Description
This Overnight French Toast Casserole is a delightful make-ahead breakfast dish perfect for busy mornings. Thick slices of French bread are soaked overnight in a rich custard mixture of eggs, half-and-half, milk, and warm spices, then topped with a buttery brown sugar topping and baked to golden perfection. The result is a creamy, sweet, and comforting casserole that serves 8 and is perfect for brunch or holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
French Toast Base
- 1 loaf French bread or thick Texas toast
- 8 eggs
- 2 cups half and half
- ½ cup milk
- 3 tbsp granulated sugar
- 1 ½ tsp pure vanilla extract
- ½ tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
- ½ tsp salt
Topping
- 1 ½ sticks butter, softened
- 1 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 1 tbsp light corn syrup (optional)
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- ½ tsp ground nutmeg
Instructions
- Preparation: Grease a 9″x13″ baking dish. Slice the French bread into 1-inch thick slices and arrange them in neat rows inside the prepared dish.
- Egg Mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, and salt until fully combined and smooth.
- Soaking: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread slices, making sure each piece is well coated. Cover the dish and refrigerate overnight to allow the bread to soak up the flavors thoroughly.
- Preheat and Flip: The next morning, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Flip each bread slice gently to ensure both sides absorb the custard evenly and place the dish back in the fridge if needed.
- Prepare the Topping: In a separate bowl, mix the softened butter, light brown sugar, optional light corn syrup, ground cinnamon, and nutmeg until well combined. Spread this mixture evenly over the soaked bread slices.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for 35-40 minutes or until the casserole is puffed, bubbly, and golden brown on top.
Notes
- Using a sturdy bread like French bread or Texas toast helps maintain the casserole’s shape and prevents sogginess.
- The corn syrup in the topping adds extra shine and moisture but can be omitted if preferred.
- For an extra touch, serve with maple syrup, fresh berries, or whipped cream.
- You can prepare the casserole entirely the night before and bake fresh in the morning to save time.
- If you prefer a richer custard, substitute half-and-half with heavy cream.
