This simple but delicious baked french toast casserole recipe is perfect for when you need to feed a large crowd for brunch or breakfast.
We love making a special brunch during the holidays, Mother’s Day, Easter, and basically anytime we have family or friends over.
It pairs perfectly with other breakfast favorites such as bacon, sausages, smoothies, and more!
Making a casserole for brunch for gatherings is the easiest way to serve a crowd of people. They are easily thrown together, made ahead of time, and you can even freeze them to cook up later. If I’m not making this baked french toast casserole, you can usually find me pulling my breakfast ham casserole out of the freezer that I made ahead of in preparation.
If you don’t have a cast iron skillet. I highly suggest investing in this 10-inch cast iron skillet. But you can certainly make this baked french toast recipe in a cast iron dutch oven or casserole dish.
Ingredients for Baked French Toast Casserole
- Large eggs
- Whole milk (or heavy cream)
- Cinnamon
- Brown sugar (granulated sugar will work if you are in a pinch!)
- Bread (stale bread works best)
- Vanilla extract
- Butter
- Flour
- Powdered sugar (to serve)
- Fresh fruit (to serve)
What is French Toast Casserole?
French toast casserole is a baked breakfast dish made by layering bread in a baking dish and pouring a mixture of eggs, milk, sugar, and spices over it. The bread soaks up the milk mixture and becomes soft and flavorful. The casserole is typically baked in the oven until golden brown and the center is set. It is a casserole version of the tradional french toast that is served as a slice of bread.
How to Make a Baked French Toast Casserole
- Preheat Oven: Heat your oven to 350 °F.
- Prepare Skillet/Dish and Bread: Grease your cast-iron skillet or casserole dish with butter. Cut the bread slices into 1-inch cubes. You will need a whole loaf. Place the bread slices evenly in the greased cast iron skillet.
- Prepare Liquid Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine milk, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Whisk until there are no lumps.
- Coat Bread Cubes: Slowly pour the liquid mixture over the bread cubes, ensuring even coverage. Carefully toss the bread cubes in the egg mixture to ensure uniform coating.
- Create Casserole Crust: Combine melted butter, cinnamon, flour, and brown sugar to create a wet-sand-like mixture.
- Top with Crust: Sprinkle the sand-like mixture evenly over the casserole.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the oven for 45-55 minutes, checking regularly. You will know your french toast casserole is fully baked when the top of the bread iis crispy and golden.
- Top and Serve: Top with fresh berries, cinnamon sugar, or powdered sugar. Drizzle with maple syrup to serve.
Can you Freeze a Baked French Toast Casserole?
Yes! I love making any recipe that can be prepped ahead and put in the freezer. It makes this casserole freezer-friendly you must fully bake the casserole first. Let it cool and wrap it tightly with aluminum foil. You can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Once you pull it out of the freezer, let it that completely then warm it in the oven for 20-30 minutes at 350 °F.
How Do You Know When French Toast Casserole is Done Baking?
French toast casserole is typically done when the bread has soaked up the custard mixture and is golden brown on top. A good way to check if it is done is to insert a toothpick or knife into the center of the casserole. If it comes out clean, it is done. You can also check the internal temperature of the casserole with a meat thermometer, it should reach around 165°F.
More Cast Iron Recipes:
Cast Iron Skillet French Toast Casserole
Equipment
- Cast-Iron Skillet or Casserole Dish, Grease it with butter to prevent sticking.
- Medium Bowl, For mixing the liquid ingredients.
- Whisk, To combine the eggs, milk, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon without lumps.
- Knife and Cutting Board, To cut the bread into 1-inch cubes.
- Measuring Cups and Spoons, For accurate measurements of ingredients like milk, brown sugar, flour, etc.
- Small Bowl, For combining melted butter, cinnamon, flour, and brown sugar to create the crust mixture.
Ingredients
- 6 eggs large
- 2 cups whole milk or heavy cream
- 2 tsp cinnamon ground
- ¾ cup brown sugar
- 1 loaf bread cut into cubes
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- ¼ cup butter
- ¼ cup flour all-purpose
- powdered sugar to serve
- fresh fruit to serve
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Heat your oven to 350 °F.
- Prepare Skillet/Dish and Bread: Grease your cast-iron skillet or casserole dish with butter. Cut the bread slices into 1-inch cubes. You will need a whole loaf. Place the bread slices evenly in the greased cast iron skillet.
- Prepare Liquid Mixture: In a medium bowl, combine milk, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Whisk until there are no lumps.
- Coat Bread Cubes: Slowly pour the liquid mixture over the bread cubes, ensuring even coverage. Carefully toss the bread cubes in the egg mixture to ensure uniform coating.
- Create Casserole Crust: Combine melted butter, cinnamon, flour, and brown sugar to create a wet-sand-like mixture.
- Top with Crust: Sprinkle the sand-like mixture evenly over the casserole.
- Bake: Place the casserole in the oven for 45-55 minutes, checking regularly. You will know your french toast casserole is fully baked when the top of the bread iis crispy and golden.
- Top and Serve: Top with fresh berries, cinnamon sugar, or powdered sugar. Drizzle with maple syrup to serve.
Notes
- You can store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. Once you pull it out of the freezer, let it that completely then warm it in the oven for 20-30 minutes at 350 °F.
- A good way to check if it is done is to insert a toothpick or knife into the center of the casserole. If it comes out clean, it is done. You can also check the internal temperature of the casserole with a meat thermometer, it should reach around 165°F.