This Lighter Overnight French Toast Casserole can be made ahead and baked fresh in the morning – serve with berries and maple syrup!
Ingredients and substitutions
- Loaf of bread – brioche, challah and French bread are the best options. Regular sandwich bread will work, but make sure you only soak it for 10 minutes.
- Eggs – use a flax egg for a vegan option.
- Milk – swap out for a dairy-free milk of your choice like coconut or almond milk.
- Maple syrup – you’ll need maple syrup for that authentic French toast flavour but in a pinch, feel free to use honey or brown sugar.
- Cinnamon – try out other flavours like pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg ,vanilla, ginger, cloves, orange or lemon zest.
- Butter – or a butter substitute of your choice.
- Frozen mixed berries – use any blend of berries you like. You could also use fresh berries if you have some on hand.
Toppings
- Icing sugar – leave this off if you don’t have any on hand.
- Maple syrup – honey, almond butter or jam would all be good toppings.
- Fresh berries – use any berries of your choice like strawberries, raspberries and blackberries.
How to make French toast casserole
Step 1: Cut the bread into cubes.
Step 2: Whisk the eggs.
Whisk the eggs and milk together, then add the maple syrup and cinnamon.
Step 3: Toss the bread.
Toss the cubes of bread in the egg mixture and let it sit overnight.
Step 4: Grease the dish.
Step 5: Add the bread mixture.
Add the bread to the dish, then drizzle with butter and top with frozen berries.
Step 6: Bake and then serve!
Bake the casserole. Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with maple syrup and fresh berries. Enjoy!
Tips for overnight French toast casserole
Here are some tips to ensure you get the best French toast casserole:
- Use the right bread: I'd recommend using brioche, challah or French bread for the best results.
- Make it ahead of time: Follow the instructions and add everything to the oven-safe dish, then cover the dish in plastic wrap and stick it in the fridge overnight. The next day, all you have to do is drizzle it with butter and frozen berries, then pop it in the oven.
- Add the berries on before baking: Make sure you add the frozen berries over top of the casserole before baking! You can top with fresh fruit after baking, but you'll definitely want to add on the frozen fruit before baking.
- Try different flavours: Swap out the cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, vanilla, ginger, cloves, orange or lemon zest.
Frequently Asked Questions
Brioche, challah and French bread are best for overnight French toast casserole. Brioche soaks up all the liquid while cooking but still maintains its shape, and the outside browns nicely in the oven while the inside is soft and delicate. Challah is very similar to brioche, with a buttery flavour that enhances the taste of the casserole. French bread has a chewier texture so it’s nearly perfect after a longer soaking time.
To make this recipe gluten-free, swap out the regular loaf of bread for your favourite gluten-free bread. To make it dairy-free, substitute the milk for a non-dairy alternative of your choice like almond milk or soy milk, and the butter for margarine or another dairy-free substitute.
If your casserole is soggy, you may not have used the right kind of bread. You should only soak the casserole overnight if you're using brioche, challah or French bread. If you're using regular sandwich bread, limit the soaking time to 10 minutes max.
Add the frozen mixed berries over top before baking. Once the casserole is finished baking, top it with the fresh berries, maple syrup and icing sugar, then serve.
French toast casserole tastes great with bacon, fresh fruit, sausage, eggs or home fries if you're serving a large crowd. You can divide the servings into 12 portions and then have some extra protein or side dishes available to feed everyone. It’s the perfect dish for Christmas morning or big brunches!
Storing and reheating
This baked French toast casserole can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 5 days right in the casserole dish or in glass containers. Reheat it in a toaster oven or conventional oven for 10 minutes at 350° Fahrenheit. You can microwave it for 1 to 2 minutes, just keep in mind that the bread will be soggier – but if you like your French toast softer, then go for it!
Can you freeze French toast casserole?
You can freeze this French toast casserole for 1 to 2 months, but I suggest you freeze it without the berries. They contain too much water and will soak your bread. When you’re ready to enjoy, add the frozen berries over top and reheat the casserole directly from frozen for 30 to 40 minutes at 350° Fahrenheit.
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More make-ahead breakfast ideas
Meal Prep Tools
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this recipe into your leftovers.
- Freeze this recipe sans berries in glass microwave-safe bowls up to 3 months.
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Lighter Overnight French Toast Casserole {So Easy!}
Ingredients
- 1 loaf bread
- 4 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1/3 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- 1/3 cup butter, melted
- 1 cup frozen mixed berries
- icing sugar, for topping
- maple syrup, for topping
- 1 cup fresh berries, for topping
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 F. Cut bread into 1-2 inch cubes. Set aside.
- Whisk eggs and milk together in a very large bowl until well mixed. Add maple syrup and cinnamon, stirring well. Add in cubes of bread and toss until combined. Let sit for 5 min or up to 12 hours overnight.
- Grease an 9×13 oven safe dish and add bread to it, then drizzle with butter and top with frozen berries. Bake in the oven for 30 min.
- Sprinkle with icing sugar and serve with maple syrup and fresh berries. Enjoy!
Comments & Reviews
Cyndi says
This has become a holiday weekend/guest staple in our house. Everyone enjoys it and it looks incredibly festive. My son only likes strawberries so we modify it and sometimes just do strawberries on 1/3 and blueberries and strawberries on the rest. It reheats nicely, making for a yummy breakfast all weekend even for a small family. Love this recipe!!! Thank you!!!
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy it’s a favourite! 🙂
Kathleen Harris says
This was so yummy and easy to make. Was a big hit for Easter breakfast that everyone wanted more of. Will definitely be making this again.
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed!
Diana says
This was a hit with my family for Christmas and I also took it to work. Everyone loved it! I sprinkled pumpkin spice on top once I had poured the melted butter and I used a cube of melted butter. It was so yummy, fresh and light which everyone loved!
Taylor Stinson says
I’m so happy you enjoyed!
Shasri says
I would like to try this for my family breakfast. I just want to make sure that I could actually prep it the night before (without the fruits and melted butter added in until ready to bake right) and bake it in the morning correct? Would it be soggy if I did it this way though?
Taylor Stinson says
No it wouldn’t be, you can definitely do this the night before!
Emma says
I am going to be trying this with gluten free bread, but gluten free bread loaves are much smaller than regular bread. About how many cups of cubed bread would this recipe call for? Thanks!
Taylor Stinson says
I think it would be about 8 cups!
Patty says
I can’t wait to make this for “Girls Weekend”!
Do you know the serving size? There will be 8 of us, but I want to be sure there’s enough. Should I go ahead and make 2, to be safe, or are they generous portions?
Taylor Stinson says
The recipe serves 8 🙂 We regularly make it for Christmas brunch for a crowd and it’s just the right amount of food – if I had to guess it’s about a 1 cup serving each. If you serve with some sausages and fruit on the side, it’ll be more than filling.
Nancy says
I was wondering if you thaw the frozen fruit before putting them on top?
Taylor Stinson says
I add the frozen fruit before baking then add fresh fruit on top!
Jo-Ann says
My first recipe from The Girl on Bloor, and it was a huge hit with my family. I’m an early fan now and looking for more delicious and healthy options. Thank you!
Taylor Stinson says
Aww thank you so much! I’m so happy you enjoyed 🙂
Barbie says
If using fresh berries, would.you place on top after cooking or incorporate and then bake?
Taylor Stinson says
I would add them afterward 🙂
Liz M says
I just want to confirm that it is supposed to be baked with the fruit on it?
I am making this for a work breakfast and wanted to be sure. Also can it be made in a glass Pyrex dish!
Taylor Stinson says
Yes it is! If you don’t like that much fruit you can leave it out and just top with fresh fruit if you’d like. And you will need to check that your baking dish is oven safe – I know different types of Pyrex are oven safe and others aren’t, it should say whether it’s oven safe right on the dish itself.