French Toast Casserole- (breakfast, make ahead, brunch, recipes, bread) (2024)

March 17, 2014 By Emily 45 Comments

French Toast Casserole is the perfect make ahead breakfast recipe. It’s a sweet and delicious recipe the whole family will love.

I love Saturday morning breakfasts. Since we are always rushing to get out the door to church on Sunday that makes Saturday our relaxed morning. We don’t have kids yet so we are enjoying being able to sleep in and enjoy a nice leisurely breakfast together. One of my favorite things to make for Saturday breakfast is this French Toast Casserole. And it doesn’t hurt that it makes a lot so I can enjoy it during the week.

I have a great love for anything with brown sugar and french toast. With this recipe the two are combined into the ultimate breakfast casserole. This is a dish that my Aunt Melanie makes so I got the recipe from her because I wanted to make it for us. It is simple to make, sweet and delicious. You prepare it the night before in your casserole dishthen put it in the oven in the morning and you get a delicious breakfast.

Breakfast is probably my favorite meal of the day. I love grits, french toast, pancakes, and the list could go on and on. I’m a sucker for breakfast foods of most kinds. This French Toast Casserole ranks right up there at the top with a good bowl of cheese grits. What is your favorite breakfast food?

French Toast Casserole

French Toast Casserole is the perfect make ahead breakfast recipe. It's a sweet and delicious recipe the whole family will love.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Keyword breakfast, brunch, french toast, recipes

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 40 minutes

Total Time 1 hour

Servings 6 people

Calories 415 kcal

Author Emily

Ingredients

1 stick butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
1/2 tsp cinnamon
6 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
12 slices white bread

Instructions

Melt butter and mix with brown sugar and cinnamon
Spread half of the brown sugar in the bottom of a 9x13 pan
Place six slices of bread over the brown sugar mixture
Spread the remainder of the brown sugar mixture over the bread
Place remaining six pieces of bread on top
Beat eggs and milk together and pour into casserole dish over bread
Cover and refrigerate overnight
Bake at 350 for 40 minutes

Need more breakfast ideas? Check out some of our other favorites!

Bacon and Bell Pepper Quiche

Three Cheese Grits Casserole

Crock Pot French Toast

Reader Interactions

Comments

Meg @ The Housewife in Training Files says
March 17, 2014 at 11:54 am
I agree with you…breakfast is my favorite! I could eat it for every meal and be perfectly satisfied! The fact that it can be sweet or savory is the ultimate meal type 🙂 Pinned this!
Reply
- Emily says
  March 17, 2014 at 12:12 pm
  Yes I totally agree, I love breakfast! Thank you for pinning!
  Emily
  Reply
  - Laura says
    August 31, 2015 at 9:24 pm
    Do you recommend this recipe or the crock pot French toast you also have posted? I’m host a brunch and I’m wondering which is yummiest.
    Reply
    - Emily says
      September 1, 2015 at 5:36 pm
      This recipe is my personal favorite! And I love that you can make it ahead of time and it’s simply delicious. The crock pot french toast is yummy as well but not as sweet!
      Emily
      Reply
April @Pixie Dust Savings says
March 17, 2014 at 12:14 pm
See Also
No Knead Focaccia (Cheese Focaccia) Recipe - The Cookie Rookie®56 Vintage Recipes from the '30s Worth Trying Today Vegan Vegetable Soup Recipe 36 Tried-and-True 13x9 Recipes for Casseroles, Strata and Bakes
I think I now now what I am doing for dinner tonight! That looks wonderful!!
Reply
- Emily says
  March 17, 2014 at 7:52 pm
  I hope you enjoy it!
  Emily
  Reply
Chelsea says
March 18, 2014 at 10:35 am
This looks AMAZING! I have never been a huge fan of French toast but seriously, how can anyone not love this??
Reply
- Emily says
  March 19, 2014 at 3:09 pm
  Yeah it is so yummy!
  Emily
  Reply
Winnie says
March 18, 2014 at 12:35 pm
I love this!
It’s similar to bread pudding
I’m not a breakfast girl, but for this I’m changing my habit 🙂
Reply
- Emily says
  March 19, 2014 at 3:08 pm
  I hope you enjoy it!
  Emily
  Reply
Christine @ One TIPsy Chick says
March 18, 2014 at 11:08 pm
I love baked french toast! Looks so good!
Reply
- Emily says
  March 19, 2014 at 3:07 pm
  It’s so delicious!
  Emily
  Reply
Jennifer @ Beauty under 10 says
March 19, 2014 at 11:49 am
I love Saturday morning breakfast! This is a great recipe, can’t wait to try it!!
Thank you for posting 🙂
Reply
- Emily says
  March 19, 2014 at 3:07 pm
  Thank you for checking it out. I hope you enjoy it!
  Emily
  Reply
Chris at Hye Thyme Cafe says
March 20, 2014 at 1:47 am
I’m with you – I looooove breakfast foods, but I’m definitely not a morning person, so I usually make them for dinner. As far as French Toast goes, I think Bananas Foster is my favorite! [#PinItThurs]
Reply
- Emily says
  March 20, 2014 at 9:25 pm
  I love breakfast for dinner! Thanks for coming by!
  Emily
  Reply
Sarah @ Thank You Honey says
March 21, 2014 at 7:12 am
I love breakfast anytime of the day! Looks so good! Thanks for sharing on Whatever Wednesday on Thank You Honey! Hope to see you again next week!
Reply
See Also
56 Vintage Recipes from the '30s Worth Trying Today
- Emily says
  March 24, 2014 at 7:04 pm
  You and me both!
  Emily
  Reply
Antionette Blake says
March 23, 2014 at 6:31 pm
oh my, my youngest son would love this!
Reply
- Emily says
  March 24, 2014 at 7:02 pm
  It is so delicious!
  Emily
  Reply
Sherri says
March 25, 2014 at 8:36 am
YUM!! I am SO trying this!! Thanks for sharing at The Mommy Club Linky Party!
Reply
- Emily says
  March 25, 2014 at 10:51 am
  I hope you enjoy it! We love it!
  Emily
  Reply
Donna says
April 19, 2014 at 9:47 am
Do you bake this covered or uncovered?
Reply
- Emily says
  April 20, 2014 at 9:14 pm
  Hi Donna,
  You bake it uncovered!
  Emily
  Reply
JoAnn says
February 8, 2015 at 5:25 pm
I added bananas and used raisin bread. Banana Foster French toast. Yummmm.
Reply
- Emily says
  February 10, 2015 at 8:43 pm
  Yum! That sounds delicious!
  Emily
  Reply
Charlene says
October 27, 2015 at 2:24 pm
Hey Emily, I want to make this for our friends that we’re staying in the cabin with this weekend. Would you recommend doubling the recipe for 8 people? And if so, would it be easiest to just make 2 casseroles?
Reply
- Emily says
  October 27, 2015 at 5:06 pm
  I think I would recommend doubling it, just to be safe! It’s also really good leftover if you end up with leftovers. And yes I would make 2 casseroles to double it, I think that would be easiest because one is about the size of a 9×13 casserole dish!
  Hope you enjoy it!
  Emily
  Reply
Mother of 3 says
February 12, 2016 at 6:09 am
This sounds so delectable! I’m checking the pantry right now to see if I have the ingredients for it before we head to the grocery store tonight. Definitely on our weekend menu now! Thank you for sharing at Freedom Friday!
Reply
- Emily says
  February 12, 2016 at 9:40 am
  I hope you enjoy it! It is a family favorite with us!
  Emily
  Reply
Jeanne Grunert says
February 15, 2016 at 12:33 pm
No fair – I’m getting hungry just looked at this recipe! Visiting from the #HomeMattersParty this week and glad I found your block.
Reply
- Emily says
  February 15, 2016 at 2:41 pm
  It’s one of my favorite recipes for sure!
  Emily
  Reply
Frugal Hausfrau says
February 16, 2016 at 8:44 pm
This would be perfect for me – I hate making breakfast in the morning! Thanks for bringing this by Throwback Thursday!
Mollie
Reply
E says
March 1, 2016 at 11:23 am
Can you Freeze this?
Reply
- Emily says
  March 2, 2016 at 9:20 am
  I’m not sure, I’ve never tried it before. I’m afraid it may come out soggy if it was frozen but I don’t know.
  Emily
  Reply

Trackbacks

[…] French Toast Casserolefrom Love, Pasta and a Tool Belt has my vote. I will pretty much eat any kind of French toast. […]
Reply
[…] French Toast Casserole – https://lovepastatoolbelt.com/2014/03/french-toast-casserole/ […]
Reply
[…] has some amazing recipes on her blog, like this one for French Toast Casseroleplus fabulous DIYs and other fun […]
Reply
[…] French Toast Casserole // Love, Pasta, and a Tool Belt […]
Reply
[…] original recipelovepastatoolbelt […]
Reply
[…] French Toast Casserole […]
Reply
[…] French Toast Casserole by Love, Pasta and a Tool Belt […]
Reply
[…] French Toast Casserole […]
Reply
[…] French Toast CasseroleCheese and Bacon Quiche […]
Reply
[…] French Toast Casserole […]
Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

French Toast Casserole- (breakfast, make ahead, brunch, recipes, bread) (2024)

FAQs

Can you make French toast ahead of time and reheat? ›

Freezer and Make-Ahead Tips

Freeze cooked French Toast Casserole for up to three months. Remove it from the freezer the day before you want to serve it and let thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Cover the pan with foil, then reheat at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until warmed through.

View Details ›

Should you toast bread before making French toast? ›

Use stale bread or toast the bread until it's golden-brown. It needs to be sturdy to hold up to the egg mixture. If the bread is fresh from the bag or you toast it too lightly, the finished dish will be soggy. Soak the toasted or untoasted bread for about 10 seconds per side to achieve the optimal texture.

Show Me More ›

Should I leave bread out overnight for French toast? ›

Ideally, the bread should be slightly stale. A drier bread will soak up all the custard. Bread can be left out with the wrapper open the day before cooking. If you find yourself in a pinch, dry your bread slices in a 275°F oven for 10 minutes before soaking them in the custard.

Keep Reading ›

Can you make French toast and eat it later? ›

The French toast can be made ahead and then toasted or microwaved during a busy morning on the go. Think you don't have time to make French toast during the week? You can make it ahead and freeze! Arrange your cooked French toast on a single layer on a baking sheet.

Know More ›

What is the best kind of bread to make French toast with? ›

Use brioche or challah. These egg-based breads have a high butter content, meaning their crumb is tender and rich but light. In other words, they're an ideal foundation for super decadent yet airy French toast.

Learn More ›

How do you keep French toast warm for a crowd? ›

If you need to keep the French Toast warm until you've cooked enough to feed everyone, preheat your oven to 200 degrees Fahrenheit. Cover a baking sheet (preferably rimmed) with parchment paper.

Tell Me More ›

Why is day-old bread better for French toast? ›

Stale bread is often preferred for making French toast because it absorbs the liquid mixture more effectively, resulting in a better texture and flavor. Here are a few reasons why stale bread is often recommended: Texture: Stale bread has a drier and firmer texture compared to fresh bread.

Read On ›

How do you keep bread moist overnight? ›

foil. Storing bread in either plastic, cloth, or foil helps retain the loaf's moisture. This moisture retention is a plus when it comes to the bread's crumb (interior) — but a minus if you're talking crunchy-crispy crust, since wrapping bread will inevitably soften its crust as well as its crumb.

Read On ›

How do you keep French bread soft overnight? ›

How can you store fresh bread and rolls so they stay soft for as long as possible? Resealable plastic bag: A resealable plastic bag seals in moisture and locks out air, keeping your bread soft.

How long does cooked French toast last in fridge? ›

Storage Tips

Baked French toast will keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To Reheat. Pop your French toast in the microwave to reheat it quickly, or place it in a 350 degree F oven to restore the crispiness of the top and edges. To Freeze.

Show Me More ›

How long does French toast last after being made? ›

In the refrigerator: After cooking the French toasts, let them cool to room temperature. Place them in a ziplock bag and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Re-heat on low-medium heat in a pan. In the freezer: After cooking the French toasts, let them cool to room temperature.

How long does homemade French toast last in fridge? ›

In the Refrigerator: Store your leftovers (or make this ahead of time) and place your cooked French toast in a ziplock bag or airtight container. These will last in the refrigerator for about 5 to 7 days. In the Freezer: Cook your French toast, then let it cool completely.

Explore More ›