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By Taylor Stinson | 48 Comments | Posted: | Updated:
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This East Overnight French Toast Casserole can be made ahead and baked fresh in the morning – serve with berries and maple syrup!
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Ingredients and substitutions
- Loaf of bread – brioche, challah and French bread are the best options. Regular sandwich bread will work, but make sure you only soak it for 10 minutes.
- Eggs – use a flax egg for a vegan option.
- Milk – swap out for a dairy-free milk of your choice like coconut or almond milk.
- Maple syrup – you’ll need maple syrup for that authentic French toast flavour but in a pinch, feel free to use honey or brown sugar.
- Cinnamon – try out other flavours like pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg ,vanilla, ginger, cloves, orange or lemon zest.
- Butter – or a butter substitute of your choice.
- Frozen mixed berries – use any blend of berries you like. You could also use fresh berries if you have some on hand.
Toppings
- Icing sugar – leave this off if you don’t have any on hand.
- Maple syrup – honey, almond butter or jam would all be good toppings.
- Fresh berries – use any berries of your choice like strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries.
How to make French toast casserole
Step 1: Cut the bread into cubes.
Step 2: Whisk the eggs.
Whisk the eggs and milk together, then pour in the maple syrup and cinnamon.
Step 3: Toss the bread.
Toss the bread cubes in the egg mixture and let it sit overnight.
Step 4: Grease the dish.
Step 5: Add the bread mixture.
Add the bread to the baking dish, then drizzle with butter and top with frozen berries.
Step 6: Bake and then serve!
Bake the casserole. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with maple syrup and fresh berries. Enjoy!
Tips for overnight French toast casserole
Here are some tips for this overnight French toast casserole recipe:
- Use the right bread: I'd recommend using brioche, challah or French bread for the best results.
- Make it ahead of time: Follow the instructions and add everything to the oven-safe dish, then cover the dish in plastic wrap and stick it in the fridge overnight. The next day, all you have to do is drizzle it with butter and frozen berries, then pop it in the oven.
- Add the berries on before baking: Make sure you add the frozen berries over top of the casserole before baking! You can top with fresh fruit after baking, but you'll definitely want to add on the frozen fruit before baking.
- Try different flavor combinations: Swap out the cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, vanilla extract, ginger, cloves, orange or lemon zest.
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of bread is best for French toast casserole?
Brioche, challah and French bread are best for overnight French toast casserole. Brioche soaks up all the liquid while cooking but still maintains its shape, and the outside browns nicely in the oven while the inside is soft and delicate. Challah is very similar to brioche, with a buttery flavour that enhances the taste of the casserole. French bread has a chewier texture so it’s nearly perfect after a longer soaking time.
Can you make this recipe gluten or dairy-free?
To make this recipe gluten-free, swap out the regular loaf of bread for your favourite gluten-free bread. To make it dairy-free, substitute the milk for a non-dairy alternative of your choice like almond milk or soy milk, and the butter for margarine or another dairy-free substitute.
Why is my French toast casserole soggy?
If your casserole is soggy, you may not have used the right kind of bread. You should only soak the casserole overnight if you're using brioche, challah or French bread. If you're using regular sandwich bread, limit the soaking time to 10 minutes max.
Do you add the fruit on top before or after baking?
Add the frozen mixed berries over top before baking. Once the casserole is finished baking, top it with the fresh berries, maple syrup and icing sugar, then serve.
What can you serve on the side?
French toast casserole tastes great with bacon, fresh fruit, sausage, eggs or home fries if you're serving a large crowd. You can divide the servings into 12 portions and then have some extra protein or side dishes available to feed everyone. It’s the perfect dish for Christmas morning or big brunches!
Storing and reheating
This baked French toast casserole can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days right in the casserole dish or in an airtight container. Reheat it in a toaster oven or conventional oven for 10 minutes at 350° Fahrenheit. You can microwave it for 1 to 2 minutes, just keep in mind that the bread will be soggier – but if you like your French toast softer, then go for it!
Can you freeze French toast casserole?
You can freeze this French toast casserole for 1 to 2 months, but I suggest you freeze it without the berries. They contain too much water and will soak your bread. When you’re ready to enjoy, add the frozen berries over top and reheat the casserole directly from frozen for 30 to 40 minutes at 350° Fahrenheit.
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Meal Prep Tools
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Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole
This Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole can be made ahead and baked fresh in the morning – serve with berries and maple syrup!
4.88 from 130 votes
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Servings: 8 servings
Calories: 412kcal
Author: Taylor Stinson
Prep Time: 20 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Total Time: 50 minutes minutes
Ingredients
- 1 loaf bread
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
- icing sugar, for topping
- maple syrup, for topping
- 1 cup fresh berries, for topping
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 F. Cut bread into 1-2 inch cubes. Set aside.
Whisk eggs and milk together in a very large bowl until well mixed. Add maple syrup and cinnamon, stirring well. Add in cubes of bread and toss until combined. Let sit for 5 min or up to 12 hours overnight.
Grease an 9×13 oven safe dish and add bread to it, then drizzle with butter and top with frozen berries. Bake in the oven for 30 min.
Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with maple syrup and fresh berries. Enjoy!
Video
Notes
Try out different flavours by swapping out the cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, vanilla, ginger, cloves, orange or lemon zest.
Brioche, challah or French bread are the best bread options.
Prep the casserole the day before, then top it with the butter and frozen berries and bake.
Store the leftovers in the fridge for up to 5 days. Reheat in the oven for 10 minutes at 350 F.
Freeze the casserole without the berries for 1-2 months. Reheat from frozen in the oven for 30-40 minutes at 350 F.
Nutrition
Calories: 412kcal (21%)Carbohydrates: 58g (19%)Protein: 13g (26%)Fat: 14g (22%)Saturated Fat: 7g (44%)Cholesterol: 106mg (35%)Sodium: 561mg (24%)Potassium: 296mg (8%)Fiber: 4g (17%)Sugar: 18g (20%)Vitamin A: 447IU (9%)Vitamin C: 1mg (1%)Calcium: 201mg (20%)Iron: 3mg (17%)
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Created by Taylor Stinson
Hey there, my name's Taylor! I’m the founder of The Girl on Bloor, a food blog where I share healthy meal prep recipes for busy people. I'm a busy city girl living in downtown Toronto on (you guessed it!) Bloor Street. I've got 10 years experience meal prepping, along with a Master's degree in journalism, and you can find my work across the internet featured on publications such as Buzzfeed, HuffPost, Women's Health, Reader's Digest and more. I also run the awesome 5-Day Meal Prep Challenge, which is a free email course and Facebook group where I share my meal planning strategies and easy meal prep tips and recipes. Be sure to check out my free beginner’s guide to meal prep and follow me on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram to get my latest recipes and meal prep tips!
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valerie says
what temp and how long do you bake this for?
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Taylor Stinson says
It’s in the recipe card. 350 F 30 min
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Hannah says
How long would you soak sourdough?
Reply
Taylor Stinson says
It should be the same amount of time!
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Jennifer says
This recipe is SO GOOD!!! I made it for a late night supper because my husband had to work until almost midnight and I wanted something easy. When he walked in the door he said “what are you making for dinner? It really smells good!” And, it was. I made it according to the recipe and it was great! Thank you!
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Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you both enjoyed! 🙂
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Amanda Lynch says
Could I make this fully the night before and just rewarm it the next morning?Reply
Taylor Stinson says
Yes you could 🙂
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