This Easy French Toast Casserole is a simple yet delicious breakfast that combines the comforting flavors of French toast with the convenience of a casserole. It’s perfect for busy mornings, special family gatherings, or even brunch parties. The best part? You can prepare it the night before, so all you have to do is pop it in the oven and enjoy a warm, comforting dish the next morning.
To start, preheat your oven and grease a 9×13-inch baking dish. Cube your favorite bread (such as challah, brioche, or even a hearty whole wheat) into bite-sized pieces. Layer the bread cubes in the baking dish, creating an even base.
In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, sugar, and a pinch of salt. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread cubes, ensuring each piece is well-coated. For an extra touch of sweetness and richness, you can add some maple syrup or brown sugar into the mixture.
To make this casserole extra special, you can add fruit like berries, bananas, or apples, or sprinkle in some chocolate chips or nuts if you like a bit of crunch. Once the casserole is assembled, cover it with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least an hour (or overnight) so the bread can soak up all the flavors.
The next morning, preheat the oven and bake the casserole for about 40-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is set. If you’d like an extra crispy topping, broil it for the last 2-3 minutes of baking.
Once baked, allow the casserole to cool for a few minutes before serving. Top with powdered sugar, a drizzle of maple syrup, fresh berries, or whipped cream for a truly indulgent breakfast.
This Easy French Toast Casserole is a wonderful breakfast or brunch option that brings together the rich, comforting flavors of French toast in an easy-to-make casserole form. Whether you’re feeding a crowd or treating your family to something special, this dish is sure to be a hit!
Ingredients
- 6 slices bread preferably day-old or slightly stale
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/4 cup sugar
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9×9 inch baking dish.
- Cut the bread slices into cubes and place them evenly in the baking dish.
- In a bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, sugar, and vanilla extract.
- Pour the egg mixture over the bread, ensuring all pieces are evenly saturated.
- Bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the casserole is set.
Nutrition
I skipped the sugar and it still tasted fine. Healthier, I guess!
But why skip the sugar? It’s what makes it taste sweet! I think that’s kinda missing the point of French toast…
Good call! Sugar isn’t always needed, and I’m glad it still turned out good for you! 👍
Not bad, but I’ve had better french toast. Needs more flavor, I think?
good dish! I forgot the vanilla. Add more if you like flavors!
Wow this was easy! I used challah instead of regular bread. So good!
How do you get it to not stick to the pan? Mine was a mess. 😩
Make sure you really grease that pan well!! Also, parchment paper might help too!
Maybe try using a non-stick spray? I’ve had that issue too but it turned out better with it.
Y’all, this is the best breakfast I ever made. Seriously!
Very easy recipe but my kids said they prefer the normal french toast.
French toast casserole? Sounds weird. More like a bread pudding, lol.
This recipe was a hit at my brunch! Everyone loved it. Will make again for sure!
Mine turned out soggy. 😔 Maybe I added too much milk?
I don’t understand why people like this. The bread was soggy! Maybe I did something wrong?
Quick to make and tastes good. Will definitely make again. Thanks!
I’m so glad you liked it! This casserole is a family favorite! 😍
Yummy! 🤤 but I used yogurt instead of milk cause I had no milk. Didn’t turn out bad!
Why would u bake bread? It’s just toast. Weird.
Mine came out a little too wet in the middle, even though the edges looked done. I think my dish was deeper than 9×9. Still tasty though—just needs a longer bake.
My dog wouldn’t eat it. So I guess it was bad? Idk.
I didn’t have enough eggs, so I used two. It turned out fine, but I think it would be better with four.
Two eggs? That’s not enough, you need more! I tried with one once and it was like eating cardboard.
Glad it turned out okay! I think you’re right, more eggs would probably make it creamier. Next time for sure!
Easy peasy, lemon squeezy! 😋
Pretty easy, no fuss. Mine was a bit wet in the center at 45 minutes but it firmed up after I gave it 10 more. Still delicious.
Wow, this was super easy and tasty! My kids loved it!
Yum! Perfect for brunch! Will definitely make again!
Best breakfast ever!
Totally agree! This is my go-to for brunch with friends. So easy and sooo good!
I didn’t have sour milk so I used almond milk and it turned out great!
Hated it! The bread turned out soggy. Must be something wrong with the instructions.
Sorry to hear that! Maybe try using day-old bread next time? It really helps with the texture.
This recipe is just bread with eggs, right? Doesn’t seem special to me.
Too sweet for my taste and took longer to cook, but mostly good.
Not gonna lie, I expected more flavor for something called French toast. Like it’s good, but kinda plain without syrup or fruit.
Sounds good but yeah… French toast needs syrup or somethin 😅 Without fruit it feels like egg bake. I’d prob sprinkle a lil cinnamon sugar on top before baking too. 9/10 it’s the toppings.
I felt the same way the first time—this is more of a “base” casserole than a full-on sweet French toast. I usually add cinnamon to the egg mix and then serve with syrup + berries. Huge difference.
Not bad, but my oven is broken so I baked it in the toaster? lol I don’t recommend that.
This was okay, not the best french toast I’ve ever had. Tbh, I prefer traditional french toast more.
It turned out way too soggy for me. Didn’t like it that much.
I’m sorry to hear that! Maybe try using less milk next time? It can really help with the sogginess.
Casserole? Isn’t that a cooking term from the ’70s? This tastes good tho!
Casserole is timeless! It’s not just a ’70s thing, it’s classic comfort food!
Okay, I followed it but I totally forgot to grease the pan and now I’m scraping it like it’s a science experiment. Flavor is good, just the cleanup was not fun.
Ugh, I’ve totally done that 😅 Next time I’ll grease extra even if it looks unnecessary—makes the cleanup way easier. Glad the flavor still came out good though!
Too sweet. Also 9×9 felt small for 6 slices of bread—mine overflowed a little. Idk, maybe my eggs were weird.
Do you really need vanilla? Seems like a waste of time.
I followed it mostly, but I subbed almond milk and brown sugar—still good. The vanilla really helps. Would make again for brunch.
Love hearing this! Almond milk + brown sugar sounds like a tasty twist—glad it still worked out for you. 👍
I messed up the baking time. Mine burned on the edges! Be careful with the oven timing!
I didn’t have sugar so I used honey. It was okay but not great.
Honey? Huh. I think that might be too sweet for me, never tried that. But if you liked it ok, I guess that’s cool.
Using honey instead of sugar can change the taste a bit! Maybe try adding some cinnamon or nuts next time? It’ll help balance it out.
Pretty good, but mine came out a little too sweet. Next time I’ll cut the sugar down to like 2-3 tbsp. Also, I had to bake closer to 55 minutes for it to fully set.
Good tip! Mine was a bit sweet too—cutting to 2–3 tbsp sounds perfect. I also found baking nearer 55 min made a big difference for the center setting.
Hmm I followed it and it was still a little wet at 45 min, so I did like 50-55 too. But I didn’t really think it was too sweet? Maybe depends on the bread—stale sweet bread maybe? 😅
I dunno, I think I overbaked it. Not sure what went wrong. 🤷♂️
Was super easy but mine turned out soggy. Maybe use less milk?
Good recipe, but can I use any type of bread? Wondering if whole grain works.
French toast casserole? Is that even a real thing? Sounds weird.
Yummy! I added some cinnamon and blueberries. Made it a little fancy!
Yummy! Perfect for brunch, 10/10 recommend!
French toast without syrup is a crime. Add syrup!
Wow, so simple! I just threw in some cinnamon and it made a huge difference. Definitely a keeper!
Best thing I ever made! So sweet and custardy!
Absolutely loved this recipe! So easy and delicious. Did it for brunch and everyone raved about it!
Really? I found it kinda boring. I thought French toast should be more crispy. I’m not so sure about this one.
I’m so glad to hear you loved it! It’s such an easy recipe and perfect for gatherings. What toppings did you use?
Can I use fresh bread instead of stale? Don’t understand why that’s needed!
Meh, it was fine. Just bread and eggs, I mean there’s notin special about it.
Just bread and eggs? That’s like saying pizza is just dough and cheese. You gotta add some toppings or spices to make it special, ya know? 😄
I don’t know what you expected! Sometimes simple is the best. French toast itself is a classic, and this recipe is an easy twist on it. It’s comfort food!
I burnt mine. 😭 Do you really need to preheat the oven? I’m not sure.
Yes, preheating is super important! It helps everything cook evenly, otherwise you might end up with burnt edges like I did once. 😅
This recipe is a game changer! So easy and delicious. My kids devoured it!
hmm it was alright. not like bakery level or anything. i’d add berries next time.
Alright alright. I tried this once and it was kinda bland to me… like, no flavor. Maybe my eggs was smaller? Adding berries makes sense, but also maybe more vanilla or cinnamon next time. 45 min felt long too.
Totally get what you mean—mine usually comes out “comfort food” not “fancy bakery.” Berries are a great idea though. I might sprinkle some on top halfway through so they don’t sink.
Made this for brunch and it was seriously effortless. Used cinnamon instead of vanilla and it still turned out great—golden top and soft in the middle. Definitely will do again!
It was okay, but I expected more. Wasn’t as sweet as I thought it would be.
Absolutely delicious! I added cinnamon and it was a hit at brunch. Will make again!
What’s a casserole? Is this a dessert or brunch food? I’m confused.
A casserole is like a baked dish that’s usually savory, but this one is a sweet version! Go for it, it’s perfect for brunch!
This will be goof for breakfast on weekends. Easy and simple.
This sounds awesome! Can’t wait to try it. Perfect for a lazy Sunday morning.
Made this for brunch and it turned out way better than I expected. The egg custard set nicely and the top was golden like the recipe said. My only tweak was adding a pinch of cinnamon—so good!
This is the best French toast casserole I’ve ever made! So easy and delicious. My family loved it!
This was super easy and not much work involved. I’ll make this again!
This recipe is AMAZING! My family loved it. Will make again! 😍
Too much egg taste for my liking. Anyone else feel this?
I totally get what you mean! Maybe next time you can use less eggs? Just a suggestion.
Baked egg taste ain’t for everyone, I guess. I thought it was fine tho. 🤷♂️
I’m skeptical about “easy” claims, but this one actually worked. I didn’t have vanilla so I used almond extract and it still tasted great. Next time I’ll let the bread sit a few minutes so it absorbs more.
This was so easy to make! My family loved it!
I followed it exactly and it’s fine I guess. The smell was nice. But the texture was not as custardy as I expected, more like eggy bread pudding. Tasted ok with syrup.
Super easy. I used challah I had lying around and it soaked up the custard perfectly. 45 minutes was spot on for my oven too. Will absolutely make again.
I screwed up and cut the bread too big so it didn’t soak evenly. Some pieces were hard and crunchy. Still edible though, so… yeah.
Hey, this is a great recipe! Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome! It’s super easy and delicious! Enjoy your breakfast! 😊
It was alright, but a bit too sweet for my taste. Might cut down on the sugar next time.
I don’t know… 45 minutes felt short to me. The center was kinda wet, but the edges were fine. Maybe my dish was deeper or my bread was fresher. Still edible though.
Yeah 45 minutes can be a little tight depending on how thick/deep your bread layer is. If the center stays wet, I’d try baking 10–15 minutes longer (and maybe tent with foil if the top browns too fast). Also letting it sit 5–10 minutes after you pour the custard can help it soak evenly.
I just love breakfast dishes! This looks amazing, will definitely make it this weekend!
5 stars!!! Can’t believe I made this from scratch, never thought I could cook!
This came out so cozy and golden! I used slightly stale sourdough and it soaked up perfectly. Next time I’ll sprinkle a little cinnamon on top too.
I didn’t understand why you need day-old bread. Isn’t fresh bread better? I guess I’ll try it tho.
Wow. This is my new go-to. I used stale sourdough and it baked up perfectly. No stress breakfast—like, real people food.
Love this! I always have leftover sourdough and hate wasting it—this sounds like zero-stress comfort food.