French Toast Bake

This easy French toast casserole is a weekend game-changer with its delicious cinnamon crunchy crust-prep it the night before for a cozy Saturday morning treat!

French Toast Bake Recipe

Skip the fuss of frying French toast one slice at a time and try this easy French toast bake! It's bursting with a cinnamon-sweet, buttery goodness-just prep it the night before, let it soak in the fridge, and bake it in the morning.

Perfect for breakfast, brunch, or a sweet snack, it's delicious on its own but also great with favorite toppings. Just make sure to let it set in the fridge for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight, and follow the steps below for a yummy breakfast.

Recipe Ingredients

• 1 loaf french bread - or sourdough bread
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups liquid whipping cream - or half and half cream
• ¼ cup brown sugar 
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 2 tsp vanilla extract

Topping Ingredients:

• ½ cup cold butter - cut into small pieces
• ½ cup brown sugar
• ½ cup all purpose flour
• ½ Tbsp cinnamon

Kitchen Equipment Used

• 9x13 Ceramic Casserole Dish
• Kitchenaid 5 Ultra Power Speed Hand Mixer
• White Mixing Bowls Set
• Magnetic Measuring Spoon Set

How To Make French Toast Bake

Full ingredients and instructions are also in the recipe card at the bottom of this blog post.

STEP 1: Slice 1 loaf of bread into small 1" or 2" pieces. Spray a 9"x13" casserole dish with non-stick cooking spray. Set aside.

STEP 2: In a medium bowl, beat 8 large eggs.

STEP 3: Next mix in 2 cups whipping cream, ¼ cup brown sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, and 2 tsp vanilla extract.

STEP 4: Pour the liquid mixture into the casserole dish. Next add the bread chunks and spread evenly in the bottom of the casserole dish. Gently press the bread down so that it has fully soaked up the liquid like a sponge.

STEP 5: Cover with plastic wrap and let sit in the fridge for at least four hours, but preferably overnight.

STEP 6: After the bread has had time to soak, you can preheat the oven to 350°F.

STEP 7 - MAKE TOPPING: In a medium bowl, mix together ½ cup brown sugar, ½ cup all purpose flour, and ½ Tbsp cinnamon.

STEP 8: Now add in ½ cup cold butter pieces. Using a pastry cutter or fork, crumble the butter into pea-sized pieces and mix everything together.

STEP 9: Take the casserole out of the fridge. The bread should have soaked up most of the liquid by this point. Now, pour the cinnamon butter crumble topping overtop of the casserole. Use a spatula to smooth it into an even layer.

STEP 10: Place uncovered in the oven to bake for 45-50 minutes or until it has reached the desired consistency (the more you bake, the less moist - so it depends on preference here). I cooked mine for 50 minutes.

COOKING TIPS:

• Cover with foil in the last few minutes if the top is turning too brown.
• Check for doneness by looking at the bottom pieces of bread in the casserole. They can be a bit soggy but not too much.

Now it's ready to serve! Slice into squares and serve with whipped cream, fresh berries and syrup.

How To Store Leftovers

• REFRIGERATE - Allow the casserole to fully cool, then cover it with plastic wrap and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.
• FREEZE - Allow to cool to room temperature then cover with plastic wrap and aluminum foil. This recipe can be frozen for up to 3 months.
• REHEAT - This french toast casserole can also be baked in advance and frozen. When ready to eat, thaw overnight in the fridge, then reheat in the oven at 350°F until it's warmed through.