This French toast casserole is made with buttery brioche bread and a delicious custard base with just the right amount of sweetness. It’s a great dish to make the night before, so come morning, you’ll pop it in the oven and have an amazing, no fuss breakfast for your whole family. It’s perfect for special occasions like Easter and Mother’s Day brunch, and busy Christmas mornings!
The best brunches are the ones that don’t require a ton of effort in the morning, but still deliver on flavor. My kids love helping me prepare this dish the night before, and when we bake it the next morning, the kitchen is filled with the intoxicating aromas of custardy cinnamon and sugar. YUM! This will be your family’s new favorite brunch dish, baked to a golden perfection with crunchy edges, and topped with toasted pecans.
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Ingredients & notes
Brioche bread – I’m using pre-sliced bread, but if you can find a brioche loaf, that’ll work great as well.
Eggs and milk – For the custard base
Brown sugar and butter – Adds a hint of caramel-y flavor and richness to the custard.
Cinnamon – A touch of this adds a wonderful aroma and warm sweetness to the dish.
Vanilla extract – You can also substitute with almond extract.
Pecans – These are optional, but I love the nuttiness and crunchy texture they add.
Instructions
- Cut or roughly shred the brioche into 1-2 inch pieces.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the ingredients for the custard.
- Add the bread into the mixing bowl, quickly mix everything together, then add it to a greased casserole dish (9 x 9” or 12 x 9” oblong). Let the bread soak up all the delicious custard mixture overnight in the fridge.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 and set the casserole out to warm up. Add the pecans on top and bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until the custard is set.
Let the French toast casserole sit for 10-15 minutes, then serve with optional berries and maple syrup.
Pro Tips
- This casserole is mildly sweet. If you prefer more sweetness, use ½ cup of sugar.
- For the final touches, sprinkle the top with cinnamon and powdered sugar when done baking.
- The casserole is best made ahead of time, preferably overnight, so the custard and flavors can soak into the bread.
- To reheat leftovers: bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warmed through, about 15 minutes. Or bake in the toaster oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 10 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
This can be a result of an undercooked casserole. If the casserole still “jiggles” when you take it out of the oven, bake it for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Also, let the custard set and cool down after baking.
Fresh assorted berries like strawberries, blueberries and blackberries, then add a drizzle of maple syrup.
French toast usually has a brown golden crust and is slightly soft in the middle from the egg mixture, so this recipe mimics that consistency. If you like it on the drier side, use less egg.
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Overnight Brioche French Toast Casserole
Equipment
- 1 casserole pan 12 by 9" or 9 by 9" pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound brioche bread sliced or loaf
- 6 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups milk
- ¼ cup butter, melted plus extra to grease the casserole pan
- ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ cup pecans, chopped
Instructions
- Cut or roughly shred the brioche into 1 to 2 inch pieces.
- In a large mixing bowl, add the ingredients for the custard.
- Add the bread into the mixing bowl and quickly mix everything together (don't let the bread sit in the mixture, or it will get too soggy). Add the bread to a greased casserole dish. Cover with plastic wrap.
- Let the bread soak in the custard mixture overnight in the fridge.
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350 and set the casserole out to warm up. Add the pecans on top and bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until the custard is set.
- Let the casserole sit for 10-15 minutes, then serve with optional berries and maple syrup.
Notes
- This casserole is mildly sweet. If you prefer more sweetness, use ½ cup of sugar.
- If the casserole still “jiggles” when you take it out of the oven, bake it for an additional 10 to 15 minutes. Also, let the custard set and cool down after baking.
- If you like the french toast on the drier side, add one less egg.
- To reheat leftovers: bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warmed through, about 15 minutes.