Best French Toast Casserole Recipe

By Amy Dong
Published Nov. 5, 2023
Updated Dec. 7, 2023

The Best French Toast Casserole Recipe happens to be an easy overnight dish that can be completely prepared ahead of time. This is French toast bake is about to become a favorite among your family and friends.

French toast casserole in baking dish. — This Texas French Toast is the BEST brunch for every weekend.

Video: Watch Me Make this Recipe

Why This Recipe Stands Out

Pinterest Favorite: Ever since this French Toast casserole hit the Pinterest runway back in 2012, it’s been hot and one of the most pinned French toast bakes, for good reason.
Crispy Layer: Apparently, everyone loves a French toast bake with a crispy bottom layer that tastes so good, it doesn’t need maple syrup.
Actually Easy: You’ll layer whole pieces of fluffy soft Texas toast slices straight from the bag, rather than having to cut up day-old bread.
Make-Ahead: You can prepare this French toast casserole the night before and bake it the morning of.
Family and Friends: You’ll be rewarded with compliments and recipe requests once they taste this. You’ll also never have leftovers.

Key Recipe Ingredients

breakfast casserole breakfast bake texas french toast casserole french toast bake — Use fresh Texas Toast bread loaf, found in the sandwich bread aisle – do not use frozen Texas toast.

Butter: use salted butter for best flavor.
Light Brown Sugar: this provides the caramelized sweetness.
Texas Toast: use fresh-sliced bread loaf, not frozen Texas Toast. It’s commonly found in major grocery stores, in the sliced bread aisle.
Eggs: these are the binders, protein, and provide great flavor.
Milk: whole milk or low-fat milk can be used.
Extracts: a mixture of vanilla and almond extracts provide irresistibly aromatic fragrance and flavor to this recipe – don’t skip the almond extract.
Special Note: The almond extract truly imparts a sensational flavor to the dish. You can also use your almond extract to make Award Winning Almond Dessert Bars and Lemon Almond Poppy Seed Bread.

Substitutions and Variations

Bread: If you absolutely can’t find Texas Toast, you can slice up a big loaf of French or Italian bread — just make sure to slice each piece about 1 1/4″ thick. The slices need to be thick for this hearty breakfast casserole.
Milk: We typically use whole milk for the creamiest texture, but you can also use non-dairy milk alternatives that are creamy enough – oat milk tends to be a good alternative.
Toppings: We love a simple dusting of powdered sugar on top, but feel free to serve this French toast casserole with Salted Caramel Sauce or Fresh Fruit Salsa. For a treat, dollop Stabilized Whipped Cream on top.

Step-By-Step Recipe Instructions

French Toast Casserole Eggs and Milk Mixture.

French Toast Casserole Butter and Brown Sugar on Bottom of Pan.

Combine eggs, milk, vanilla extract, almond extract, and salt until fully incorporated.
Combine melted butter with brown sugar. Use rubber spatula to evenly press mixture into bottom of a greased 9×13 pan, spreading mixture evenly.

French Toast Casserole Brushing Custard Onto Bread.

French Toast Casserole Sprinkling of Cinnamon.

Lay a single layer of bread in pan. Brush 1 cup of egg mixture evenly over every slice of bread, taking care to saturate edges – do not hastily pour egg mixture or all of it will end up at the bottom.
Sprinkle evenly with most of the brown sugar/cinnamon mixture, reserving about 2 tsp of the mixture for topping. Repeat with second layer and brush remaining egg mixture over that layer. Ensure all slices are well saturated. End with sprinkling of remaining cinnamon sugar mixture.

French Toast Casserole Covered Overnight.

Cover tightly and chill overnight in fridge, or at least long enough for custard to thoroughly soak bread.
Preheat oven to 350F, with rack on lower middle position. Let casserole rest at room temp while oven preheats. Bake for 40-45 minutes, covered for the first 30 minutes, and uncovered after that.
Bonus: Be sure to scrape off all the deliciously caramelized goodness off the bottom!

How to avoid Sogginess

Use pastry brush or even the back of a spoon to slowly brush on 1 cup of the egg mixture to first layer of bread slices.
Take your time. It’s worth a few extra seconds to ensure an even coating and thorough bread soaking, so you don’t end up with any risk of sogginess at the bottom. If you pour the egg mixture too quickly over the bread slices, it won’t soak into the bread; it’ll just slide right into the bottom of your pan.
Be sure to get lots of wonderful egg mixture into the edges of each bread slice. It will make a difference.
Yes, you can just hand-dip each slice of bread into the egg mixture if you prefer; however, I find that’s actually messier and trickier than simply using my pastry brush.

What to Serve With French Toast

Eggs, Bacon, and Sausage

Easy Poached Eggs
Bacon and Egg Breakfast Casserole
Crispy bacon or sausage links
Scrambled eggs

Potatoes

Fruit

Fresh Fruit Salsa or fresh berries
Sliced bananas or sliced apples
Cut-up melons

Jams, Butters, Yogurt

Creamy Apple Butter Recipe
Your favorite fruit preserves or jams
Your favorite yogurt

Oatmeal

Toppings

4-Ingredient Salted Caramel Sauce
Stabilized Whipped Cream
Cinnamon Sugar Candied Pecans
Powdered sugar or coarse sugar
Maple syrup or agave nectar

Commonly Asked Questions

What is French Toast Casserole?

A French toast casserole is a popular breakfast or brunch dish made by layering slices of bread in a baking dish, soaking them in a mixture of eggs, milk, and spices, and baking until it’s cooked through and golden.

What type of bread is best for French toast casserole?

Sturdy and thick bread like French bread, brioche, challah, or sourdough is ideal because it can absorb the egg mixture without becoming too soggy. Avoid thin or light breads.

Can I use regular sandwich bread for French toast casserole?

While you can use regular sandwich bread, it’s not the best choice, as the heartier bread varieties mentioned above hold their shape and texture during baking and can handle soaking up the egg custard. If you’d like to use regular sandwich bread, we recommend this French Toast Casserole with Streusel.

How long should I soak the bread for French toast casserole?

You should allow the bread to soak in the egg mixture for at least 30 minutes, or preferably overnight in the refrigerator for the best results.

What is the difference between French toast casserole and bread pudding?

These two dishes are similar in that they both use bread and a custard-like mixture, but they can have different textures and flavors. French toast casserole is often sweeter and resembles traditional French toast, while bread pudding is typically denser and may have a more custard-like texture.

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