Best Overnight French Toast Casserole

Name: Overnight French Toast Casserole
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 530 min
Ingredients: 1 loaf French bread ((16 ounces, cut into ½” cubes)); 8 large eggs; 1 ½ cups whole milk; 1 cup half and half; ½ cup brown sugar; ¼ cup granulated sugar; 1 Tablespoon pure vanilla extract; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt; ½ cup salted butter ((softened)); ½ cup brown sugar; ½ cup all-purpose flour; 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon; ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt

By Laura Sandford

Updated Nov 02, 2026

5 from 53 votes

38 Comments

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This is the best overnight French toast casserole recipe! Bread is soaked overnight in a sweet vanilla egg and milk mixture, then topped with a buttery cinnamon streusel. It only takes 10 minutes to prepare the night before, so all you have to do in the morning is pop it in the oven for an incredibly delicious, low-stress breakfast!

overnight french toast casserole in a white ceramic baking dish with a piece cut out of it so the fluffy texture is visible. It has a buttery brown sugar crumble topping

I love breakfast recipes that are prepared the night before so I can enjoy the mornings with my family without being too busy in the kitchen. This overnight French toast casserole is the perfect recipe to make for any special occasion.

It has all the flavor of French toast but is even easier because you don’t have to stand at the stove cooking individual slices (but if you want individual servings, try these french toast muffins)!

It’s perfect for Christmas morning, Easter brunch, or whenever you’re feeding a crowd!

My family loves it. I make it every Christmas morning now, and I don’t change a thing in the recipe. It’s honestly one of the highlights of our Christmas Day! Thank you.
– Kelly

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a slice of overnight french toast casserole on a plate with butter, powdered sugar and maple syrup on top of the streusel topping. The fluffy moist texture is visible.

Why You’ll Love This French Toast Casserole Recipe

Super Easy. Only takes 10 minutes to mix together.
Overnight prep. Assemble at night, bake in the morning!
The topping. The crumb topping takes this recipe to the next level.
Perfect for feeding a crowd. It’s made in a 9×13″ baking dish and is great for family breakfasts, brunches and family gatherings.
Simple ingredients. Made with French bread, eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla and other ingredients you probably already have on hand.
No standing at the stove. Enjoy all the flavor of homemade French toast without cooking individual slices!

overnight french toast casserole in a white ceramic baking dish with a buttery brown sugar crumble topping

French Toast Casserole Recipe: Ingredients & Substitutions

I suggest making this recipe as written. However one of my favorite tweaks is to mix in some berries and make blueberry french toast casserole when fresh berries are in season!

overhead photo of the labeled ingredients in this overnight French Toast Casserole recipe like bread, eggs, flour, salt, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, milk, half and half and butter

Whole Milk. You can use 2 % milk in place of whole milk, or you can use all half and half.
Half and half. You can replace half and half with whole milk or heavy cream.
Brown sugar. dark or light brown sugar can be used with excellent results.
Granulated sugar. You can replace the granulated sugar with brown sugar, if desired.
Salted butter. unsalted butter is a good substitute.
All-purpose flour. use unbleached, all-purpose flour for the best results.

What Is the Best Bread for Overnight French Toast Casserole?

I use French bread for this overnight French toast casserole. It’s sturdy enough to soak up the egg mixture without falling apart, and it creates a delicious texture when baked. You can also use other types of bread, including:

Brioche. A rich, buttery bread that makes a softer, more decadent French toast casserole. This might have surpassed French bread for me now.
Challah. This bread is a lot like brioche and works really well.
Sourdough. is a great option!
Cinnamon swirl bread. Makes this totally extra!

Use day-old bread

Day-old bread works really well because it absorbs the egg mixture without getting too soggy. I also like to pop the bread in the refrigerator so it’s cold when I cut it and assemble the casserole.

front view of a piece of Overnight French Toast Casserole on a ceramic plate with syrup and a fork.

How to Make French Toast Casserole

This baked French toast is easy to make! We will walk through how to make baked french toast step-by-step, and don’t forget to watch the video.

Make the French Toast Layer

First, make the egg mixture by whisking together the eggs, milk, half and half, brown sugar, granulated sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and sea salt in a large bowl. This is most easily achieved when the ingredients are all at room temperature.

making overnight french toast casserole - eggs, milk, half and half, brown sugar, white sugar and cinnamon in a glass mixing bowl on a gray surface before mixing

making overnight french toast casserole - wet ingredients in a glass bowl on a gray surface after mixing

Next, evenly spread the bread cubes in a prepared baking dish.

making overnight french toast casserole - cubed bread in a white ceramic rectangular baking dish

Then pour the egg mixture over the bread pieces and stir to combine. Use a spatula to press the bread into the egg mixture so it is completely soaked.

making overnight french toast casserole - cubed bread in a white ceramic rectangular baking dish after egg mixture has been poured into it.

Chill Overnight

Once the bread and egg mixture are combined, cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and store in the refrigerator overnight.

making overnight french toast casserole - cubed bread in a white ceramic rectangular baking dish after egg mixture has been poured into it. covered with plastic wrap.

Make the Crumb Topping

In a medium bowl, use a fork, pastry cutter or your hands and mix together the butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and sea salt until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap (or use a bowl with a lid) and store in the refrigerator overnight.

making overnight french toast casserole crumb topping - butter, flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt in a small glass mixign bowl with a fork before the ingredients have been mixed together

making overnight french toast casserole crumb topping - mixture after it has been combined in a glass bowl with a metal fork on a gray surface

Assemble the French Toast Casserole

In the morning when you’re ready to bake, remove the French toast casserole and crumb topping mixture from the refrigerator and evenly sprinkle the streusel over the top.

making overnight french toast casserole recipe - the casserole in a white ceramic rectangular baking dish after it has sat overnight, with the crumb topping sprinkled over the top before baking

Bake

Next, bake the french toast casserole until the top is lightly golden brown. The filling will bubble slightly and feel set when touched.

Tips for the Best Overnight French Toast Casserole

Use good bread. French bread, sourdough, brioche and challah all work well. Make sure it’s really good quality bread for the best results.
Room temperature ingredients. Are easier to whisk together.
Refrigerate overnight. Gives this casserole the perfect texture.
Store the streusel separately. So it doesn’t become soggy.
Bake until set. The top should be lightly golden brown, puffed and the center should be set, not runny.
Let it cool slightly. Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes before serving.

overnight french toast casserole recipe in a white, rectangular ceramic baking dish after it has been baked with a golden-brown crumb topping

Serve

Let the casserole cool slightly and then serve it warm with a drizzle of maple syrup. We also love whipping up a batch of this cinnamon honey butter or homemade whipped cream to serve on top!

Serving with your favorite sides is also a great idea. I’ll often make oven baked bacon or maple bacon, and I serve it with this egg casserole or quiche!

More French Toast Recipes

If you love french toast, you’ll want to make these!

Classic french toast is always a good choice.
Blueberry french toast casserole for a summery twist.
And pumpkin french toast casserole for the perfect fall breakfast.
Use banana bread and make this banana bread french toast – incredible.
Make single serve portions with these french toast muffins.
This overnight french toast casserole has a crumb topping and is a family favorite.

A piece of overnight french toast casserole being held over the pan where there is more french toast casserole. The moist fluffy texture and crispy crumb topping are both clearly visible.

How to Store French Toast Casserole

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-5 days and reheat in the microwave or oven on warm.

Freeze

You can freeze the entire baked French toast casserole by letting it cool completely then covering it with plastic wrap and foil and putting it in the freezer for up to 1 month. Thaw it overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in the oven set to 300℉ until warmed through.

You can also freeze this baked french toast in individual pieces so you can pull them out one at a time to enjoy. Simply cut the cooled casserole into individual servings. Place the pieces on a baking sheet and flash-freeze until hardened. Then wrap in plastic wrap and store in a freezer-friendly, airtight container for up to 2 months.

a piece of overnight French Toast Casserole on a plate with syrup

French Toast Casserole FAQs

How long should French toast casserole sit before baking?

This recipe is made to sit overnight, but you can even let it sit for as little as 30 minutes and it will still be amazing.

How do you keep French toast casserole from getting soggy?

Use a hearty bread that will hold up when it soaks in the liquid in this recipe, like french bread, sourdough, etc. Also, make sure to follow the recipe exactly and your casserole shouldn’t be soggy!

What type of bread is best for French toast casserole?

I suggest the following: French bread, brioche, sourdough, a sturdy artisan bread, challah, cinnamon swirl bread, or Italian bread.

Can I make this recipe into single-serving muffins?

Yes! Use this french toast muffins recipe!

What toppings go well with French toast casserole?

Here are some topping suggestions:
Maple syrup
Cinnamon honey butter
Powdered sugar
Caramel Sauce
Fresh berries
Whipped cream
Peanut Butter
Chocolate Sauce

Do I have to cover it while baking?

No! Do not cover the casserole while it bakes. The crumb topping gets nice and crispy and this won’t happen if it’s covered.

How do you know when french toast casserole is done?

The casserole is finished baking when the top is lightly golden brown and puffed, and the center is set. The filling may bubble slightly around the edges, it will be slightly jiggly but it shouldn’t be runny in the middle.

front view of overnight French Toast Casserole in a baking dish with a piece removed

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