Easy French Toast Casserole
Make breakfast easy with a simple overnight French toast casserole. Baked in one pan, it's the best way to make French toast for a crowd.
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Servings: 12
Calories: 345kcal
Ingredients
Casserole:
- 20 ounces sandwich bread* cubed
- 1 cup pecans chopped
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/4 cup maple syrup*
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Topping:
- 4 tablespoons salted butter sliced
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Grease a 9"x13" baking dish.
- Cube the bread into small 1-inch cubes, and layer with the pecans in your baking dish.
- Whisk together the eggs, milk, real maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Pour the egg mixture over the bread and pecans in the baking dish.
- Cover and chill for a good 4 to 6 hours or overnight.*
- When you're ready to bake the casserole, remove it from the fridge, and pre-heat the oven to 350°F.
- Meanwhile, using a pastry blender, mix the sliced butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a small mixing bowl.
- Crumble or clump the topping over the entire casserole.
- Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil, and bake at 350°F for about 25 to 30 minutes. Then uncover and bake it for an additional 15 to 20 minutes.
- Once it's thoroughly cooked through, remove it from the oven and let it cool for just a few minutes.
- Then slice and serve with powdered sugar and maple syrup.
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Notes
*20 ounces is about 22 slices of the butter bread (or white bread) that I use. You can use sourdough, Texas toast, challah bread, French bread, Kings Hawaiian Rolls, brioche, cinnamon swirl bread, crescent rolls, or really any other type of fresh baked bread. Any of them will be delicious.
*Be sure to use real maple syrup. Table syrup will change the texture, flavor, and especially the amount of sweetness in your casserole.
*While this really is best as an overnight French toast casserole, you don't have to chill it. But let me just say, the flavors will be at their best after chilling for at least a few hours. If you're in a hurry, didn't have time to plan ahead, and need to make it now, that's ok. Just mix it up, make sure the bread is moistened well with the egg mixture, add the topping, and bake it.
Can I freeze French toast casserole?
Normally, you'll just store any leftovers in the fridge. But if you wish to freeze it, you can. While I recommend covering it well and freezing it after it's already been baked, you can also freeze it before baking (though I'd add the topping later before actually baking it). Keep in mind it'll keep longer in the freezer if it's already been cooked. Just be sure you have plenty of time for it to thaw and re-heat when taking it out of the freezer. Allow time for it to thaw in the fridge before cooking or re-heating.
Nutrition
Serving: 1servings | Calories: 345kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 138mg | Sodium: 527mg | Potassium: 220mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 369IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 214mg | Iron: 3mg
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