Make-Ahead French Toast Casserole

Make-Ahead French Toast Casserole will become your go-to recipe when you’re hosting kids’ sleepovers, brunches, or when the unexpected overnight guest shows up! Taking under 10 minutes to put together, it’s made the night before, then baked into a gourmet breakfast casserole -featuring homemade caramel sauce – that everyone will rave about!

Growing up, my mom called this recipe Company French Toast – for good reason. Company shows up and you need to come up with meal ideas -fast. This casserole is perfect when in a pinch – it’s made with basic ingredients you likely have on hand.

The caramel sauce is really what sets this recipe apart from any other. The brown sugar and butter caramelize while baking to create this crunchy outside while keeping the rest of the casserole moist.

It’s also fun for kids to watch it being served. The caramel sauce is on the bottom of the pan, but is served on the top – you flip the french toast to serve. You use a flipper to remove the bread and caramel from the pan, then flip the whole thing over onto a plate. Fun for all!

Make this recipe ahead of time by prepping the night before, refrigerating overnight and baking in the morning. It is the ultimate breakfast casserole to serve for any weekend brunch, holiday breakfast or special occasion!

Watch this step-by-step video to create this make-ahead French toast casserole!

Equipment for French Toast Casserole

• baking pan
• mixing bowl
• whisk
• liquid measuring cup
• measuring cups
• measuring spoon
• Flipper

Ingredients for French Toast Casserole

• 5 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 cup butter, melted
• 1 cup dark brown sugar
• 6 slices Texas toast (or thick sliced white bread)
• maple syrup optional

How To Make Make-Ahead French Toast Casserole:

1. Prepare the egg mixture. To a mixing bowl add eggs, milk, and cinnamon. Whisk and set aside.
2. Prepare sauce and bread. To the baking pan add the melted butter. Sprinkle the brown sugar over the melted butter. Add the bread slices on top of the sugar. 
3. Add the egg mixture. Pour the egg mixture on top of the bread. Cover and refrigerate overnight. 
4. Cook. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cook casserole for 45 minutes, uncovered. Use a flipper to remove the bread from the pan and serve upside down (the caramel sauce will then be on top).

How do you keep French Toast from getting soggy?

Choosing the right bread for French toast is the key to keep it from getting soggy. This recipe uses Texas toast, which is the perfect thickness. Brioche, challah, sourdough or another crusty bread variety are all great options for French toast.

Using stale bread is another way to prevent soggy French toast – especially when making French toast casserole. Since stale bread has less moisture than fresh, it will soak up the egg custard then bake with a soft center and crispy outside. If you don’t have stale thick bread, buy a loaf and let it sit on the counter for the day then prep this recipe at night.

Tips for Making French Toast Casserole:

• Make it dairy free by swapping the milk for non-dairy milk. Oat milk, almond milk, coconut milk and soy milk are great alternatives.
• Add vanilla, almond or orange extract (1-2 teaspoons) to the egg mixture for a boost of flavor.
• Spice it up by adding nutmeg, cloves, allspice or pumpkin pie spice to the egg custard mixture in addition to the cinnamon.
• Cook uncovered if aiming for a nice golden brown top with a soft center.
• Prep at night and bake the next day for a hassle-free morning.

Baked French Toast Casserole FAQs:

More Breakfast Recipes:

• French Toast Muffins
• Apple Cinnamon Pancake
• Cowboy Breakfast Skillet
• Peanut Butter Powder Smoothie
• Vegetable Strata
• Cinnamon Roll Waffles with Cream Cheese Glaze