Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole
Wake up to a delightful treat with Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole! Simply prepare ahead for a hassle-free morning feast.
Equipment
- 9"x13" baking dish
- Large bowl
- Whisk
Ingredients
For the French Toast:
- 1 loaf French bread or thick Texas toast
- 8 eggs
- 2 cups half and half
- 1/2 cup milk
- 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
For the Topping:
- 1 1/2 sticks butter softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 tablespoon light corn syrup optional
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Instructions
Preparing the Baking Dish:
- Coat the entire inside of a 9"x13" baking dish with butter or cooking spray. Set aside.
Arranging Bread Slices:
- Slice the French bread into 1-inch thick slices.
- Arrange the slices in the prepared baking dish in rows, overlapping them. Set aside.
Mixing the Egg Mixture and Soaking the Bread:
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, half-and-half, milk, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
- Pour the egg mixture over the bread slices, ensuring they are covered evenly. Spoon some of the mixture in between the slices to ensure thorough coverage.
- Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
Preheating the Oven and Flipping Bread:
- The next day, preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Carefully flip each piece of bread over to ensure everything is coated with the mixture.
Making and Adding Topping:
- Combine all topping ingredients in a medium bowl and mix to combine.
- Spoon the topping on top of the prepared bread slices, spreading it evenly over the bread. Optionally, spread some of the mixture in between the slices to ensure complete coverage.
Baking:
- Bake for 35-40 minutes (no need to cover with foil) until puffed and lightly golden.
Notes
Since this is a French toast casserole, expect some parts of the slices to be soft while the tops have a more baked/crisp texture. If you prefer a more baked/crisp texture throughout, consider using a larger pan like a deep half sheet cake pan instead of packing the slices into a 9x13 pan. Alternatively, you can use two 9x13 pans.
Using sliced sourdough bread from the bakery is also a great option and can save time compared to cutting a loaf yourself.
Forgot to prepare the casserole the night before? No worries! Simply ensure that the slices are soaked thoroughly and proceed with the directions as usual.