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 ahead (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!
Jump to:
- Overnight brioche French toast casserole
- Why use brioche for French toast
- Ingredients
- Step by step instructions to make overnight brioche french toast casserole
- Bread options for french toast
- Custard flavor variations
- French toast topping options
- Baking tips for the perfect french toast casserole
- Storage and reheating french toast casserole
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More brunch recipes to try
- Brioche French Toast Casserole
Overnight brioche French toast casserole
The best brunches are the ones that don’t require a ton of effort in the morning, but still deliver on flavor. The convenience of a make-ahead French toast casserole has so many pros!
- Lets you spend more time with family/guests while the casserole is baking.
- No messy morning meal prep.
- Let’s the custard soak into the bread longer for maximum flavor.
- It’s a one dish meal that serves up to 4-5 people.
Why use brioche for French toast
Brioche is a type of French bread that is decadent in taste and flavor. It’s characterized as a pastry due to its high butter and milk content. Rich and slightly sweet, brioche has a soft and fluffy texture and a taste similar to a croissant.
Brioche is one of the top bread choices for French toast because it pairs well with sweet dishes. The brioche is soaked in an egg custard mixture and then baked to a delicious golden-brown exterior. Brioche French toast makes for a perfectly indulgent breakfast or brunch.
Ingredients
Brioche bread – either in sliced form or as a whole loaf, is widely available at most grocery stores. For sliced bread, opt for thick-cut slices. Slightly stale bread works best.
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.
Step by step instructions to make overnight brioche french toast casserole
1). Cut or roughly shred the brioche into 1-2 inch pieces.
2). In a large mixing bowl, add the ingredients for the custard.
3). 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.
4). When ready to bake, set the casserole out to bring it close to room temperature and preheat the oven to 350°F. 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. For special occasions, go all out for brunch with my spinach quiche with frozen pie crust, yogurt, and crispy roasted mini potatoes recipe!
Bread options for french toast
If you don’t have brioche bread readily available, here are some great bread options for making a French toast casserole:
French Baguette: With its thicker, crispy crust, a baguette helps to soak up the custard while providing a nice texture.
Sourdough: Sourdough adds a slightly tangy flavor and has a firm, sturdy texture that holds up well in the casserole.
Croissants: Croissants are a fantastic option due to their higher butter content, creating a soft, flaky, and decadent French toast.
Challah Bread: Challah is a special Jewish bread made with eggs, white flour, water, yeast, sugar, and salt. Its thicker slices allow the custard to soak in well, resulting in a soft, fluffy casserole with a crispy crust.
Custard flavor variations
- Add different spices like nutmeg, ginger, Saigon cinnamon and cloves.
- For a grownup version- add a splash of bourbon
French toast topping options
There are endless ways to elevate your French toast with delicious toppings:
Fresh Fruits: Add sliced strawberries, bananas, blueberries, raspberries, or blackberries for a burst of freshness.
Sauces: Drizzle with maple syrup, chocolate syrup, caramel sauce, honey, fruit marmalade, jam, or fruit curd to add sweetness and flavor.
Savory Toppings: Try fried bacon bits, cream cheese, grated Parmesan, plain butter, or herbed butter for a savory twist.
Sweet Toppings: Sprinkle with powdered sugar, cinnamon sugar, or add chocolate chips, hazelnut spread, chocolate spread, whipped cream, or coconut flakes for a decadent treat.
Nuts: For added crunch, use roasted and chopped almonds, walnuts, pecans, or toasted macadamia nuts.
Baking tips for the perfect french toast casserole
- Using stale or dry bread is best, as it helps absorb the custard more effectively. Leave the bread out overnight, or bake it in the oven at 200°F for about 10 to 15 minutes to dry it out.
- This casserole is mildly sweet; if you prefer it sweeter, you can use ½ cup of sugar.
- For the best results, prepare the casserole ahead of time, preferably overnight, so the custard and flavors can fully soak into the bread.
Storage and reheating french toast casserole
To reheat leftovers: bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit until warmed through, about 15 - 20 minutes. Or bake in the toaster oven at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 15- 20 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.
More brunch recipes to try
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Brioche French Toast Casserole
Equipment
- 1 casserole pan 12 by 9" or 9 by 9" pan
Ingredients
- 1 pound brioche bread Either in sliced form or as a whole loaf, is widely available at most grocery stores. For sliced bread, opt for thick-cut slices. Slightly stale or dry bread works best.
- 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.
- Using stale or dry bread is best, as it helps absorb the custard more effectively. Leave the bread out overnight, or bake it in the oven at 200°F for about 10 to 15 minutes to dry it out.
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