Easy French Toast Casserole Bake
This Easy French Toast Casserole Bake is the perfect way to start the day! Thick slices of bread are coated in a sweet, cinnamon custard and topped with chocolate chips. Baked until golden, it’s ready to eat in an hour with no soaking time required.
I’m a sucker for sweet breakfast options like Zucchini Chocolate Chip Blender Muffins. However, when I really want to treat myself or impress a crowd, I turn to this baked French toast breakfast casserole.
Not your average breakfast, it’s sweet and chocolatey with lots of depth and warm spices that are guaranteed to leave you practically licking your plate. Serve it warm with a variety of toppings, and you’ll have a breakfast or brunch no one can resist!
Quick and easy to make, this casserole is perfect for holidays and weekends, and leftovers store well. So, you can look forward to your mornings for several days.
Recipe Ingredients
- Bread – Make sure to use very stale bread. I like to use Texas toast because it is sold cut into 1-inch slices, which is what we need for this dish. However, you can use any thick bread you like best.
- Eggs – These create a rich flavor and add structure, allowing the custard-like mixture to set.
- Milk – I use almond milk, but 2% works well, too.
- Vanilla – Make sure to use pure vanilla extract, not imitation varieties!
- Ground Cinnamon – This enhances the sweetness and adds warmth to the dish. In addition, cinnamon has many health benefits and can help lower blood sugar levels and reduce inflammation in the body.
- Nutmeg – Combined with the cinnamon, this creates a warm flavor with a very subtle spice. Nutmeg can also help aid digestion, strengthen cognitive function, and even improve our skin health.
- Dark Brown Sugar – This adds extra sweetness while keeping the bread soft and moist.
- Chocolate Chips – I love dark chocolate chips, but semi-sweet or even white chocolate chips work well, too!
How to Dry Out Bread for French Toast Breakfast Casserole
I like to let my bread sit out on the counter overnight for optimal firmness. However, if fresh bread is all you have, you can dry it out quickly in the oven.
- Preheat your oven to 300 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Arrange the bread slices in a single layer on a baking sheet.
- Bake for 12 to 14 minutes or until the top of the bread is dry but not brown, flipping halfway through.
How to Make an Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe
- Prepare. Before you begin, preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and grease a loaf pan with baking spray.
- Arrange the bread. Line the baking dish with the stale bread, standing it upwards like a bread loaf.
- Combine the wet ingredients. Add the almond milk, eggs, vanilla, ground cinnamon, ground ginger, and dark brown sugar to a large mixing bowl. Mix until smooth.
- Cover the bread. Pour the liquid mixture over the bread, spooning some between each slice. Fill the dish about ⅓ of the way full.
- Bake. Sprinkle the top of the bread with chocolate chips. Then, cover it with aluminum foil, and bake for 35 to 40 minutes. Remove the foil, and bake until the top of the bread is golden brown and the chocolate chips are melted.
- Serve. Allow the French toast casserole to cool slightly. Then, serve warm with your toppings of choice.
Possible Flavor Variations
This easy French toast casserole bake is indulgent as is, but you can always experiment to make it your own! Try swapping out or adding to ingredients with options like:
- Fresh fruit such as apples, pears, or blueberries
- Chopped nuts like walnuts, almonds, or pecans
- Spices including pumpkin pie spice, apple pie spice, or cardamom
Serving Suggestions
I love to enjoy this baked French toast casserole warm topped with banana slices and maple syrup. You can’t go wrong with powdered sugar or whipped cream, either!
Enjoy it on its own, or serve it as part of a breakfast spread with hearty options like:
- Southwest Baked Eggs
- High Protein Cottage Cheese Frittata
- Cheesy Spinach Baked Eggs
- Broccoli Cheddar Blender Egg Bites
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my French toast casserole soggy? The most common reason for this recipe to turn out soggy is that the bread was not stale enough. We want it nice and dry in order to soak up the milk. Also, make sure not to use too much liquid. The bread should be fully coated and wet but not soggy before baking.
Can I make this recipe ahead of time? Yes, feel free to assemble the casserole up to a day in advance, and store it covered in the fridge. When you’re ready to bake, let it come to room temperature, and follow the recipe as normal.
How long do leftovers last? Store leftovers covered in the loaf pan or an airtight container in the fridge for 3 to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
How to Store Leftovers
Store any leftovers covered in an airtight container in the refrigerator. You can even keep it in loaf pan it was baked in if easier. To reheat, add to a microwave safe dish and reheat until the french toast casserole is heated through.
Looking for more breakfast recipes? Try my sweet potato turnovers with maple glaze.
Easy French Toast Casserole Bake
Equipment
- 1 9×5-inch ceramic loaf pan
Ingredients
- 10-12 slices bread, 1-inch thick stale slices work best
- 3 large eggs
- 1+¼ cup almond milk, or 2% milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1.5 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon dark brown sugar
- ¼ cup chocolate chips
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.Grab a 5-inch x 9-inch ceramic loaf pan and spray it with nonstick baking spray.
- Line the baking dish with your stale bread standing it upwards like a loaf of bread would look.** The bread needs to be about 1 inch thick and very very dry. I let mine sit out overnight on a baking try to make sure it really dries out. This is the key to a delicious casserole. **
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the almond milk, eggs, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg, dark brown sugar and blend well. You really want to make sure that the spices mix into the liquids.
- Gently pour the liquid mixture over the bread, making sure to spoon some of the liquid in-between the slices. Once the liquid mixture has settled over and in-between the bread, the liquid should be about 1/3rd or halfway up the inside of the dish.
- Top with chocolate chips, cover with foil and bake for 35 – 40 minutes. Remove the foil and bake for an additional 5 minutes uncovered so the top gets brown and the chocolate chips melt into the dish!Serve with powdered sugar, maple syrup or fresh fruit.
2 Comments on “Easy French Toast Casserole Bake”
I had some stale rolls that I used to make this and it turned out perfectly. I just cooked it in a smaller casserole dish. Otherwise, I followed the recipe exactly.
This would be great for company or something.