This Apple Baked French Toast Is The Best Breakfast Casserole Recipe (2024)

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Overnight Cinnamon Apple Baked French Toast Casserole is the perfect recipe for holidays or any time you want a fun breakfast without a ton of work. This easy breakfast casserole loaded with fresh apples and a delicious streusel topping!

This Apple Baked French Toast Is The Best Breakfast Casserole Recipe (1)

Table of Contents

  • Overnight French Toast Makes Breakfast Easy
  • How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole
  • How Long Does French Toast Casserole Need To Cook?
  • Your Whole Family Will Love This Easy Breakfast Casserole
  • Get the Recipe

Overnight French Toast Makes Breakfast Easy

The past few days, I’ve been spending time with some awesome bloggers in San Francisco. I’m home now, but I had a blast with everyone. It was a super relaxed trip. There was a general agenda of some fun things to do to explore the city but no pressure or strict schedule. I finally got to see the Golden Gate Bridge too! The last time I was in San Fran with the hubs, there was so much fog you’d have thought the bridge wasn’t real. This time we had amazing weather every day. And since Dorothy (from Crazy for Crust) grew up there, she was the perfect guide!

To give you an idea of the relaxed nature of the trip, one morning when I walked into the suite at the hotel that acted as our gathering space and “home base”, I asked if there was coffee creamer when I made coffee. The response I got was, “There’s Baileys!” Oh, how I love Lisa (from Wine and Glue)! 🙂 And I did have Baileys. I mean, that’s what vacation – and friends – are for, right? The weekend was full of just the right mix of blogging talk and relaxing with friends.

One of the great things about this french toast casserole is that because it’s so easy to prepare, you can totally enjoy time with your family rather than spend a bunch of time making breakfast. Particularly at the holidays, with so much going on and so much food being prepared, it allows you to get some prep work done ahead so you can spend the morning with your family. That’s how I like it. Not to mention that it’s cinnamon apple, which I love.

This Apple Baked French Toast Is The Best Breakfast Casserole Recipe (2)

How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole

Preparing this breakfast casserole is quite easy and uses pretty standard ingredients, which I’m into. You’ll want a nice sized loaf of bread, about 1 pound. I personally am a big fan of sourdough bread in all things, so it’s what I use in this casserole. Feel free to use another kind of bread, but I wouldn’t suggest regular sandwich bread. That would be a little soft and wouldn’t bake quick as nicely. Add some chopped apples to the bread and add it to a casserole dish.

This Apple Baked French Toast Is The Best Breakfast Casserole Recipe (3)This Apple Baked French Toast Is The Best Breakfast Casserole Recipe (4)

The egg and milk mixture that’s poured over the bread is all mixed together in a big bowl. Easy, right? You’ll combine eggs, milk, cream, sugars and some flavorings. I like to use a mix of 2% milk and heavy cream to get some good fat in there and keep this casserole soft and moist. I also love using a mix of regular and brown sugars. The brown sugar adds some nice flavor to compliment the cinnamon and apples. For additional flavor, we’ve got some vanilla and cinnamon.

I like to try to be sure when I pour the mixture over the bread that I get all the bread on top a little wet. It’ll moisten and soak up the liquid overnight, but that’ll help make sure that nothing gets too dry when it bakes later. On top of the casserole is some cinnamon streusel – which is basically like magic when sprinkled over anything.

How Long Does French Toast Casserole Need To Cook?

The casserole should be baked for about 35-40 minutes. It’ll depend a bit on your preference – some people like a little moister center and some like it a little more cooked. One way to test the doneness is to stick a knife in the middle and see how much moisture comes out on it.

I like to serve the french toast casserole with some maple syrup, but powdered sugar and even caramel sauce could make fun additions. You know me – always finding a way to satisfy that sweet tooth. 😉

Your Whole Family Will Love This Easy Breakfast Casserole

This breakfast casserole was a big hit! The cinnamon and apples are such a great flavor for breakfast. The apples soften while baking, but they aren’t soggy. The inside is soft and moist, the top is just crunchy enough. I can’t wait to make it again when the holidays roll around. 🙂

This Apple Baked French Toast Is The Best Breakfast Casserole Recipe (5)This Apple Baked French Toast Is The Best Breakfast Casserole Recipe (6)

More French Toast Recipes You Might Like:

Pumpkin Bread French Toast
Overnight Baked Banana French Toast Casserole
Overnight Funfetti Cake Batter French Toast Casserole
Overnight Pumpkin Spice Baked French Toast Casserole
Berry French Toast Casserole
Bailey’s Spiked French Toast

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This Apple Baked French Toast Is The Best Breakfast Casserole Recipe (7)

Recipe

Overnight Cinnamon Apple Baked French Toast Casserole

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star 4.8 from 27 reviews

  • Author: Lindsay
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 50 minutes
  • Yield: 12
  • Category: Dessert
  • Method: Oven
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

Overnight Cinnamon Apple Baked French Toast Casserole is the perfect easy recipe for holidays or any time you want a fun breakfast without a ton of work. It’s loaded with fresh apples and a delicious streusel topping!

Ingredients

CASSEROLE

  • 1 lb loaf Sourdough Or French Bread, cut into chunks
  • 3 cups (326g) chopped apples (2 large apples)
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 cups (480ml) milk (whole or 2%)
  • 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 cup (104g) sugar
  • 1/4 cup (36g) light brown sugar, unpacked
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

STREUSEL TOPPING

  • 3/4 cup (98g) all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 cup (169g) firmly packed brown sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 1/2 tsp apple pie spice
  • 1/2 cup (112g) salted butter, cut into pieces

Instructions

  1. Grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
  2. Combine the bread chunks and chopped apples and lay in an even layer in the bottom of the dish.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining ingredients, minus the streusel, and pour evenly over bread. Cover the casserole and store in the fridge overnight.
  4. When ready to bake the casserole, preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C).
  5. Bake the casserole uncovered for about 35-40 minutes.
  6. While casserole bakes, in another bowl, combine the dry ingredients for the streusel. Add the butter and mash into the dry mixture until it forms a crumbly mixture.
  7. Remove the casserole from the oven and crumble the streusel over the top of the casserole.
  8. Continue baking casserole for about 5 minutes, or until the streusel is melted over the top.
  9. Serve the casserole warm with syrup.

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 1 Slice
  • Calories: 462
  • Sugar: 31.7 g
  • Sodium: 405.7 mg
  • Fat: 17.8 g
  • Carbohydrates: 62 g
  • Protein: 14.7 g
  • Cholesterol: 161.7 mg

Filed Under:

  • Breakfast
  • Christmas
  • Fall and Holiday Favorites
  • Holidays
  • Recipes
  • Thanksgiving

Enjoy!

This Apple Baked French Toast Is The Best Breakfast Casserole Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep French toast casserole from getting soggy? ›

If you find yourself with a soggy casserole, for whatever reason, try baking it a bit longer until it firms up some. What's the best bread to use for baked French toast? A loaf of crusty sourdough or French bread makes the best bread for French bread.

Why is my breakfast casserole soggy? ›

Pre-cook the veggies. Veggies are naturally watery. As they cook, they release that moisture. If they only cook in the casserole, all that extra moisture will also be IN your casserole.

How do you know when breakfast casserole is done? ›

How do you know when breakfast casserole is done? Just stick a knife into the center of your egg casserole recipe after 55 minutes of baking. If it comes out clean, your baked egg casserole is ready!

Should I leave bread out overnight for French toast? ›

Ideally, the bread should be slightly stale. A drier bread will soak up all the custard. Bread can be left out with the wrapper open the day before cooking. If you find yourself in a pinch, dry your bread slices in a 275°F oven for 10 minutes before soaking them in the custard.

Why do you have to refrigerate breakfast casserole overnight? ›

The casserole is covered and refrigerated overnight to allow the liquid ingredients to be absorbed into the bread. This is a perishable mixture and should be cooked the morning or day after assembly. Bake in an oven set no lower than 325 °F. Most recipes suggest 350 °F.

How long can breakfast casserole sit before cooking? ›

Success Tip: Refrigerate Overnight

At this point, you can either bake it right away or refrigerate the casserole overnight and for up to 24 hours. During this time, the flavors mingle together and the bread has a chance to soak up some of the liquid and flavor.

How do you thicken breakfast casserole? ›

Whisk together equal parts cornstarch and cold water in a small bowl. Use one tablespoon of cornstarch per cup of liquid you would like to thicken. Stir out all the lumps. A few minutes before your casserole is done, add it a little at a time until you are happy with the thickness.

What's the difference between French toast and egg toast? ›

What's the difference between French toast and eggy bread? In general, French Toast tends to be sweet and eggy bread is more savoury. With French toast, you might have cinnamon, syrup and berries, whereas eggy bread is more likely to be paired with bacon or a fried egg. However, French toast can also be savoury.

Is French toast cooked in oil or butter? ›

Butter gives French toast a deep richness and comforting quality, which are what we crave on mornings we sizzle this breakfast staple. To prevent burning or smoking, use a combination of butter and oil in the pan to cook the toast.

What is French toast actually called? ›

The usual French name is pain perdu (French: [pɛ̃ pɛʁdy] 'lost bread', reflecting its use of stale or otherwise "lost" bread. It may also be called pain doré 'golden bread' in Canada. There are fifteenth-century English recipes for pain perdu.

Do I bake my casserole covered or uncovered? ›

Uncovering the foods promotes browning and crisping, and reduces the amount of liquid in the finished dish. If a casserole looks soupy when it's ready to bake, bake it uncovered unless the ingredients include pasta or rice, which absorb liquid.

Do you have to refrigerate egg casserole before baking? ›

To Make Ahead

Prepare breakfast casserole according to instructions, but do not bake. Cover dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight. Allow casserole to sit on counter for about 30 minutes before baking.

How do you keep egg casserole from getting rubbery? ›

Always Drain Your Meat To Avoid Rubbery Eggs

But no worries, this doesn't mean you have to forgo meat in your egg casserole altogether. The fix is simple and doesn't require much extra effort. The hack that can help preserve the texture of your eggs is to always drain meat before adding it to a casserole.

How do you keep egg casserole from drying out? ›

Covering the dish with aluminum foil for the first part of the bake time helps the casserole heat through to the center without drying out on top. Remove the foil for the last half of the bake time so that the top can crisp up.

How do you keep a casserole from drying out? ›

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.

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