This baked French toast casserole is perfect for those times when you have company or when you simply want to treat the family to something yummy to start the day.

Also called a French toast bake, it’s a delicious breakfast food that will keep you satisfied throughout the morning. With the warm comfort of traditional French toast combined with the ease of this recipe, you’ll want to make it often!

A Good Breakfast to Start the Day

Most of us have been told that it’s important to have a good breakfast to start the day out right. And I agree.

After all, you’ve gone an entire night without eating anything. For that reason, it’s important to give your body the fuel it needs.

When I start out the day with a hearty meal, I am able to resist the urge to snack. There’s an old saying that goes something like “Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a pauper.”

This delicious baked French toast will definitely make you feel like royalty. It’s delicious with a side of this homemade turkey sausage and some fresh fruit.

You can also serve it with ham or bacon. Just remember that the French toast will be the star of the plate.

Baked French Toast Casserole Ingredients

You probably have most of these ingredients in your fridge and pantry. You might need to pick up a bag of pecans, or you can substitute other nuts.

In fact, I’ve used peanuts, and they’re just as good. But I have leftover pecans from the holidays, so that’s what I used this time.

Here are the ingredients:

• 6 slices of day-old bread (French bread, Italian bread, or any gluten-free bread)
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup of milk or half-and-half (any kind of milk you have)
• 2 tablespoons of sugar (or sugar substitute)
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
• 1/4 cup of brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour (regular or gluten-free)
• 2 tablespoons of melted butter
• 1/2 cup of pecan pieces (or whatever nuts you have on hand)

If you want to print this recipe, please scroll to the bottom of this post. I placed a printable recipe card there for your convenience.

Other Ingredients

If you’d like to change the flavor for the season, try adding some pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice for pumpkin French toast. So delicious!

Any berry lovers in your family? If so, you can also drizzle this yummy homemade blueberry syrup over the top.

Chocolate fans will appreciate having a little hot fudge sauce for a topping. You can either pour it over the entire casserole or offer it as a side for those who want it.

I’ve also added soften cream cheese to the batter for some great results.

If something sounds good, give it a try on a small amount. Then if you like it, that will become your recipe.

How to Make Baked French Toast Casserole

Gather everything you need—from the ingredients to the tools. This keeps you focused and on-task because you won’t have to stop what you’re doing to hunt for something.

First, spray the bottom of a 2-quart or 7” x 9” casserole dish. I used an oval 2-quart casserole pan this time.

Secondly, cut or tear the bread into small, bite-size pieces. Place them in the baking pan.

Next, in a medium-size bowl, combine the eggs, milk, sugar, vanilla, and half of the cinnamon.

Using a whisk or fork, mix well.

Pour this over the bread.

Gently toss the bread in the egg mixture to combine them.

Then, cover the pan and refrigerate for at least an hour—longer if you have time.

I left it in the refrigerator overnight.

Preheat the oven to 350. Let the oven heat up while you finish preparing the casserole.

In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour, and rest of the cinnamon. Mix well.

Add the melted butter to the mixture and stir again. It should have a thick consistency.

Spread this mixture over the cut bread.

Sprinkle the pecan pieces over the top. As I already mentioned, if you don’t have pecans, you can use walnuts, almonds, or even peanuts.

Cover the pan with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes or until the egg-bread combination is cooked. 

Finally, remove the foil and cook it for 20 more minutes or until the top is golden brown. The bread should be soft, but the top should be crunchy. 

Serve alone, with whipped cream, or with your favorite syrup.

Since it already has some sweetness, you won’t need much topping. In fact, you can actually eat it without anything additional.

Frequently Asked Questions About French Toast

There are so many different ways to make French toast that you might have some of these questions.

What Bread Makes the Best French Toast?

This is a very subjective question, and a lot of French toast lovers have strong opinions. My husband prefers very crusty French bread. And since I have to be gluten-free, I use whatever gluten-free bread I can find. It’s also yummy with Italian bread, dinner rolls, and even hamburger buns.

Is French Toast Casserole Supposed to be Soggy?

French toast casserole should be moist without being soggy or soupy. That’s why it’s a good idea to have the right balance of egg and milk. And then follow the recommended time and temperature while baking so that it turns out just right.

Can French Toast Casserole be Frozen?

Yes, you absolutely can freeze French toast casserole. Either put it in an airtight container or a freezer bag to make sure it doesn’t get freezer burn. It should be good for a couple of months.

How Should You Reheat French Toast Casserole?

You can heat it in a warm oven for 15-20 minutes or microwave it until it’s hot. If you heat it in the oven, put it in an oven safe dish. Turn the temperature to 325 and cover the casserole.

For the microwave, it’s best to heat individual servings, one at a time. Place the French toast casserole serving on a microwave-safe plate. Heat it in 30 second intervals until it reaches the desired temperature.

More Breakfast Recipes

Since we love breakfast around here, I have several recipes that we love. Most of them are fairly quick to prepare, and all of them are easy.

If you need more breakfast ideas, take a look at these:

• 2-Ingredient Bagels – Make this delicious breakfast food either with regular or gluten-free flour. They’re both good.
• Easy Quinoa Bowl – This delicious quinoa bowl packs a powerful punch of nutrition, and everyone will love the mix of flavors and textures.
• Banana Nut Muffins – Make this yummy breakfast and watch your family’s faces light up. Not only do they taste great, but also the aroma that wafts through your house is certain to pull everyone into the kitchen.
• Easy Broccoli Cheese Quiche – Julia from Julia’s Simply Southern makes this absolutely amazing quiche that’s filling, delicious, and nutritious. What more could you ask for, right?
• Rice Cooker Frittata – When you want a hearty and delicious breakfast but don’t have a lot of time to spend in the kitchen, toss the ingredients into your rice cooker and let it do the work for you. You’ll be amazed by how this turns out!

You’ll find more recipes like this at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage, Julia’s Simply Southern and Sweet Little Bluebird.

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