Description
This Overnight French Toast casserole is a delicious and easy-to-make breakfast dish perfect for holiday brunches or weekend mornings. Cubed day-old French bread is soaked overnight in a rich custard made from whole milk, eggs, brown sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of kosher salt. Topped with a buttery brown sugar streusel and fresh berries, this baked French toast is comforting, sweet, and bursting with flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
French Toast Base
- 1 loaf day-old French bread, cubed (about 10 cups) (sourdough or challah work great too)
- 2 cups whole milk
- 7 large eggs
- 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
- 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Pinch kosher salt
Brown Sugar Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup salted butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
Topping
- 1 cup berries (fresh or frozen; I used frozen)
Instructions
- Prepare the Custard: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the whole milk, eggs, 3/4 cup packed light brown sugar, ground cinnamon, and a pinch of kosher salt until fully combined and smooth.
- Soak the Bread: Place the cubed day-old French bread into a greased baking dish. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes, gently pressing the bread down to ensure all pieces absorb the custard. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil, then refrigerate overnight (or at least 8 hours) to allow the bread to soak up the custard fully.
- Make the Brown Sugar Streusel: Before baking, prepare the streusel topping by combining the cubed salted butter, all-purpose flour, and 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar in a bowl. Using your fingers or a pastry cutter, blend the ingredients together until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Preheat and Assemble: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the soaked French toast from the refrigerator and sprinkle the prepared brown sugar streusel evenly over the top. Then scatter the berries over the streusel layer.
- Bake the French Toast: Place the casserole in the preheated oven and bake for about 50-60 minutes, or until the custard is set in the middle and the streusel topping is golden and bubbly.
- Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving. Enjoy warm, optionally with syrup, powdered sugar, or additional fresh berries on the side.
Notes
- Prep the night before then bake this easy overnight French toast casserole in the morning.
- The brown sugar streusel and berries add delicious texture and flavor, making it perfect for holiday brunch.
- You can substitute day-old French bread with sourdough or challah for different textures and taste.
- Use fresh berries if available, but frozen berries work well too—just thaw slightly before baking.
- For a dairy-free variation, swap milk and butter with plant-based alternatives, and choose gluten-free bread if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 405 kcal
- Sugar: 32 g
- Sodium: 390 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 5 g
- Trans Fat: 0.4 g
- Carbohydrates: 57 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 160 mg
