This Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole can be made ahead and baked fresh in the morning – serve with berries and maple syrup!
You're looking at my own family's go-to recipe for Christmas morning! It's so comforting and feeds a crowd – we serve it with maple breakfast sausages on the side for some protein.
Why you'll love this recipe
- Make ahead friendly: Assemble it the night before, then pop it in the oven in the morning. Easy-peasy!
- Perfect for the holidays: It's great for Christmas morning, Mother's Day brunch, and other holiday breakfasts.
Ingredients and substitutions
- Loaf of bread – brioche, challah and French bread are best.
- Eggs – use a flax egg for a vegan option.
- Milk – use any dairy or dairy-free milk of your choice.
- Maple syrup – honey or brown sugar can be used, but will have a different flavour.
- Cinnamon – pumpkin pie spice or nutmeg would also be good.
- Butter – or a butter substitute like margarine.
- Frozen mixed berries – fresh berries would also be good.
Toppings
- Icing sugar – leave this off if you don’t have any on hand.
- Maple syrup – honey, almond butter or jam would all be yummy.
- Fresh berries – top with other fruit like banana or peaches.
How to make French toast casserole
Step 1: Cut the bread.
Cut into 1-2 inch cubes.
Step 2: Whisk the eggs.
Whisk the eggs and milk together, then add the maple syrup and cinnamon.
Step 3: Soak the bread.
Toss the bread in the egg mixture and let it sit overnight.
Step 4: Top with berries and bake.
Drizzle the bread with butter, top with berries and bake in the oven.
Recipe tips and variations
Here are my top tips for making this overnight French toast casserole:
- Use slightly stale bread: This'll prevent the bread from getting soggy while it soaks.
- Use frozen berries: Add the frozen fruit before baking so the juices soak into the casserole.
- Try different flavours: Try pumpkin pie spice, nutmeg, vanilla extract, ginger, cloves, orange or lemon zest.
- Make it gluten or dairy free: Use gluten-free bread and/or dairy-free milk.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my casserole soggy in the middle?
It may need more baking time. Cover with foil if it’s browning too quickly on top but still soft inside.
Why shouldn't I use fresh bread?
Using bread that’s too fresh can lead to a soggy texture. Day-old or slightly dried-out bread absorbs the mixture better and holds its shape during baking.
Can I make this dairy-free?
Yes, just use a plant-based milk like almond or oat milk and substitute butter with coconut oil or vegan margarine.
What to serve with French toast casserole
This sweet casserole pairs perfectly with any of these sides:
- Scrambled eggs or egg bites
- Breakfast sausages
- Homemade salted caramel mocha
- Fruit and yogurt parfait
How to store and reheat
Make ahead: Assemble the casserole the night before and store covered in the fridge. Bake fresh in the morning.
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Reheat: Warm individual portions in the microwave or reheat in the oven at 350°F until heated through.
Freeze and reheat from frozen: Freeze casserole without the berries for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat in the oven until warmed through.
More make-ahead breakfast ideas
Meal prep tools
- Grab some glass meal prep bowls if you plan on turning this recipe into your leftovers.
Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole
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!
Video
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.