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Ultimate Overnight Baked French Toast Casserole with Cinnamon Vanilla Custard

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Prepare this easy baked french toast casserole the night before for a stress-free, delicious breakfast or brunch. It yields fluffy, custard-soaked bread baked to golden perfection, perfect for feeding a crowd.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 loaf (about 1 pound) thick-cut bread like brioche or challah, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 12 large eggs
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup, plus extra for serving
  • 1/4 cup butter, melted (for topping)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar, packed (for topping)

Instructions

  1. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Arrange the bread cubes evenly in the prepared dish.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking powder, and salt until fully combined. This creates your rich custard.
  3. Slowly pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes, pressing down gently to help the bread absorb the liquid.
  4. Drizzle the 1/2 cup of maple syrup over the top of the bread.
  5. Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight, to allow the bread to soak up the custard completely.
  6. When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Remove the plastic wrap.
  7. In a small bowl, mix the melted butter and brown sugar until crumbly. Sprinkle this mixture evenly over the top of the casserole.
  8. Bake for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a knife inserted near the center comes out mostly clean. The center should be set and custardy.
  9. Let the baked french toast casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving warm with extra maple syrup.

Notes

  • For the best texture, use slightly stale or day-old bread; it absorbs the custard better without becoming mushy.
  • If you are short on time, you can bake this immediately after soaking for 30 minutes, but the overnight soak results in a fluffier, more custardy interior.
  • Add 1 cup of fresh or frozen blueberries over the top before baking for a blueberry french toast casserole variation.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://devourdish.com/baked-french-toast-casserole-recipe/