Overnight French Toast Casserole

This quick and easy French Toast Casserole can be made the day before and refrigerated overnight so it’s ready to bake and enjoy in the morning. An overnight french toast bake with praline topping is perfect for a crowd or any holiday morning.

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What Kind of Bread is Best For Overnight French Toast?

Some might say any bread is fine to use for a french toast casserole, but I disagree. While technically speaking you can use any type of bread and come out with an edible result, it doesn’t mean you will come out with something everyone will love. As someone who is all about using whatever ingredients I have laying around, I’m telling you, please don’t use that loaf of white bunny bread just because it’s convenient. 

A thick artisan bread typically works best for a recipe like this.

Here is a list of my favorite types of bread to use: 

• French bread
• Brioche 
• Challah 
• Sourdough

How To Make An Overnight French Toast Casserole

(full printable recipe at the end of this post)

This isn’t your average simple french toast recipe, it’s the sophisticated, more flavorful version you wish your mom had the recipe for when you were growing up. While a more flavorful end result makes everyone jump for joy, it means there will be a few extra steps to prep your perfect french toast bake. 

Don’t sweat it though, just follow along with these instructions and you’ll be smooth sailing all the way to a picture-perfect brunch spread.  

First, you will prep your glaze and pour it into a prepared baking dish. Next, lay the slices of bread atop the glaze and set aside. Now we’ll move onto prepping the custard by combining the cream, eggs, vanilla, and salt in a medium bowl.

Once combined, pour the mixture over the bread in the pan, pressing the bread down into the custard to ensure slices are evenly soaked. Cover the pan with foil, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or overnight up to 24 hours.

When you’re ready to bake, remove the dish from the refrigerator and preheat the oven to 350°F. While the oven is preheating, make the praline topping by stirring together the brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a small bowl and sprinkle the mixture evenly over the bread. Lastly, bake the French toast until it’s bubbly and the top is very lightly browned.

Tips For Making The Best French Toast Bake

How to avoid soggy french toast: Make sure you are using a hard, crunchy bread, that’s at least a day old (not fresh out of the bakery). This will give the bread more stability and allow it to hold up better as the liquids soak in. 

Also, make sure you are using enough bread slices. If your liquid to bread ratio is off and there is too much liquid soaking into each slice, you have a higher risk of the slices becoming oversaturated. 

Add your favorite toppings: This basic recipe is just a jumping-off point. If you really want to take this brush dish to the next level, add any of these toppings before serving, or set out a self serve spread of toppings so everyone can make their own creation. 

• Bananas, Strawberries, blueberries
• Chocolate chips, peanut butter chips  
• Pecans, walnuts, almonds 

 

How To Store and Serve This Overnight French Toast Casserole

How to freeze french toast casserole: To freeze your leftover casserole, let it cool completely and wrap the dish with plastic wrap then foil. It will keep for up to 2 months in the freezer. To serve from frozen, simply thaw overnight in the refrigerator. When you’re ready to eat thaw overnight in the fridge, remove all the wrapping and reheat it in the oven on 350 for 20 minutes. 

How to store overnight french toast in the refrigerator: To store in the refrigerator after baking, prep the dish in the same way you would if you were going to freeze it (cover with plastic wrap then foil) or cut the casserole into individual servings and place in an airtight container. Store for up 3-4 days. 

Serving a leftover french toast bake: When serving any leftover french toast, I like to reheat the individual serving in the microwave for 15-20 seconds. It can also be served cold too. 

Find More Amazing Breakfast Recipes Here!

Orange Buttermilk Pancakes – light and fluffy pancakes with a hint of orange served with whipped orange honey butter make a perfect spring breakfast!

Baked Peanut Butter Oatmeal – a delicious twist to a family-friendly hearty breakfast! Tell them it will taste like a giant oatmeal cookie they can cover in milk and they’ll be racing to the kitchen to help.

Chocolate Croissants – It’s the perfect at-home treat without any fuss and just 5 minutes of hands-on time. This crescent roll recipe is easy and perfect for breakfast, brunch, or dessert!

Cinnamon Raisin Biscuit– topped with sweet, melty vanilla icing for breakfast. These drop biscuits are a simple, quick, and easy biscuit recipe that comes together in about 22 minutes! 

Blueberry Breakfast Casserole takes cinnamon rolls to the next level for a decadent sweet breakfast or dessert. With cinnamon rolls, cream cheese, and loaded with juicy blueberries and fresh lemon zest.

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Tools Used To Make This Overnight French Toast Casserole

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy here.

Rectangle Casserole Dish  

This rectangle casserole dish is always my go-to for any casseroles, both sweet and savory! 

Glass Bowl Set

Everyone should have a good set of mixing bowls in their kitchen. This set is my favorite because the variety of sizes means I always have exactly what I need available. 

Stainless Saucepan

Everyone needs a good medium saucepan in their kitchen, and this Cuisinart pan has always been my favorite and has help up through hundreds of uses throughout the years. 

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Overnight French Toast Casserole

Yield: 9-12 servings

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Inactive Time: 8 hours 5 minutes

Total Time: 9 hours

This quick and easy French Toast Casserole with a praline topping can be made the day before and refrigerated overnight so it’s ready to bake and enjoy in the morning. A breakfast or brunch recipe special enough for any gathering.

Print

Ingredients

GLAZE

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons honey, maple syrup or corn syrup

BREAD

• 1 loaf DAY OLD French or other crusty bread cut 1/2" thick

CUSTARD

• 1½ cups heavy whipping cream
• 5 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

TOPPING

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Instructions

1. Lightly grease a 9" x 13" baking dish (or a shallow 2-quart casserole dish).
2. To make the glaze: Using a small saucepan melt the butter, and stir in the brown sugar and syrup. Bring the mixture to a simmer for about one minute or until the sugar dissolves. Pour the glaze into the prepared pan, spreading it to the corners with a rubber spatula.
3. Lay the slices of bread in the pan, atop the glaze.
4. To make the custard: In a medium bowl whisk together the cream, eggs, vanilla, and salt. Pour over the bread in the pan, pressing the bread down into the custard to ensure slices are evenly soaked.
5. Cover the pan with foil, and refrigerate at least 30 minutes, or overnight up to 24 hours.
6. When you’re ready to bake, remove the dish from the refrigerator and set on the counter for 15-20 minutes while you preheat the oven to 350°F.
7. Make the praline topping by stirring together the brown sugar, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the bread.
8. Bake the French toast for 40 to 45 minutes, until it’s bubbly and the top is very lightly browned.
9. Remove it from the oven, and allow it to cool for 10 to 15 minutes before serving. Serve individual slices of bread, turning it over on the plate so the syrupy bottom is on top.

Notes

recipe from King Arthur

Recommended Products

As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.

• 
  White 9x13 Rectangular Baking Dish 
• 
  Glass Bowl Set 
• 
  Cuisinart Saucepan, 1-Quart
• 
  Non-Stick Spatula Turner

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 9 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 634Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 175mgSodium: 611mgCarbohydrates: 80gFiber: 2gSugar: 43gProtein: 12g

Nutrition information is estimated based on the ingredients and cooking instructions as described in each recipe and is intended to be used for informational purposes only. Please note that nutrition details may vary based on methods of preparation, origin, and freshness of ingredients used.