Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole

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

4.16 from 13 votes

Print Review

Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole

A simple breakfast casserole made with healthier swaps. See notes for gluten-free and dairy-free options.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword Overnight French Toast Casserole

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 55 minutes

Servings 8

Calories 169 kcal

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

1. Grease a 9x13 baking dish with 1 tablespoon butter.

2. Place cubed bread in prepared casserole dish.

3. Mix together eggs, maple syrup, milk, vanilla, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. 

4. Pour custard over bread, lightly tapping bread down to be fully sumberged in custard. 

5. Cover casserole with plastic wrap and refridgerate for 8 hours or overnight. 

6. 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

1. 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. 

2. Drizzle over cooked French Toast Casserole

Nutrition Facts

Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole

Amount Per Serving

Calories 169 Calories from Fat 45

% Daily Value*

Total Fat 5g 8%

Saturated Fat 2g 10%

Cholesterol 126mg 42%

Sodium 327mg 14%

Potassium 138mg 4%

Total Carbohydrates 19g 6%

Dietary Fiber 2g 8%

Sugars 7g

Protein 8g 16%

Vitamin A 4.4%

Calcium 14%

Iron 7.3%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.