Easy Make-Ahead Baked French Toast

A holiday morning without a special breakfast is like a day without sunshine, so be sure to cover your bases this year and make this French toast bake. It’s easy, tastes like French toast without the hassle, and is the best sweet baked breakfast casserole for the holidays.

You can assemble it the night before (bonus – you only need six ingredients!), so breakfast is a breeze in the morning. Just pop it in the oven, enjoy the warm, sweet scent as it bakes, and serve it warm with butter and syrup. The top is crispy and golden, and the inside is soft and custardy – like French toast, but better because it’s easier to make. I think you’ll love it!

How to Make It

Get all of the ingredients and recipe instructions here, and then keep scrolling for more recipe tips and tricks.

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Easy Make-Ahead Baked French Toast

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Easy make-ahead baked French toast casserole is great for a holiday breakfast or brunch. It’s easier to make than regular French toast – no flipping pieces on the stove, just assemble everything in a baking pan the night before and pop it in the oven the next morning!

• Author: April Anderson
• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 45 minutes
• Total Time: 1 hour
• Yield: 8 servings 1x
• Category: Breakfast
• Method: Bake
• Cuisine: American

Ingredients

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• 1 (16-oz) loaf French bread, cut into one-inch cubes
• 6 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup whole milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

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Instructions

1. Lightly spray a 9×13″ pan with cooking spray. Place the bread cubes in the pan and spread them into an even layer.
2. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, and vanilla. Pour the mixture over the bread, making sure everything is evenly coated.
3. In a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle the mixture over the bread.
4. Cover the casserole with aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight.
5. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Bake the casserole for 30 minutes. Uncover the pan and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes until it’s golden brown. Serve warm with maple syrup.

Nutrition

• Calories: 262
• Sugar: 11.2g
• Sodium: 416.7mg
• Fat: 6.4g
• Saturated Fat: 2.3g
• Unsaturated Fat: 3.2g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 38.4mg
• Fiber: 1.4g
• Protein: 12.3g
• Cholesterol: 144.1mg

The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.

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Recipe Tips

I like to use French bread or Italian loaf, which you can buy in the bakery section at the grocery store. You can also get fancy and use brioche or challah. Or use another sturdy type of bread you like. A hearty bread will hold up to the custard without going soggy.

Whole milk gives this casserole the perfect amount of richness, but you can use 2% milk or dairy-free milk like almond milk or oat milk.

Cinnamon works great, but any holiday spice like nutmeg, cloves, ginger, or a mix of spices will work, too. If you have pumpkin pie spice on hand, that’s a great mix to try.

You can also add in other ingredients like nuts and fruit. Try some chopped walnuts, pecans, or almonds. Fruit like blueberries, chopped strawberries, or raspberries would be great too. You can sprinkle them in the French toast when you assemble the casserole.

What to Serve It With

• Syrup: Warm maple syrup or fruit syrups.
• Butter: Serve some softened unsalted butter on the side so everyone can help themselves.
• Fresh fruit: Add some fresh berries for topping or serve it alongside a breakfast fruit salad.
• Garnish: Add a dusting of powdered sugar before you serve it.

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Post updated from the archives. First published in December 2015.