easy french toast casserole

Breakfast

Easy French Toast Casserole

This French toast casserole combines all the ingredients of traditional French toast in an easy overnight method. No more slaving over a hot stove flipping pieces of French toast while your guests are waiting. Make this easy casserole the night before, pop it in the oven in the morning, and serve it for a casual weekend or holiday breakfast. You can add additional ingredients such as blueberries and cream cheese, cinnamon apples, nuts, and dried fruit!

Ingredients

1 cup brown sugar
½ cup unsalted butter
1 (8 ounce) loaf crusty french bread, cut into bite-sized pieces, or more as needed
2 cups milk
6 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 tablespoon brown sugar, or to taste
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon, or to taste

Directions

Gather all ingredients and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish.
To make the French toast: Stir brown sugar and butter together in a saucepan over medium-low heat until butter is melted and sugar has dissolved, 2 to 4 minutes. Pour butter-brown sugar mixture into the prepared baking dish.
Scatter French bread pieces over top in a 1 ½- to 2-inch layer.
Whisk milk, eggs, and vanilla together in a bowl until well combined. Pour over bread pieces, then press bread down with a spatula so the bread absorbs the liquid. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate, 8 hours to overnight.
When ready to bake, remove French toast from the refrigerator and discard plastic wrap. Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F (230 degrees C).
To make the topping: Mix brown sugar and cinnamon together in a small bowl; sprinkle evenly over the top of French toast.
Bake in the preheated oven until casserole is browned and bubbling, about 30 minutes, covering with aluminum foil at any point if the top is browning too much.
Cut into squares; serve with some of the caramel from the bottom of the pan spooned on top.