Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole: make the night before and bake in the morning. Serve with custard sauce for breakfast or brunch.
This French toast casserole is great because you make it the night before and let is soak in all the eggy goodness overnight in the fridge. In the morning you just have to bake the easy French toast bake and enjoy. I've partnered with Giant Tiger for this post. Yesterday I shared our Santa Themed Christmas Breakfast, and today I'm sharing the delicious recipe for the Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole. I picked up all the ingredients for the this great recipe at Giant Tiger in their great grocery section, including the fresh bread.
I've been making it for years. It's become a tradition that we have it every year on Christmas morning. Everyone looks forward to it, and my mother-in-law always asks to have the leftovers. It's really the perfect easy breakfast casserole for any special occasions or holiday morning, like Easter morning, Mother’s day brunch, or Sunday mornings for brunch.
Serving Suggestions
I usually serve the French Toast Casserole with warm custard sauce. It's the perfect breakfast with whipped cream too, and you might want a little drizzle of maple syrup too, although it's already quite sweet. Fresh berries, like strawberries, or fresh blueberries, or any fresh fruit on the side would be a great addition to this delicious breakfast.
Make Ahead
This baked french toast casserole recipe is also a favourite for company. I love that you can make it ahead of time, and just put it in the oven the next morning. It's one less thing to worry about on a morning of entertaining, and gives you a head start. It is always a hit with guests. In fact, who won't want to wake up to this any weekend mornings. This make ahead breakfast is an easy recipe, so it's not too difficult to put together the night before and enjoy any busy morning you want a hearty breakfast.
After putting it all together the night before, just cover with plastic wrap and let it sit in the fridge overnight, ready to bake in the morning. It's a such a great option when your entertaining because all you have to do is pop it in the oven, and you can spend time with guests instead of having to flip pancakes or fry regular French toast just before serving.
The Bread
We love the French toast casserole made with raisin egg bread. If you're a fan of raisins give this version a try. You can use regular bread, French bread, challah bread, or a buttery brioche bread if you prefer it without raisins. Giant Tiger also carries a chocolate brioche loaf that I'm sure would be amazing for the chocolate lover. Or sprinkle some chocolate chips between the layers.
Tip
One tip, make sure the bread is soaked with the egg evenly at the top. You might need to press it down a little just before baking. It's nice to have the casserole a little crisp on the top, but you don't want it completely dried out. You can break the bread into 1-inch cubes to avoid this and stir the bread cubes in the custard mixture to avoid this. If you do this the cubed bread makes it look more like a bread pudding, but I think it looks more like individual pieces of French toast with the whole slices.
If there are any leftovers of the overnight brioche french toast casserole, they reheat really easily in the microwave the next day.
Recipe
Overnight French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- ¼ cup butter
- ¾ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
- 1 loaf of sliced raisin bread or brioche bread
- 8 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- Pinch salt
- Optional: maple syrup whipped cream, or custard sauce to serve with it
Instructions
- Melt the butter and combine with the brown sugar. Use the mixture to coat the bottom of a large baking dish.
- Arrange the sliced bread on top of the butter and brown sugar mixture.
- In a large mixing bowl combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, ginger, and salt. Beat until fully combined. Pour the egg and milk mixture over the bread in the prepared baking dish. Try to make sure the tops of the bread are soaked as well, you may have to use a spoon to help, and lightly push own the tops of the bread. Cover and leave in the fridge overnight or at least 3 hours.
- To bake the cassarole, remove from the fridge and let it come to room temperature. Before baking, for best results make sure the egg mixture is soaked into the top of the casserole and that the pieces of bread are not dry on the top. Bake casserole at 350 degrees for 30-45 minutes or until the egg is set and the top is golden brown.
- Serve hot or warm with maple syrup, and whipped cream or custard sauce. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge.
Nutrition
With this easy French toast casserole recipe, life really is a party!
This post is sponsored by Giant Tiger. As always, all opinions are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that make life is a party possible.
More Ideas
You might also like our Christmas Breakfast Board here.
Also be sure to check out our Jelly Donut Pancakes recipe here.
You might also enjoy Pumpkin Waffles recipe here.
Dannyelle says
Hi Sheri, I usually cover it to bake. I think the top would be a little crunchier if you left it uncovered -so which ever you prefer.
Enjoy!
Dannyelle
Sheri says
Getting ready to try this!! I’m never sure whether to cover or not when I bake. What do you do?