This post may contain affiliate links.
Overnight French Toast Casserole is the make-ahead breakfast that lets you wake up, pop a dish in the oven, and serve something that tastes like a special occasion. I assembled this the night before a holiday morning and Maddie and Lizzie came running the second the buttery pecan crumble hit the air. If you love an easy breakfast bake, you will also love our quick cinnamon rolls.
Assemble it the night before, then just add the crumble and bake in the morning.
Overnight French Toast Casserole Quick Look
- 🕒 Prep Time: 15 minutes
- 🌡️ Cook Time: 1 hour
- ⏳ Total Time: 9 hours 15 minutes
- 🍽️ Serving: 12 servings
- ⚡ Calories: 382kcal
- 🌶️ Flavor Profile: Rich custard-soaked cinnamon bread with a buttery pecan crumble
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, fully make-ahead, just like our quick cinnamon rolls
Quick Answer
Layer cinnamon swirl bread in a greased 9×13 dish, then whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugars, and vanilla and pour the custard over the bread. Press the bread down, cover, and refrigerate overnight. Make a crumble of flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, cold butter, and pecans. In the morning, sprinkle the crumble on top and bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes to an hour, until set and golden. Let cool slightly and serve.
Jump to:
- Overnight French Toast Casserole Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Overnight French Toast Casserole FAQs
- Other Recommended Breakfast Recipes
- Overnight French Toast Casserole
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Overnight soak means custardy centers. Resting overnight lets the bread fully absorb the custard, so every bite bakes up soft and rich, never dry.
- Cinnamon swirl bread does double duty. Starting with cinnamon swirl bread builds in extra warm spice flavor with zero effort.
- A pecan crumble adds crunch. The buttery streusel topping gives a bakery-style crisp contrast to the soft casserole.
- It is fully make-ahead. Assemble the night before and even make the crumble ahead, so morning is just bake and serve.
- It feeds a crowd. One 9×13 dish serves 12, making it perfect for holidays and brunch.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It is a make-ahead breakfast, so there is no scrambling in the morning.
- The buttery pecan crumble topping makes it taste like a bakery French toast bake.
- It is perfect for holidays and brunch, right alongside our breakfast sliders.
Key Ingredients
Here is what goes into this overnight French toast casserole. See the recipe card below for exact amounts.
- Cinnamon swirl bread: The base of the casserole. Its built-in cinnamon sugar swirl adds flavor in every layer. A slightly stale loaf soaks up custard best.
- Eggs, milk, and heavy cream: The trio that makes a rich, custardy soak. The cream adds extra richness.
- Brown sugar and cinnamon: Sweeten and spice both the custard and the crumble topping.
- Cold butter and flour: Cut together with brown sugar, they form the crumbly streusel topping.
- Pecans: Add a toasty crunch to the crumble. Swap in any nut you like, or leave them out.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
This overnight French toast casserole is easy to make your own. Here are a few ideas.
- Different bread: Use challah, brioche, or French bread in place of cinnamon swirl.
- Add fruit: Scatter fresh berries or sliced apples between the bread layers.
- Skip the nuts: Leave the pecans out of the crumble for a nut-free version.
- Make it boozy: Add a splash of bourbon or rum to the custard for brunch.
- Serve it next to our breakfast sliders for a full spread.
How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole
- Layer the bread. Arrange the cinnamon swirl bread slices in a well-greased 9×13 baking dish.
- Make the custard. Whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugars, and vanilla until smooth.
- Soak overnight. Pour the custard over the bread, press down to help it absorb, cover, and refrigerate overnight.
- Make the crumble. Whisk the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt, then cut in the cold butter until crumbly and stir in the pecans.
- Top with crumble. In the morning, sprinkle all of the crumble evenly over the soaked casserole.
- Bake. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 minutes to an hour, until a knife in the center comes out clean. Cool slightly and serve.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Use day-old bread. Slightly stale bread soaks up the custard without turning mushy.
- Press the bread down. Gently pressing helps every slice absorb the custard evenly.
- Soak overnight for the best texture. A full overnight rest gives the richest, most custardy result.
- Keep the butter cold. Cold butter is the secret to a crumbly, not greasy, streusel.
- Tent with foil if needed. If the crumble browns too fast, loosely cover with foil for the last 15 minutes.
- Let it rest. A few minutes out of the oven helps it set up for cleaner servings.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
This overnight French toast casserole is a showstopping breakfast all on its own. Serve warm squares with a generous drizzle of maple syrup and a dusting of powdered sugar.
Round out a brunch spread with savory sides. It is delicious next to our breakfast sliders or a side of crispy bacon and fresh fruit. A pot of coffee makes it complete.
Store leftovers covered in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm the whole dish, covered, in a low oven. It also freezes well for up to two months.
Overnight French Toast Casserole FAQs
Yes, though overnight is best. For a same-day version, let the assembled casserole soak for at least one to two hours in the fridge before baking so the bread can absorb the custard.
Sturdy breads like cinnamon swirl, challah, brioche, or French bread work best. They hold up to the custard without falling apart. Slightly stale bread soaks up the most.
Absolutely. Make the crumble the night before and store it in a bag in the fridge, then sprinkle it on right before baking in the morning.
Bake until the center is set and a butter knife inserted into the middle comes out clean, usually 45 minutes to an hour. If the top browns too quickly, tent it with foil.
Yes. Freeze the baked and cooled casserole, well wrapped, for up to two months. Thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the oven until warmed through.
Keep leftovers covered in the fridge for up to four days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave, or warm the whole dish covered in a 325 degree F oven until heated through.
Hosting brunch? Try our baked cake donuts next.
Another make-ahead breakfast treat is our peach bread.
Thick slices of our challah bread soak up custard beautifully for overnight french toast.
Overnight French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 slices cinnamon swirl bread
- 8 eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
Cinnamon Crumble
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar packed
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- pinch salt
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter cold, small dice
- 1/4 cup chopped pecans or nuts of your choice
Instructions
- Lay cinnamon swirl bread slices into the bottom of a well-greased 9×13 inch baking dish.12 slices cinnamon swirl bread
- Mix together the egg custard, which consists of eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl.8 eggs, 2 cups milk, 1/2 cup heavy cream, 1/2 cup granulated sugar, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 2 tablespoons vanilla extract
- Pour this mixture all over the bread slices.
- Press down slightly with a spoon to help the bread start to absorb the custard.
- Cover with plastic wrap and place in the fridge for overnight.
- Make the crumble, this can be done the night before also. Whisk together the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and salt.1/2 cup all-purpose flour, 1/2 cup light brown sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, pinch salt
- Add cold butter. Roll the butter and flour mixture through your fingertips until it resembles wet sand with a few larger butter lumps.1/2 cup unsalted butter
- Stir in the pecans.1/4 cup chopped pecans
- Place the mixture into a baggie and refrigerate overnight, or you can do this first thing in the morning before baking the French toast—your choice.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°.
- Sprinkle all of the crumble on top. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour, until a butter knife inserted into the center comes out clean, let cool slightly, and serve.
Notes
- You can use any kind of bread that you like, you do not have to use the cinnamon swirl if it’s not your thing, but it is highly suggested.
- Make sure for the topping your butter is super cold.
- Baked French Toast can be frozen, see my storing tips up above.
- You can easily make a few batches at a time, depending on how many people you are planning on serving.
Nutrition
Love This Recipe?
Follow @ThisSillyGirlsKitchen on Instagram and @danadevolk on Pinterest for more!
