This french toast casserole is an easy breakfast dish that you can prepare ahead for a family breakfast or brunch.
I have been trying out different casseroles lately in the hope of making breakfast easier to eat in the morning. I don’t want to spend time prepping in the morning while I am trying to get my house ready for the day. I came up with the idea of a French Toast Casserole the other day at brunch when I ordered French Toast. I figured that it would be pretty easy because all it really is bread and egg. Of course, I realized that I was not the first person to think of French Toast Casserole once I started googling the term. Other people had the genius idea, just like I did.
French Toast Casserole Recipe
Here is everything you need to know to make your own breakfast or brunch casserole.
What type of bread is best for French Toast Casserole?
I made a few casseroles with different types of bread and figured out that French Bread is the best choice because of how hard it is. Super soft bread tends to melt and you forget you are supposed to be eating French Toast.
Shopping List
Before you get ready to cook, this is what you will need from the store.
- 1 large loaf french bread
- 2 1/2 cups whole milk
- 4 eggs
- 1 cup egg whites
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1¼ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
2 tablespoons sugar (for topping)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
Cut the french bread loaf into 1-inch cubes. This will give you about 5 cups of bread. Place the bread cubes into the prepared dish.
French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray the large pyrex baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Cut the french bread loaf into 1-inch cubes (~ 5 cups). Place bread cubes into the prepared dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, beat together milk, eggs, 2 tablespoons sugar, 1/4 tsp salt and 1 1/4 tsp vanilla.
- Pour egg mixture over bread. Press down on bread to help it soak up the liquid.
- Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes.
- Slice the butter into small pieces and dot the top of the casserole with the butter.
- Combine the second set of 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon in a small bowl, and sprinkle over the top of the casserole.
- Bake for 50 minutes or until top is golden.
- Remove from the oven. Serve warm.
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What to serve with French Toast Casserole
Since this is such a sweet dish, it pairs really well with savory breakfast options. So serve it with your favorite breakfast meats, such as:
- Sausage links
- Sausage patties
- Fried ham
- Any egg dish
Does it need syrup?
The best thing about this casserole is that it doesn’t need any extra syrup at the end. Since you are covering it with melted butter and cinnamon and sugar, it comes out perfectly sweet.
Can you make it dairy-free?
Yes, it’s simple to make this a dairy-free recipe. Just substitute the milk with either soy, almond, coconut or even oat milk. Any of those will work in the same amount as the dairy milk.
Can you use canned biscuit dough?
If you want, you definitely can use canned biscuit dough. However, I really liked how the French bread turned out, and there wasn’t much difference in the cooking time. If you wanted, you could make the version I found on Crazy for Crust. She calls it Monkey Bread and it looks incredibly delicious.
How to Make French Toast Casserole in the Slow Cooker
The process for making french toast casserole in the slow cooker is about the same as my recipe. In fact, My Fearless Kitchen has a really easy recipe that uses French bread, just like I did. She puts all her ingredients in the slow cooker, then cooks on high for 2 hours or on low for 4 hours.
More Breakfast or Brunch Recipes
I really hope you enjoyed this French toast casserole recipe. Here are some more of my favorite breakfast or brunch recipes that you should try next.
- Gluten-Free Rolled Oats Breakfast Bowl – This recipe tastes as good as it looks. It is packed with nutrients to help you start your day right.
- Breakfast Casserole – These are made in muffin tins and come out perfectly portioned.
- Bacon Donut Recipe – The bacon adds a savory side to my already amazing donuts.
OMG what a great idea. Dying to try.
This is such a tasty dish! I am dying to try it.