Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole: A simple breakfast recipe for a crowd, this whole wheat french toast casserole features a maple custard and light vanilla glaze and is perfect for brunch or a Holiday breakfast. Gluten-Free and Dairy-Free Modifications included.
For the past year I have been serving breakfast to my church’s production team.
The team had requested Gluten-Free Breakfasts and High Protein Options, so I had been opted to take them Sweet Potato Hash, Spinach Quiche with a Sweet Potato Crust, Banana Nut Quinoa Porridge, or Mediterranean Fritatta. I have so many easy, healthy breakfast recipes I can’t wait to make for them.
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But recently, the production team has gained some new team memebers and they have changed up their requests from light and egg-centric dishes to full-on carbs and so I decided it was time to bring them one of my family’s all time favorite breakfast casseroles.
Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole
This easy overnight breakfast casserole has been made a bit healthier, in true style to A Mind “Full” Mom.
Whole wheat bread has been swapped out for white bread and the egg custard is sweetened with maple syrup instead of white and brown sugars.
But none of those healthier swaps matter if you the French Toast Casserole is not delicious, am I right?!
The verdict on this Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe?
Only crumbs remain EVERY SINGLE TIME I serve it and people beg me for the recipe.
The recipe for Overnight French Toast is so easy, it is almost embarrassing–but let me answer a few burning questions you may have about French Toast Casserole.
What is the best type of bread to use in French Toast Casserole?
I do not recommend thin sandwich style bread. You want to but thick bread that has incredible flavor all on it’s own. Traditionally Challah Bread or Brioche Bread is the choice for French Toast Casserole, but my whole wheat breads are incredible in flavor and make a great healthier swap. I use my homemade whole wheat bread of my homemade cranberry walnut bread.
Ideally, any bread you choose to use needs to be able to be cut into 1 inch cubes and bread that is a bit stale (AKA dried out bread) is best so that it will absorb the custard (AKA the flavor).
Can You Freeze French Toast Casserole Before Baking?
Yes, you can freeze French Toast Casserole Before Baking.
- First, be sure to assemble your Breakfast Casserole in a freezer safe and oven safe dish (I use this exact one if I am freezing my french toast casserole.)
- Once assembled, wrap the dish in plastic wrap-2 times and then cover with 1 layer of foil.
- Freeze uncooked French Toast Casserole for up to 2 months.
- To cook, remove casserole from freezer day before you want to serve. Allow the casserole to thaw overnight and then bake as directed.
- Make the Vanilla Glaze and top with casserole if desired.
Can You Freeze French Toast Casserole After Baking?
Yes, you can freeze French Toast Casserole After Baking.
- Follow instructions on my Easy French Toast Casserole (minus the glazing step).
- After baking in a freezer safe dish, allow casserole to cool completely.
- Once cooled, wrap the dish in plastic wrap-2 times and then cover with 1 layer of foil.
- Freeze cooked French Toast Casserole for up to 3 months.
- To cook, remove casserole from freezer day before you want to serve. Allow the casserole to thaw overnight. Remove plastic wrap, but cover with foil and then reheat at 350 degrees for 20 minutes or until warmed through.
- To cook French Toast Casserole from frozen, remove plastic wrap, recover with foil and bake at 350 for 1 hour. Remove foil and cook an additional 15 minutes, or until breakfast casserole is warmed through.
- Make the Vanilla Glaze and top with casserole if desired.
More A Mind “Full” Mom’s Breakfast Recipes
Can you Make French Toast Casserole Without Overnight Preparation?
Yes, you can make French Toast Casserole without overnight preparation.
- French Toast Casserole is best when given time for the bread to soak up the delicious custard, hence why overnight preparation is best.
- To skip the overnight step, make casserole as directed and after pouring custard over bread, use your hands to push bread down, fully sumberging in custard. Let sit for 15 minutes, push bread down again and then bake as for 35 minutes instead of 45 minutes.
- Remember the casserole will not be as fluffy this way.
How to Reheat French Toast Casserole?
You can reheat already cooked French Toast Casserole by either individually slicing and microwaving for 1 minute per serving. Or place casserole covered with foil in 325 degree oven for 30 minutes until warmed through.
How do I Make Gluten-Free French Toast Casserole?
You can make Gluten-Free French Toast Casserole by following my instructions exactly, except for swaping out the bread for your favorite thick gluten-free bread.
How do I make Dairy-Free French Toast Casserole?
To make Dairy-Free French Toast Casserole, use almond milk or coconut milk in place of cow’s milk. I personally have tried both with delicious results. I highly recommend canned coconut milk for Dairy-Free French Toast as it is rich and decadent.
Instead of greasing the pan with butter, use coconut oil or a non-dairy butter substitute.
Pro-Tip: Save leftover scraps of bread or stale bread. Cube and place in freezer safe bag and then use that bread to make this delicious Overnight French Toast Casserole for pennies.
Brunch Recipes
- Broccoli & Asparagus Frittata
- Easy Hashbrown Breakfast Casserole
- Fruit Salad with Lime Dressing from ValeriBree’s Kitchen
- Fresh Fruit Salad from Wonky Wonderful
- Whole Wheat Berry Coffee Cake with Lemon Glaze
- Breakfast Kabobs with Maple Yogurt Dipping Sauce
French Toast Casserole Recipe
Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole
A simple breakfast casserole made with healthier swaps. See notes for gluten-free and dairy-free options.
Ingredients
For the French Toast Casserole
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 8 ounces whole wheat bread cut into 1 inch cubes (this is about 4 loosely packed cups)
- 2 cups milk (or 1 cups milk and 1 cup half and half)
- 6 eggs
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Vanilla Glaze (optional)
- 1 cup powdered sugar sifted
- 2 tablespoons milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- dash of salt
Instructions
-
Grease a 9x13 baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter.
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Place cubed bread in prepared casserole dish.
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Mix together eggs, maple syrup, milk, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.
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Pour custard over bread, lightly tapping bread down to be fully sumberged in custard.
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Cover casserole with plastic wrap and refridgerate for 8 hours or overnight.
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To Bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees. Remove plastic wrap and cover with foil. Bake covered for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for additional 15 minutes. Serve warm with glaze and/or additional maple syrup.
For Glaze
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Whisk together milk, salt and vanilla. Add in powdered sugar and whisk until thin glaze forms. Add in more milk 1 teaspoon at a time, if needed to thin out.
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Drizzle over cooked French Toast Casserole
Nicole says
I love/need easy breakfast recipes like this, especially around the holidays!
Kristen Chidsey says
We all do 🙂
Michelle says
How many eggs are required? I want to try this great recipe this weekend? Thanks!
Kristen Chidsey says
6 eggs! I need to fix that now. Sometimes when the recipe card goes up it dosen’t pull all the text. Sorry about that. I hope you enjoy 🙂
Michelle says
Thanks!!
Aimee says
Easy breakfasts like this are my favorite! And that vanilla glaze is drool-worthy!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Aimee–that vanilla glaze is key for sure.
Claire | Sprinkles and Sprouts says
This would just be perfect for an Easter brunch!!!
That vanilla glaze looks delicious and using brown bread means I can have an extra large portion 😉
Aimee Shugarman says
My family loves french toast casserole! Powdered sugar on top is also a nice touch 🙂
Kristen Chidsey says
I mean everything is better with a bit of powdered sugar, right?! Glad you enjoyed Aimee 🙂
Shiho says
This sounds great for indulge myself in three weeks time! I will be on Holiday! after long waited 11 weeks of school term. Thank you for the great recipe.
Kristen Chidsey says
I am so glad you enjoy this recipe Shiho! Enjoy your holiday as well.
Noreen says
This turned out great! Super easy, too. I used rice milk in place of cow’s milk, and used only a pinch of nutmeg (not a big fan of it).
Kristen Chidsey says
Thank you so much for sharing your experience Noreen! I am so glad you enjoyed the french toast!
Crystal says
Can the recipe be doubled? If so, what would the cook time be, & would it still be baked @ 350°?
Kristen Chidsey says
Hi Crystal!! French Toast Casserole can easily be doubled. If making in 9×13 pan, I would suggest making 2 dishes, using 2 9x13s. I have made this dish many times in a larger 12×16 pan and then it needs to bake an additional 15-20 minutes.
Toni says
This looks really good!
Kristen Chidsey says
Thanks Toni! It is one of our favorites!
Tayler Ross says
This casserole would be so perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas morning!
Sues says
I love making french toast casseroles when I have company and like that people always think it’s so complicated when it’s one of the easiest things! I’m absolutely loving that glaze!! 🙂
Kristen Chidsey says
I love impressing others with what appears to be fancy–but is actually quite impressive! SO glad you enjoyed
Toni says
Do you think you could double this recipe, make it overnight, and stuff it would cream cheese, and it would still be amazing?
Kristen Chidsey says
Oh the idea of stuffing this french toast with cream cheese is genius Toni! If you double the recipe, you will need to use a really deep casserole dish and bake for at least 20 minutes longer (covered so you don’t burn the top) But I think it is a fabulous idea!
Tc says
This was good but I added more bread and two more eggs. Note- 8 oz is not one pound as the video says to use; thus is the reason why I added more eggs.
Kristen Chidsey says
Oh good catch on the video. I do use about 4 cups bread cubes for 6 eggs–which is between 8-10 ounces bread. For a larger casserole (or using a loaf of french bread which is typically 14 ounces) 8 eggs and a bit more milk is better. Sorry for the confusion.
Joy says
What brownsugar mixture did you use before switching to maple syrup?
Kristen Chidsey says
Hi Joy! You can exchange the maple syrup for brown sugar (so just 1/4 cup). If you like things SUPER sweet use 1/3 cup brown sugar. Enjoy!
Tiffany says
How many (about) will this serve? I have to cook for 40 and I’m just wondering how many pans to prepare. Thank you, in advance!
Kristen Chidsey says
Hi Tiffany!! 40 is quite the crowd. One casserole makes 8 LARGE servings. So I would say 4 casseroles would be more than enough. If this is for a brunch with several other recipes, I would make 3. Enjoy!
Patti Atkinson says
Can I use gluten free bread?
Kristen Chidsey says
Absolutely Patti! Enjoy!