Description
This Baked French Toast Casserole is a comforting and delicious breakfast or brunch dish featuring day-old bread soaked in a rich, cinnamon-spiced custard, baked to golden perfection with a sweet buttery topping. It’s ideal for serving a crowd and can be prepared the night before for effortless morning baking.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 loaf of day-old French bread, whole wheat, brioche, challah, or ciabatta
- 6 large eggs
- 2 ¼ cups milk (whole milk preferred)
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup or light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Topping
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar or pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and prepare baking dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Cut the day-old bread into cubes and spread them evenly in the prepared dish.
- Make the custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup or brown sugar, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt until fully combined. Pour this custard evenly over the bread cubes, ensuring all pieces soak up the mixture.
- Prepare the topping: In a small bowl, mix melted butter with brown sugar or maple syrup and cinnamon. Drizzle this sweet buttery mixture evenly over the custard-soaked bread in the baking dish.
- Soak the bread: Cover the baking dish with foil and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to allow the bread to thoroughly absorb the custard flavors. For best flavor and texture, refrigerate overnight.
- Bake covered: Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and keep the oven temperature at 350°F. Cover the dish with foil and bake for 35 minutes to cook through and set the custard.
- Bake uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10 to 20 minutes until the top is golden brown and the custard is fully set and slightly firm to the touch.
Notes
- Using day-old bread helps the custard soak in without becoming too mushy.
- For a richer flavor, brioche or challah breads are excellent choices.
- You can prepare the casserole the night before and bake it fresh in the morning for convenience.
- Optional toppings such as fresh fruit, powdered sugar, or maple syrup can be added after baking for extra sweetness.
- Adjust the sweetness in the custard and topping to your preference by varying the amount of maple syrup or brown sugar.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
