Prepare this easy French toast casserole the night before for a stress-free, crowd-pleasing breakfast or brunch. Cubes of bread soak in a rich, cinnamon-spiced custard and bake up golden and soft.
Author:ethancarter
Prep Time:15 min
Cook Time:50 min
Total Time:1 hr 5 min
Yield:8 servings 1x
Category:Breakfast
Method:Baking
Cuisine:American
Diet:Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
1 loaf (about 1 pound) thick-cut bread (like brioche, challah, or French bread), cut into 1-inch cubes
6 large eggs
2 cups whole milk
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup butter, melted (for topping)
1/2 cup packed brown sugar (for topping)
1/2 cup all-purpose flour (for topping)
Instructions
Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Arrange the bread cubes evenly in the prepared dish.
In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until fully combined.
Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread cubes. Gently press the bread down to help it absorb the custard.
Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight.
When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the plastic wrap.
Prepare the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, and flour. Mix with a fork until crumbly.
Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the soaked bread.
Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the casserole is set, golden brown, and the center is no longer jiggly.
Let the casserole cool for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Serve warm with maple syrup or powdered sugar.
Notes
Using day-old or slightly stale bread works best as it absorbs the custard better without becoming mushy.
For a berry variation, gently fold 1 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries into the bread before pouring the custard over it.
If you need to bake immediately, let the bread soak for 30 minutes at room temperature before adding the topping and baking.