French Toast Casserole (Printable Version)

Warm, comforting baked dish featuring fluffy bread cubes in a spiced vanilla custard with crunchy brown sugar topping.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread

01 - 1 loaf (about 1 pound) brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes

→ Custard

02 - 6 large eggs
03 - 2 cups whole milk
04 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
05 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
06 - 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
07 - 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
08 - 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Topping

10 - 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
12 - 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
13 - 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)

# How To Make It:

01 - Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray. Arrange the bread cubes evenly in the dish.
02 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth.
03 - Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes, gently pressing the bread down to help it absorb the liquid.
04 - In a small bowl, mix together melted butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir in nuts if using.
05 - Sprinkle the topping evenly over the casserole.
06 - Cover the dish with foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight for best results.
07 - Preheat the oven to 350°F. Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature while the oven preheats.
08 - Bake covered for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake for an additional 15 minutes, until the top is golden and the custard is set.
09 - Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Serve warm, optionally with maple syrup or fresh berries.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You can assemble it the night before and wake up to breakfast practically waiting for you
  • The topping creates this incredible caramelized crust that everyone fights over
02 -
  • Slightly stale bread is actually better here—it soaks up the custard without turning into mush
  • Letting the casserole sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before baking helps it cook more evenly
03 -
  • Use a glass baking dish if you have one—you can see exactly how brown the bottom is getting
  • If the top browns too quickly, tent it with foil for the remaining bake time

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