Description
Overnight French Toast Casserole brings comfort and indulgence to morning breakfast tables. Rich cinnamon-spiced bread layers melt into a creamy custard, promising a delightful start that will satisfy hungry guests with minimal morning preparation.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 loaf French bread (or thick Texas toast), sliced
- 8 eggs
- 2 cups (480 milliliters) half and half
- 1 ½ sticks (170 grams) butter, softened
Sweeteners and Spices:
- 1 cup (220 grams) light brown sugar, packed
- 3 tablespoons (37 grams) granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup (optional)
- 1 ½ teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Liquid and Seasoning:
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) milk
- ½ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Thoroughly grease a 9 x 13 inches (22.86 x 33.02 centimeters) baking dish with unsalted butter or non-stick cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Arrange bread slices in neat, slightly overlapping rows across the entire dish surface, ensuring complete and uniform coverage.
- Combine eggs, half and half, whole milk, granulated sugar, pure vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and kosher salt in a large mixing bowl, whisking vigorously until the mixture becomes completely smooth and homogeneous.
- Gently pour the liquid custard mixture over the arranged bread, making certain each slice becomes thoroughly saturated and evenly coated.
- Securely cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight, allowing bread to absorb the rich, spiced custard completely.
- Remove the casserole from the refrigerator approximately 30 minutes before baking to allow it to approach room temperature.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), positioning the rack in the center for consistent heat distribution.
- Prepare the crumb topping by combining brown sugar, all-purpose flour, ground cinnamon, and cold unsalted butter, mixing until it resembles coarse, crumbly texture.
- Sprinkle the prepared crumb topping uniformly across the soaked bread surface, ensuring even coverage.
- Transfer the casserole to the preheated oven and bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the top turns golden brown and the center appears puffy and set.
- Allow the French toast casserole to rest for 10 minutes after removing from the oven, which helps it set and makes serving easier.
Notes
- Elevate your breakfast game with this make-ahead French toast that transforms ordinary mornings into extraordinary moments.
- Prep everything the night before, allowing flavors to meld and bread to soak up the rich, custardy mixture while you sleep peacefully.
- Customize your casserole by using challah, brioche, or day-old French bread for different textures and subtle flavor variations.
- The secret weapon is letting the dish rest overnight, which helps bread absorb all the delicious egg and spice mixture completely.
- Serve directly from the baking dish with maple syrup, fresh berries, or a dusting of powdered sugar for a crowd-pleasing breakfast centerpiece.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast, Dessert
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 320 kcal
- Sugar: 15 g
- Sodium: 200 mg
- Fat: 17 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 39 g
- Fiber: 1 g
- Protein: 3 g
- Cholesterol: 30 mg