Our Easy French Toast Casserole is a classic recipe for brunch or breakfast, especially a holiday breakfast! You’ll go nuts for the cinnamon crumb topping.
It has been years and years since we’ve updated this old post for our favorite, simple french toast bake, but I’m finally getting around to it. Every year I’ve made it for a special breakfast, vowed to take new photos and then gobbled the entire thing up.
Well, a few months back we lost a few of our older posts in a tragic mishap on the blog, so here we are, desperate to get this baked french toast back up because it’s the perfect holiday breakfast!
Ingredients for French Toast Casserole
There’s nothing too surprising here, but starting with a good bread is crucial! Other than the bread, you’ll probably have everything else at home already. Here is your ingredients list:
- Challah, Brioche or Sourdough Bread: you want a dense sturdy bread and day old is best
- Eggs: large eggs, medium and you’ll need more eggs, extra large and you’ll need less
- Milk: don’t use fat free milk, but any other milk will work fine, we prefer 2%
- Heavy Cream: essential for the custard base of the casserole and adds richness and flavor
- Sugar: any granulated refined sugar works great
- Brown Sugar: adds flavor and richness
- Cinnamon: any brand of cinnamon is great
- NOTE: If you’re a nutmeg fan, you could add a little pinch of nutmeg too. I especially love that during the holidays!
- Vanilla: real vanilla extract is preferred
Topping
- Butter: chilled and cut into small (1/2 inch-ish) cubes
- Flour: just all purpose
- Brown Sugar: I never need a reason for brown sugar…haha…but really it’s all the flavor and sweetness
- Cinnamon: combined with the brown sugar and it’s all the flavor you need
- Salt: just a little pinch enhances all the flavors
- Optional: Top with powdered sugar and fresh raspberries, blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, etc.
How to Make French Toast Casserole
This is a great recipe for the holidays because you can make it the night before and just pop it in the oven in the morning. In fact, it’s better if you let it sit overnight. Overnight french toast casserole makes breakfast on Christmas morning so easy! Just a thought! Here are the simplified steps for making this breakfast casserole:
- Prep: Tear or slice the bread into bite size pieces and prepare a baking dish by spraying with cooking spray. Place the bread into the pan.
- Whisk: Whis