this Bake French Toast Overnight This is a fun breakfast that can be made ahead of time for easy preparation in the morning! Served with delicious streusel topping and maple syrup.
I am so excited to try this French Toast Casserole. Because this casserole is what I serve for my family almost every Thanksgiving and Christmas morning. It’s also a great weekend breakfast all year long.
Best French Toast Casserole
This perfectly soft French toast bake with sweet and crunchy toppings will be on the Christmas breakfast menu this year (and every year!). Baked French Toast Casserole is actually something my mother-in-law makes every year for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and I was inspired by her recipe!
When I asked my mother-in-law where she got the recipe, she said ‘Pioneer Woman’ and the inspiration for this French Toast Casserole Recipe Toast was born.
Since most overnight French toast recipes are made using tons of white sugar, butter, and cream, I thought I could take inspiration from the flavors in Ree’s recipe and brighten it up a bit without sacrificing flavor.
As mentioned above, I brightened things up by eliminating the traditional French toast baking “custard” and replacing it with an equally delicious ingredient.
- cream –> Full-fat Greek yogurt
- white sugar –> Maple Syrup + Additional Spices
- white bread –> Sourdough
- AP Flour –> White whole wheat flour
I promise these changes will not affect the taste of this Baked French Toast Casserole, they will actually improve it!
For this French toast casserole recipe, I used a loaf of fresh sourdough from the bakery, but regular sandwich sourdough would work too. In fact, you can use any type of bread you like, such as white bread or whole wheat bread.
Here’s what else you need:
A topping of streusel in this easy French toast casserole really completes the recipe! It’s basic and made with 4 ingredients. Here’s what you need:
- white whole wheat flour – Option to use AP flour.
- pecan – Walnuts would work too!
- brown sugar – Try using coconut flour instead.
- butter – Coconut oil works too, but butter is what we recommend because it really tastes better.
- Cut the bread: Using a sharp knife, cut the sourdough bread into bite-sized pieces, about 1 to 1.5 inches bread cubes or loaves. Then transfer the pieces to a greased casserole dish. Add chopped pecans and mix.
- Whisk egg mixture: Combine eggs, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, milk, and spices. Be careful not to overmix!
- French Toast Combinations: Pour the egg mixture over the chopped sourdough and use your hands to press the bread into the liquid, making sure everything is completely submerged and coated.
- Let it sit: Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap or a cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
- baking: Cover the baking dish with tin foil and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
- Streusel topping: While the casserole is baking, make the streusel topping. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl and mix to combine. Make sure the butter doesn’t completely melt so it remains more crumbly than a paste.
- Bake again: After 30 minutes, remove from the oven, sprinkle with streusel topping and bake for another 15 minutes until the center is cooked through.
The reason I suggest leaving the French toast casserole overnight is so the bread has time to absorb all the magic of the egg milk! Don’t want to wait that long? Here are two options:
Once you prepare this easy French toast casserole recipe, you basically have two options: leave it as is.
- You can make an easy breakfast by just putting it in the fridge overnight and baking it in the oven.
- Or, you can put it in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes and then bake it right away.
Just know that both work and taste great. It really depends on your personal plans and how much time you want to spend preparing breakfast.
Make sure to keep the ratio of dairy to eggs right to prevent your French toast from becoming too soggy.
Not all Frehi toast is bad for you! If you’re looking for a healthier French toast casserole, use healthier bread and replace refined sugar with natural sugar when possible.
Yes, I prefer sourdough for this recipe, but you can use your favorite bread. I think bread made with cinnamon, bagels, brioche bread, and even challah bread would be delicious.
The basics of French toast baked in the oven are bread, eggs, and milk. From there, cut the bread into fluffy squares, whisk in the egg mixture, and mix it all together! Most French toast breads come with a streusel topping, so add the streusel on top before baking.
Don’t be afraid to prepare your French toast casserole the night before! All you have to do is find a French toast casserole recipe (like this one), prepare it the night before, cover it with saran wrap, and place it in the refrigerator the night before. Overnight, the bread will absorb all the moisture and be ready to bake in the morning!
You can eat French toast as is, but here’s my favorite way to top it.
- maple syrup – I gave up on this, it’s so delicious!
- peanut butter – It may sound strange, but this is my personal way of eating French toast! Try it and let me know what you think.
- yogurt – An easy way to add more protein.
- fresh fruit – Any fresh fruit is delicious. First, try eating a banana or strawberry.
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Preheat oven to 350°F and spray a 10 x 7-inch casserole dish with cooking spray.
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Using a knife, cut the sourdough into bite-sized pieces about 1 to 1.5 inches wide. If your sourdough comes fresh from the bakery, it may be easier to tear it into pieces by hand. Transfer bread to casserole dish.
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Then sprinkle with 1 cup chopped pecans and toss with the sourdough pieces.
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In a large bowl, combine eggs, Greek yogurt, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, milk, and salt.
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Pour the egg mixture over the sourdough and use your hands to press the bread into the egg mixture to submerge it. You will need to do this to completely coat all the bread slices.
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If you want to bake them right away, place them in the refrigerator overnight or for at least 30 minutes.
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Make the streusel topping by mixing white whole wheat flour, chopped pecans, brown sugar, and butter. Combine to form a crumble, not a paste. This will depend on how soft the butter is, so be careful not to let it melt completely.
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Remove the French Toast Bake from the refrigerator and use your hands to dip the bread in the egg mixture once more before baking. Cover with tin foil and bake at 350°F for 30 minutes. Remove and add streusel topping. Bake uncovered for another 15-25 minutes, depending on how you like your French toast.
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Let cool for at least 5 to 10 minutes before cutting.
- Option to use store-bought bread used in sandwiches. Be sure to measure 8 cups.
- If you are using a larger casserole dish (e.g. 9×13 inches), you may need to reduce the baking time by 5 to 10 minutes.
- Nutrition is based on 8 servings.
(adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”FOgh3jvW” upload-date=”2017-12-18T00:00:00.000Z” name=”Overnight French Toast Casserole” Description=”Prepare breakfast the day before so you can serve your guests a healthy, hot meal in the morning. Bake this Maple Pecan Overnight French Toast with Sourdough that everyone will be asking for. Recipe!”)
calorie: 398 calorie, carbohydrate: 30 g, protein: 12 g, province: 26 g, fiber: 1 g, sugar: 22 g
Nutritional information is automatically calculated and should only be used as estimates.
