A favorite among the family, this French toast breakfast casserole is full of flavor. Every time it bakes in the oven, the scent of cinnamon’s comforting notes draws the whole family in. It’s the perfect way to use up any stale bread leftovers you might have in your kitchen. Additionally, since you don’t have to flip the bread in the pan, it’s hands-free, which makes feeding a large group much simpler.
The bread’s crunchy, sugary top gives way to the soft, cinnamon custard-soaked interior. This is something you should prepare every weekend!
REQUIREMENTS FOR MAKING THIS RECIPE
- Don’t cut corners with the eggs. For a creamy custard, all six should be used. The French toast won’t be as firm or chewy if not enough eggs are used.
- Bread: You should use rich, white bread for this baked French toast casserole. It works best with bread that is just a little bit stale, so having leftover bread on hand is fantastic. To ensure more even cooking, you can cut or tear the bread with a knife.
- Whole milk is preferred, but 2% or skim milk can also be used if that’s what you have on hand. Remember that whole milk will yield a custard that is richer than one made with skim milk.
- Brown sugar: Light brown sugar still tastes like caramel despite having fewer molasses than dark brown sugar. You may choose either one. If you don’t have brown sugar, you can make your own by using the instructions in this post.
FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE METHOD
- Cut a large loaf of French bread into cubes measuring 1 inch.
- Fill a big bowl with the eggs, milk, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt.
- Blend the egg mixture thoroughly by whisking.
- Combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in a small bowl.
- Add the bread and mix to combine.
- Spoon into the baking dish that has been prepared and top with the evenly distributed brown sugar mixture.
- Place a butter dot on top.
- Bake the French toast casserole for 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the filling has set. If desired, top with powdered sugar and maple syrup before serving.
Pro suggestions for preparing this recipe
- Instead of cinnamon, you could substitute other spices like apple pie spice or pumpkin spice for a more festive flavor.
- Try coating the casserole in cinnamon sugar to switch things up after it comes out of the oven rather than dusting it with powdered sugar. To ensure that the sugar mixture sticks, you must do this while the bread is still warm.
- Fresh bread absorbs too much egg mixture when used in this French toast casserole, making the dish soggy on the inside.
- If all you have is fresh bread, toast the cubes briefly to help them dry out before dipping them in the egg mixture.
- Check to see if your brown sugar is moist and soft. Don’t worry if your brown sugar has hardened; there is a simple fix! On how to soften brown sugar, I wrote a thorough post.
FAQ
HOW DO I PREVENT THE SOGGING OF THIS CASSEROLE?
Use sturdy, dense bread instead of freshly baked bread, like French bread, brioche, challah, or sourdough bread. To keep the bread from getting soggy, cut it thicker if your bread is less dense.
IS IT POSSIBLE TO MAKE THIS FRENCH TOAST BAKE IN ADVANCE?
By making the egg mixture, adding it to the bread, and letting it soak all night, you can make the casserole the night before. The following morning, before baking the French toast, add the brown sugar topping.
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