Description
This Baked French Toast Casserole is a comforting and easy breakfast dish featuring cubes of day-old bread soaked in a sweet vanilla-cinnamon custard, topped with a buttery cinnamon sugar drizzle, and baked to golden perfection. Perfect for a weekend brunch or holiday morning, it offers a rich and flavorful twist on classic French toast, easily prepared ahead and baked in one dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 loaf of day-old French bread, whole wheat, brioche, challah, or ciabatta
- 6 large eggs
- 2 ¼ cups milk (whole milk preferred)
- 1 tablespoon pure maple syrup or light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Topping
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 tablespoons light brown sugar or pure maple syrup
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Spread the bread cubes evenly in the dish.
- Make Custard Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, maple syrup or brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt until fully combined. Pour this custard evenly over the bread cubes, ensuring all cubes soak up the mixture.
- Prepare Topping: In a small bowl, mix melted butter, brown sugar or maple syrup, and cinnamon. Drizzle this topping over the casserole evenly.
- Soak the Bread: Cover the baking dish with foil and refrigerate for at least 20 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the custard. For best flavor, refrigerate overnight.
- Bake Covered: Remove casserole from the fridge. Keep the oven at 350°F. Cover the dish again with foil and bake for 35 minutes.
- Finish Baking Uncovered: Remove the foil and continue baking for another 10–20 minutes until the top turns golden and the custard is set.
Notes
- Using day-old bread helps it absorb the custard batter better without becoming too soggy.
- For a richer flavor, brioche or challah breads are excellent choices.
- The casserole can be assembled the night before and baked fresh in the morning for convenience.
- Adjust sweetness by using maple syrup or brown sugar according to your preference.
- Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator and reheat gently before serving.
