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

This post may contain affiliate sales links. Please read my disclosure policy.

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

Print

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
Print

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? ›

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 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 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.

What is the secret to good French toast? ›

The secret ingredient in this fluffy French toast recipe: all-purpose flour! Flour binds the liquids together, which creates a more traditional “batter” and helps prevent soggy results. This extra ingredient ensures the French toast is crispy on the outside, but soft and fluffy on the inside.

What is the best bread for 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 the best pan for French toast? ›

Your perfect companion for making French toast is a non-stick frying pan. CRISTEL® has an exceptional selection of non-stick frying pans with removable handles that are great for both pan-frying and also oven-cooking.

Why does my homemade French toast taste like eggs? ›

Why Does French Toast Taste Too Eggy? To create the classic custard taste that makes French toast great, the ratio of eggs to milk is important. If the balance is off and you include too many eggs or not enough milk, the finished French toast will have a scrambled egg-like flavor.

Is vanilla extract necessary for French toast? ›

Vanilla and cinnamon.

Strictly technically speaking, these are optional, but French toast without vanilla and cinnamon just isn't nearly as good! A splash of almond extract or a pinch of nutmeg would also work here, if you have a more adventurous palate.

Should I toast my 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 to jazz up French toast? ›

The standard approach can be gussied up even further beyond the requisite maple syrup and/or powdered sugar. I'm especially partial to some sort of caramelized or brûléed banana or peaches with brown sugar which is then poured over the French toast, but some rehydrated dried fruit is also a wonderful inclusion.

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.

How do you add moisture to a casserole? ›

Another moisturizing fix: Melt some butter and drizzle over the top; or season and warm some cream and use that to baste your dish. Finally, serve with a wedge of lemon or lime for squeezing, which can add some acidity balance in addition to a bright hit of flavor.

How do you save a watery casserole? ›

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.

References

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 6418

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Kimberely Baumbach CPA

Birthday: 1996-01-14

Address: 8381 Boyce Course, Imeldachester, ND 74681

Phone: +3571286597580

Job: Product Banking Analyst

Hobby: Cosplaying, Inline skating, Amateur radio, Baton twirling, Mountaineering, Flying, Archery

Introduction: My name is Kimberely Baumbach CPA, I am a gorgeous, bright, charming, encouraging, zealous, lively, good person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.