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Make-Ahead Baked French Toast Casserole Recipe

This baked French toast casserole is an ideal make-ahead breakfast or brunch. Thick slices of brioche, challah, or French bread are soaked in a cinnamon-infused custard overnight, baked until golden, and finished with berries and nuts for a simple, crowd-pleasing meal.

Overhead of french toast casserole in a baking pan topped with blueberries, raspberries, and walnuts dusted with powdered sugar.

This baked French toast casserole is a fuss-free dish you can prepare ahead of time for holidays, Mother’s Day brunch, birthdays, or any gathering. It bakes up golden and crisp on top while remaining soft and custardy inside.

Overnight baked french toast casserole with blueberries, rapsberries, and maple syrup surrounded by toppings.

Use thick slices of day-old bread so they soak up the custard without falling apart. You can make the casserole the night before — simply let the bread sit in the custard in the baking dish overnight, then bake the next morning for an easy, impressive breakfast.

The Best Bread for French Toast

  1. Brioche
  2. Challah
  3. French baguette
  4. Sourdough
  5. White sandwich bread

Expert Tips

  • Use day-old bread so slices absorb the custard without getting soggy.
  • Cut slices 3/4 to 1 inch thick for the best texture.
  • Soak the assembled casserole in the fridge for at least 15 minutes; overnight yields the best custardy results.
Baked french toast casserole with cinnamon, blueberries, raspberries in a baking dish.

Ingredients

Ingredients for baked French toast casserole with labeled text overlay.
  • Eggs – 6 large eggs
  • Milk – 2 cups (any kind, dairy or plant-based)
  • Half-and-half – 1/3 cup (optional for a richer custard)
  • Sugar – 1/3 cup plus 2 tablespoons (divided)
  • Vanilla – 1 teaspoon
  • Spices – 1 teaspoon cinnamon and a pinch of salt (add nutmeg or pumpkin spice if desired)
  • Bread – 1 loaf sliced bread (brioche, challah, or French; about 18 oz / 511 g)
  • Nuts – 1 cup, optional (walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts)
  • Berries – about 3 cups, for topping
  • Maple syrup and powdered sugar – for serving

How to Make Baked French Toast Casserole

Photo collage of cinnamon custard base made with eggs and milk to dip the bread in.
  1. Make the custard: In a large bowl whisk together eggs, milk, half-and-half, 1/3 cup sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until smooth.
  2. Dip each slice of bread into the custard, fully coating it, and arrange the slices overlapping in a 9 x 13-inch casserole dish.
  3. Pour any remaining custard over the arranged bread. Cover with foil and refrigerate to soak for 15 minutes up to overnight. If some custard pools, spoon it over the bread so slices absorb it evenly.
  4. Just before baking, sprinkle 2 to 3 tablespoons of sugar over the top to help form a caramelized, crunchy crust.
  5. Bake covered at 375°F (190°C) on the middle rack for 25 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 20–25 minutes until the top is golden and crisp and the sugar has caramelized. If your oven has convection, use it for the last 10 minutes. Tent any spots that brown too quickly with foil.
  6. Top with berries, nuts, powdered sugar, and maple syrup. Serve immediately.
Photo collage showing custard base being poured over the bread in a casserole pan and topped with sugar.

Topping Suggestions

  • Fruit – blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, sliced apples or peaches
  • Nuts – walnuts, pecans, sliced almonds, hazelnuts
  • Finishes – maple syrup, powdered sugar, whipped cream, or a caramel drizzle
Slice of baked french toast with blueberries, raspberries and powdered sugar on a white plate.
Baked french toast in a baking pan with golden brown crispy crust topped with blueberries, raspberries, nuts, and maple syrup.

FAQs

What size casserole dish should I use?
A 9 x 13-inch baking dish works well for this recipe and fits a typical 18 oz loaf (about 12 slices).

What kind of bread should I use?
Brioche and challah give the richest results, but sourdough or a French baguette work nicely too. Standard white sandwich bread is fine in a pinch.

Recipe Card

Baked French Toast Casserole

Servings: 12 | Prep: 15 mins | Cook: 45 mins | Total: 1 hr

Ingredients
  • 1 loaf sliced bread (brioche/challah/French, ~18 oz)
  • 6 large eggs
  • 2 cups milk
  • 1/3 cup half-and-half
  • 1/3 cup sugar, plus 2 tbsp (divided)
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 tsp cinnamon, pinch of salt
  • Toppings: 1 cup nuts, 3 cups berries, maple syrup, powdered sugar
Instructions
  1. Whisk eggs, milk, half-and-half, 1/3 cup sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt.
  2. Dip bread slices and arrange in a 9 x 13-inch pan.
  3. Pour remaining custard over bread, cover, and refrigerate 15 minutes to overnight.
  4. Sprinkle 2–3 tbsp sugar over the top before baking.
  5. Bake covered at 375°F for 25 minutes; uncover and bake 20–25 minutes until golden.
  6. Top with berries, nuts, powdered sugar, and maple syrup. Serve warm.
Notes
  • Leftovers: Store in an airtight container in the fridge up to 4 days.
  • Reheating: Warm in a toaster oven or microwave.
  • Make-ahead: Soak overnight and bake the next morning for a stress-free holiday breakfast.
Overnight baked French toast with a golden brown crunchy topping drizzled with maple syrup and topped with fruit.

Nutrition (approx. per serving): Calories 328, Carbs 44g, Protein 13g, Fat 12g. Use this as a guideline only.

Like this recipe? Leave a comment below and tell us how you topped your casserole!