Breakfast Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. 
Serving
Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Baked French Toast Casserole
An overnight-style brunch bake of custard-soaked bread cubes topped with a buttery brown sugar streusel.
Contains common allergens
In the app, Listahan checks these against your household automatically.
Instructions
5 steps- 1
Spread the cubed brioche in a greased 9-by-13-inch baking dish.
- 2
Whisk together the eggs, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon, then pour evenly over the bread and press to soak.
- 3
Make the streusel by rubbing the brown sugar, flour, softened butter, and salt together into coarse crumbs.
- 4
Scatter the streusel over the soaked bread and let rest 20 minutes while the oven heats to 175 C (350 F).
- 5
Bake for 40 to 45 minutes until puffed and golden, then cool 5 minutes before serving.
Images are for illustrative purposes only, may be inaccurate, and do not guarantee the presence or absence of specific ingredients. Listahan Family Score™
76/100
Good fit for most families
Score reflects how well this recipe fits a typical busy household. In the app, your Family Score is personalized to your household's allergens, kids, and pantry.
Nutrition
per serving325
Calories
10 g
Protein
37 g
Carbs
16 g
Fat
Estimated per serving. Actual values depend on the brands and portions you use.
Listahan cooking guide
Chef notes & practical guide
Technique notes, ingredient swaps, serve-alongside ideas, storage guidance, and equipment for this recipe.
Cultural context
Baked French toast casserole is the make-ahead American answer to skillet-by-skillet French toast, turning the same custard-soaked bread into a single dish for a crowd. It descends from the long tradition of bread puddings, repurposing stale bread with eggs, milk, and sugar. Its popularity at holidays and brunches comes from the overnight soak, which lets the host assemble it the night before and simply bake in the morning.
Listahan note
This version uses sturdy bread and an overnight soak so the center sets custardy while the top bakes crisp, avoiding the soggy middle that sinks casseroles. It finishes with a streusel-style top for contrast.
Technique cues
- Use stale or dried-out bread, since fresh bread turns to mush; cube it and let it dry on a tray if needed.
- Soak overnight so the custard fully penetrates the bread, the key to a uniformly set casserole rather than wet pockets.
- Add a crunchy sugar or streusel topping that bakes into a crisp lid over the soft custard interior.
Kitchen flow
- Parallel prep
- Cube and dry the bread and whisk the custard the night before, so the only morning task is adding topping and baking.
- Make-ahead
- This dish is designed to be assembled and soaked overnight, then baked fresh in the morning, ideal for hosting.
- Leftover move
- Reheat squares in a toaster oven until the top re-crisps, or cube and pan-fry leftovers like bread pudding croutons.
- Cleanup rhythm
- Soak the baking dish right after serving so the custard does not bake on, and rinse the whisking bowl early.
Ingredient brief
Role, handling, and swap guidance for each key ingredient.
stale crusty bread (brioche or challah)
the structure
Purpose: Rich, sturdy bread holds its shape through the soak and gives a tender but not collapsing crumb.
Handling: Cube and let dry out so it can absorb custard without disintegrating.
Adaptation: French bread or a gluten-free loaf works; richer breads give the best result.
eggs
the custard binder
Purpose: Eggs set the custard that holds the casserole together and gives it body.
Handling: Whisk thoroughly with the milk, sugar, and vanilla until uniform.
Adaptation: A flax-and-cornstarch slurry can bind a vegan version, with a softer set.
whole milk or half-and-half
the custard liquid
Purpose: Dairy carries the custard and determines how rich and creamy the interior turns out.
Handling: Whisk with the eggs; half-and-half makes a richer, denser custard.
Adaptation: Full-fat oat or coconut milk makes a creamy dairy-free custard.
cinnamon and vanilla
warm flavor
Purpose: Cinnamon and vanilla give the cozy, classic French toast aroma that defines the dish.
Handling: Whisk both into the custard.
Adaptation: Nutmeg, cardamom, or orange zest add their own warm twist.
brown sugar streusel topping
crisp contrast
Purpose: A streusel lid bakes crunchy and sweet against the soft custard below.
Handling: Rub butter into brown sugar and flour and scatter over before baking.
Adaptation: A simple sprinkle of coarse sugar gives crunch with less effort.
Technique notes
- Press the bread down into the custard before chilling so the top pieces soak too and do not bake out dry.
- Let the casserole rest 10 minutes after baking so the custard finishes setting and slices cleanly.
- Bake until the center is puffed and no longer jiggly; a wet middle means it needs more time, tented with foil if the top is browning.
Ingredient swaps
- Dairy-free option
- Use full-fat oat milk and a vegan butter streusel for a dairy-free casserole.
- Gluten-free direction
- Use a sturdy gluten-free loaf, dried well, and a gluten-free flour streusel.
- Lower-sugar direction
- Cut the sugar in the custard and let maple syrup at the table provide the sweetness.
Serve alongside
- Crispy bacon
- Fresh berries
- Breakfast sausage
- Maple-glazed apples
- Drip coffee
- Fresh orange juice
- Mimosas for brunch
Serving suggestions only — check pairings for your household's allergens.
Storage & reheating
- Refrigerate baked casserole up to 4 days and reheat individual portions in the oven or toaster oven to restore the crisp top. It freezes well baked for up to 2 months; thaw overnight and rewarm covered, uncovering at the end to crisp.
Equipment
- 9-by-13 baking dish
- Large whisk
- Mixing bowls
- Foil for tenting if the top browns early
Make this household-aware
Listahan Pro checks this recipe against your household's allergens, finds pantry-aware swaps, builds the shopping list, and helps you plan the week around it.
Plan it in Listahan
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