Simple Steps to Make Baked French Toast Casserole

Transform your morning meals into a celebration with this Easy Baked French Toast Casserole, a delectable dish that takes the classic comfort of French toast and turns it into a fuss-free, make-ahead brunch masterpiece. Perfect for lazy weekends, special occasions, or when you’re hosting a breakfast crowd, this casserole combines soft, custardy bread with a golden, crispy top, all infused with sweet, cinnamon-spiced flavors. Prepare it the night before and simply bake it in the morning for a stress-free, yet impressively delicious, start to your day.

Why You’ll Love Easy Baked French Toast Casserole:

• Make-Ahead Convenience: Assemble the night before and enjoy more morning relaxation.
• Crowd-Pleaser: Ideal for feeding a group, ensuring everyone gets a warm, hearty start to the day.
• Customizable: Easy to adapt with your favorite add-ins like nuts, fruit, or chocolate chips.
• Comforting and Cozy: Delivers the heartwarming taste of traditional French toast in every bite.

Ingredients Notes For Easy Baked French Toast Casserole:

• Bread: Day-old challah, brioche, or French bread is perfect for soaking up the custard without becoming too soggy.
• Eggs and Milk: The base of the custard mixture, providing richness and moisture to the casserole.
• Sugar and Cinnamon: Adds sweetness and warmth, creating that classic French toast flavor.
• Vanilla Extract: Enhances the overall flavor with its sweet, aromatic essence.
• Toppings: A crumble topping of flour, butter, and brown sugar adds a delightful crunch. Optionally, serve with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh fruit.

Recipe Steps:

1. Prepare the Bread: Cut the bread into cubes and arrange them in a greased baking dish.
2. Mix the Custard: Whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Pour the mixture evenly over the bread, ensuring all pieces are coated. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
3. Make the Topping: Combine flour, brown sugar, and cold butter in a bowl. Mix until crumbly. Sprinkle over the soaked bread before baking.
4. Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake the casserole for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is golden and crisp.
5. Serve: Let the casserole cool slightly before serving. Enhance with your choice of toppings like maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh berries.

Storage Options:

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven or microwave.
• Freeze: Freeze individual portions for a quick and easy future breakfast. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat as desired.

Simple Steps to Make Baked French Toast Casserole

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Ingredients

 

For the Casserole:

• ▢ 1 loaf French bread brioche, or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 10-12 cups)
• ▢ 8 large eggs
• ▢ 2 cups whole milk
• ▢ 1/2 cup heavy cream optional, for extra richness
• ▢ 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• ▢ 1/4 cup brown sugar
• ▢ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ▢ Pinch of salt

For the Topping:

• ▢ 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• ▢ 1/2 cup brown sugar
• ▢ 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ▢ 1/4 teaspoon salt
• ▢ 1/2 cup unsalted butter cold and cut into pieces

Instructions

Prep the Night Before:

• Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Place the cubed bread evenly into the dish.

Make the Egg Mixture:

• In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream (if using), granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and a pinch of salt. Pour this mixture evenly over the bread cubes, ensuring all pieces are coated. Press down with a spatula to make sure the bread soaks up the egg mixture.

Cover and Refrigerate:

• Cover the casserole with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, allowing the bread to absorb the egg mixture.

Prepare the Topping (Optional):

• In a small bowl, mix together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add the cold butter pieces, and using a fork or pastry cutter, mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

Bake the Casserole:

• Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the casserole and topping from the refrigerator. If you've prepared the crumb topping, sprinkle it evenly over the top of the casserole.
• Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes, or until the casserole is puffed up, golden brown, and set in the center.

Serve:

• Let the casserole cool slightly before serving. Serve warm with maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh fruit on the side.