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

Why is my French toast casserole soggy? ›

It could be because of the bread you used. If the bread you start with is too soft (such as white sandwich bread), it won't absorb all of the wonderful custard that it should, and it might end up soggy. If you find yourself with a soggy casserole, for whatever reason, try baking it a bit longer until it firms up some.

Why add milk to eggs for French toast? ›

Eggs and milk are the essential components of the custard base that gives French toast its tender richness—but get their ratio off and you'll wind up with undercooked slices that have an unpleasantly savory "scrambled eggs" flavor.

Should you dry out bread for French toast casserole? ›

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.

What kind of bread makes the best French toast? ›

For a solid French toast, aim for sturdy bread with a uniform texture and a soft crust. Hearty sandwich bread, brioche, challah, and shokupan (Japanese milk bread) are all great choices. Avoid rustic loaves with thick crusts or large holes in the interior.

What is one common mistake when preparing French toast? ›

The 7 Most Common French Toast Cooking Mistakes
  1. Adding too much dairy and sugar to the custard. Don't go overboard with the dairy. ...
  2. Not mixing the custard thoroughly. ...
  3. Not choosing the right bread. ...
  4. Under-soaking the bread. ...
  5. Using too much heat or not enough. ...
  6. Not preheating the pan. ...
  7. Only using butter.
Mar 29, 2013

Should I cook French toast in butter or oil? ›

As you cook the French toast, bits of that nutty brown-butter flavor slowly develop — much slower than they would if you cooked with just butter alone — so the the French toast has time to cook evenly without burning. A neutral oil, like canola, is the way to go since it won't disrupt the flavor of the butter.

How to tell if French toast is done? ›

Griddle or bake it

This allows you to sear the French toast without burning it, while ensuring it's fully cooked in the center. "You know when your French toast is done when the center is set and doesn't have a runny consistency once cut," Oliveira says.

Are you supposed to toast bread before making French toast? ›

Use stale bread or toast the bread until it's golden-brown. It needs to be sturdy to hold up to the egg mixture. If the bread is fresh from the bag or you toast it too lightly, the finished dish will be soggy. Soak the toasted or untoasted bread for about 10 seconds per side to achieve the optimal texture.

How many eggs for French toast reddit? ›

  1. 4 slices of bread (white, whole wheat, or your choice)
  2. 2 large eggs.
  3. 1/2 cup milk.
  4. 1 teaspoon vanilla extract.
  5. 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
  6. Pinch of salt.
  7. Butter or cooking oil for greasing the pan.
Oct 5, 2023

How to jazz up French toast? ›

Another interesting approach could be incorporating fresh herbs into the "batter" or perhaps even warm spices. You could also delve into something like chorizo which is browned, drained and then tossed with some maple syrup as a means of grounding the flavors and turning the French toast into something entirely new.

Is it better to use milk or half and half for French toast? ›

You can use any milk you have on hand. My preference though is half and half. It's just a little richer than regular milk and works beautifully to create that custard-like texture french toast batter with the eggs to bathe your bread in.

How do you make a casserole not soggy? ›

Just because your casserole is starting to look a bit soupy doesn't mean it's beyond saving. In fact, all you need to do is add some pasta noodles or grains to your base. This trick works for the simple reason that both types of ingredients soak up water as they cook.

Why is my breakfast casserole soggy? ›

Why is my breakfast casserole soggy? The primary suspects are not pre-cooking the veggies and and not draining the sausage grease.

Why is my French toast floppy? ›

Why does my French toast come out soggy in the middle? Because you're cooking it with the Heat on too high. Pancakes should be done on medium-high heat, about 375. French toast needs to be set much lower, like eggs, about 325.

How do you keep a casserole moist? ›

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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