Overnight French Toast Casserole: The Ultimate Make-Ahead Breakfast

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When you want a warm, comforting breakfast without the morning rush, Overnight French Toast Casserole is the perfect solution. This classic make-ahead dish combines soft bread soaked in a rich cinnamon-vanilla custard, baked to golden perfection the next morning. It’s cozy, indulgent, and ideal for feeding a crowd with minimal effort.

At FoodieMoms, this recipe is a favorite for holidays, weekends, and special occasions because all the prep happens the night before. In the morning, you simply pop it in the oven and enjoy the irresistible aroma of baked French toast filling your kitchen.

Why Overnight French Toast Casserole Is So Popular

Traditional French toast is delicious—but standing at the stove flipping slices isn’t always practical, especially when hosting guests. Overnight French Toast Casserole solves that problem by transforming the classic dish into a single baked casserole.

The bread absorbs the custard overnight, creating a soft, creamy interior and lightly crisp top once baked. It’s easy, dependable, and endlessly customizable.

What Makes This Recipe Special

  • True overnight soak for maximum flavor
  • Soft, custardy center with golden edges
  • Minimal morning prep
  • Perfect for holidays and brunch
  • Kid-friendly and crowd-pleasing

It’s the kind of recipe that becomes a tradition.

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Day-old bread (French bread, brioche, or challah)
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Heavy cream
  • Brown sugar
  • Granulated sugar
  • Butter
  • Vanilla extract
  • Ground cinnamon
  • Salt
  • Maple syrup (for serving)

Simple pantry staples come together to create a rich, bakery-style breakfast.

How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole

  1. Grease a baking dish and add bread cubes evenly.
  2. Whisk eggs, milk, cream, sugars, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. Pour custard mixture over the bread, pressing gently to soak.
  4. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.
  5. Bake the next morning until golden and set.

The overnight rest allows the bread to fully absorb the custard, resulting in unbeatable texture.

Tips for Perfect French Toast Casserole

  • Use slightly stale bread for best absorption.
  • Press bread down gently to soak up custard.
  • Let casserole sit at room temperature 20 minutes before baking.
  • Cover loosely with foil if browning too quickly.
  • Let rest before slicing to set the custard.

Overnight French Toast Casserole

A make-ahead breakfast casserole with bread soaked overnight in a rich cinnamon custard and baked until golden.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Overnight Chill 8 hours
Total Time 1 hour
Servings: 8 slices
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American
Calories: 390

Ingredients
  

  • 1 loaf French bread cubed
  • 8 eggs large
  • 2 cups milk
  • 0.5 cup heavy cream
  • 0.5 cup brown sugar
  • 2 tbsp granulated sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 0.25 tsp salt
  • 3 tbsp butter for greasing dish

Equipment

  • Mixing bowls
  • Whisk
  • 9×13 baking dish
  • Plastic wrap or foil

Method
 

  1. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish and spread bread cubes evenly.
  2. In a bowl, whisk eggs, milk, cream, sugars, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.
  3. Pour mixture evenly over bread and gently press to soak.
  4. Cover tightly and refrigerate overnight.
  5. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Let casserole sit at room temperature 20 minutes.
  6. Bake uncovered for 40–45 minutes until golden and set.
  7. Rest 10 minutes before serving with maple syrup.

Notes

Use day-old bread for best texture.

Delicious Variations

Cinnamon Streusel Topping
Add a buttery brown sugar crumble before baking.

Berry French Toast Casserole
Add blueberries or raspberries between bread layers.

Apple Cinnamon
Add sautéed apples and extra cinnamon.

Pumpkin Spice Version
Add pumpkin purée and pumpkin spice to custard.

Savory French Toast Bake
Reduce sugar and add cheese and sausage.

Make-Ahead, Storage & Freezing Tips

  • Refrigerate leftovers up to 4 days.
  • Freeze baked casserole for up to 2 months.
  • Reheat in the oven or microwave until warmed through.
  • Ideal for holiday mornings and meal prep.

Perfect Occasions for Overnight French Toast Casserole

  • Christmas morning
  • Easter brunch
  • Weekend family breakfasts
  • Brunch parties
  • Breakfast-for-dinner nights

This casserole shines whenever you want something special without extra work.

Why FoodieMoms Loves This Recipe

At FoodieMoms, we value recipes that make mornings easier while still feeling homemade. Overnight French Toast Casserole delivers comfort, convenience, and crowd-pleasing flavor every single time.

It’s one of those recipes that guests always ask for.

Final Thoughts

If you want a breakfast that’s warm, comforting, and stress-free, Overnight French Toast Casserole is the answer. Prep it once, bake it the next day, and enjoy a truly effortless morning meal

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