Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe

This Easy French Toast Casserole is a custardy and caramelized recipe, which uses crusty French bread and a rich brown sugar butter sauce. It’s the perfect make-ahead holiday breakfast, ready in about 1 hour after soaking overnight.

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Easy French Toast Casserole Ingredients

The Caramel Bottom:

• 1/2 cup Unsalted Butter: This gets melted down to create a sticky, syrup-like base at the bottom of the pan.
• 1 cup Brown Sugar: Caramelizes with the butter to coat the bottom of the bread, essentially creating a “sticky bun” effect.

The Bread & Custard:

• 1 (8-ounce) loaf Crusty French Bread: Cut into bite-sized pieces. It is crucial to use bread with a sturdy crust so it doesn’t turn to mush during the overnight soak.
• 6 Large Eggs: The base of the custard that binds the casserole together.
• 2 cups Milk: Provides the creaminess for the custard.
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract: Adds a sweet, aromatic depth to the egg mixture.

The Topping:

• 1 tablespoon Brown Sugar & 1/4 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon: Sprinkled on top right before baking to add a slightly crisp, spiced crust.

How To Make Easy French Toast Casserole

1. Prep the Dish: Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish to ensure the caramel bottom doesn’t stick too stubbornly.
2. Create the Caramel Base: In a saucepan over medium-low heat, stir the 1 cup of brown sugar and 1/2 cup of butter together until the butter is melted and the sugar has dissolved (about 2 to 4 minutes). Pour this hot mixture evenly into the bottom of the prepared baking dish.
3. Layer the Bread: Scatter the bite-sized French bread pieces over the butter-sugar mixture in an even 1 ½- to 2-inch layer.
4. Make the Custard: In a mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, and vanilla extract until completely combined and yellow.
5. Soak: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread pieces. Press the bread down gently with a spatula to ensure every piece absorbs the liquid.
6. Refrigerate: Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. This step allows the bread to fully absorb the custard.
7. Preheat: When ready to bake, remove the casserole from the refrigerator and discard the plastic wrap. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
8. Add Topping: Mix the remaining 1 tablespoon brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl. Sprinkle this evenly over the top of the soaked bread.
9. Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 50 to 60 minutes. The casserole should be golden brown on top and set in the center (no liquid eggs jiggling).
10. Serve: Cut into squares. Spoon the caramel sauce from the bottom of the pan over the individual servings.

Recipe Tips

• Stale Bread is Better: Fresh bread is often too soft and can result in a soggy casserole. If your bread is fresh, cut it into cubes and let them sit on the counter for a few hours to dry out, or toast them in the oven briefly before assembling.
• The “Sticky” Bottom: Unlike other recipes where sugar is mixed into the eggs, this recipe creates a distinct caramel layer on the bottom. Don’t flip the bread; let that bottom layer bubble up and candy the lower pieces.
• Speed Baking: If you forgot to prep overnight, you can let it soak for just 30-45 minutes on the counter, though the texture will be slightly less custardy. As the original recipe notes, you can also speed-bake at 450°F for 30 minutes, but you risk burning the top before the center sets—covering with foil is essential if you choose this route.
• Adding Fruit: Fresh blueberries or apple slices make excellent additions. Scatter them in with the bread cubes before pouring the egg mixture over the top.

What To Serve With Easy French Toast Casserole

• Salty Bacon or Sausage: The savory meat cuts through the intense sweetness of the brown sugar caramel.
• Fresh Berries: Strawberries or raspberries add acidity to balance the richness.
• Coffee: A strong dark roast is the ideal beverage partner.
• Yogurt Parfait: A lighter side option to balance the heavy casserole.

How To Store Easy French Toast Casserole

• Refrigerate: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
• Reheating: Reheat individual squares in the microwave, or warm the whole pan in the oven at 350°F covered with foil until heated through.
• Freezing: You can freeze baked portions for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

Easy French Toast Casserole Nutrition Facts

• Calories: 380 kcal
• Carbohydrates: 45g
• Fat: 18g
• Protein: 10g
• Sugar: 28g

Nutrition information is estimated per serving.

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