of the custard over everything. Press down gently again.
  6. Add the topping: In a small bowl, mix melted butter with a few tablespoons of brown sugar and an extra sprinkle of cinnamon. Drizzle evenly over the top of the casserole.
  7. Cover tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 8 hours, up to 24 hours.
  8. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Remove casserole from fridge and let sit on counter for 15-20 minutes while oven heats.
  9. Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes, until top is golden brown and center is set but still slightly jiggly. A knife inserted into the center should come out clean or with a few moist crumbs.
  10. Let casserole rest for at least 10 minutes before serving. Dust with powdered sugar, drizzle with warm maple syrup, and serve immediately.

Notes

For best results, use day-old bread and let the casserole rest overnight for at least 8 hours. Press the bread down firmly after adding custard to ensure even absorption. If edges brown too quickly, tent with foil during the last 10-15 minutes of baking. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes after baking before serving to allow the custard to set.

Nutrition

Keywords: overnight french toast casserole, baked french toast, breakfast casserole, easy french toast, holiday breakfast, brunch recipe

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