Our French Toast Casserole hits all the classic notes with cinnamon, nutmeg and brown sugar. I make it the night before and pop it in the oven in the morning. Using whole slices, and taking only 10 minutes to prep, this foolproof recipe is a breeze.
French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 loaf sour dough bread preferably stale (sliced)
- 8 eggs whole eggs
- ½ cup sugar
- 2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg grated or ground
- 1½ cups whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Topping
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg or grated
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup brown sugar packed
- ¼ cup butter cut into pieces (cold)
- pinch of salt
Directions
- Generously butter the bottom and sides of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Set it aside.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, milk, and heavy cream until they’re well combined.
- Dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture and place it in the prepared baking dish, overlapping each slice. Pour the remaining egg mixture over the top of the bread slices. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for several hours, or overnight.
- In a small bowl, mix all of the ingredients for the topping, except for the butter. Once they’re combined, cut the cold butter pieces into the nut mixture until it resembles small pebbles. Cover and reserve the topping to be added just before the French toast is baked.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F / 175°C.
- After the French toast is done soaking, remove the casserole from the refrigerator and sprinkle the nut mixture evenly over the top of the bread slices. For a texture that’s more like bread pudding, bake for 45 minutes. For a firmer, less custardy, texture that’s more like baked French toast, bake for 1 hour.
- Serve topped with maple syrup and fresh fruit.
Notes
- Cut directly down into the French toast bake like you would slice a coffee cake, rather than serving individual pieces. That way, everyone gets an even piece of moist French toast and topping.
- It's better to work with stale of dry bread.
Nutrition
Recipe Video
Can You Freeze French Toast Casserole
Yes, I recommend storing the casserole in a freezer bag and trying to get as much air out of the bag before sealing as possible. You may even want to wrap it in plastic wrap as an added layer against air. FoodSafety.org suggests that casseroles with egg will last 2-3 months in the freezer.
How Long Does it Last in the Fridge
After baking, your casserole will stay good in the fridge for 3-4 days. It's better to put inside an airtight container but you can also cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap.
Can You Make it Ahead of Time
Yes, I make mine the night before and pop it in the oven in the morning. I store overnight in the refrigerator with the top covered tightly with plastic wrap. French Toast Casserole is a great breakfast dish for holidays or when family and friends are visiting because you can make it ahead and have it oven-ready in the morning. You kitchen will fill with a warm brown sugar-cinnamon fragrance.
If you love easy breakfast casseroles you might try Baked Oatmeal.
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