Heavenly French Toast Casserole for Effortless Brunch Joy
Delight in this French toast casserole, combining the nostalgic flavors of traditional French toast with the convenience of a make-ahead dish.
Equipment
- - 9×13-inch baking pan
- - Large bowl
- Whisk
Ingredients
For the Casserole
- 1 cup Unsalted Butter or Coconut Oil for greasing
- 24 oz Challah Bread cut into 1-inch cubes, 1-2 days old
- 6 large Large Eggs for binding and moisture
- 2 cups Milk can substitute with non-dairy milk
- 1 cup Brown Sugar for sweetness and caramelization
- 2 tbsp Vanilla Extract use pure extract for best flavor
- 2 tsp Ground Cinnamon adjust to taste
- 0.5 tsp Nutmeg optional
- 0.5 tsp Sea Salt to balance sweetness
For Serving
- 1 cup Maple Syrup for drizzling
- 1 cup Chopped Pecans optional, can substitute walnuts or omit
Instructions
How to Make French Toast Casserole
- Prep the Baking Dish: Grease a 9x13-inch pan with unsalted butter or coconut oil to ensure the casserole doesn’t stick.
- Make the Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, brown sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and sea salt until well combined.
- Combine: Pour the custard evenly over the bread cubes in the baking dish, ensuring they’re all well coated.
- Soak: Cover the dish and refrigerate overnight to let the bread absorb the custard.
- Bake: Preheat your oven to 350°F. Drizzle melted butter over the casserole and sprinkle with brown sugar and chopped pecans. Bake for 35 minutes, then uncover and bake for an additional 10-20 minutes until the top is golden brown.
- Cool & Serve: Let the casserole cool for about 10 minutes to firm up. Serve it warm with a drizzle of maple syrup.
Notes
Optional: Garnish with fresh berries or a dusting of powdered sugar for presentation.