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Ultimate Overnight Baked French Toast Casserole with Cinnamon Streusel

A close-up of a square slice of baked french toast with a thick, crumbly cinnamon streusel topping on a white plate.
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Prepare this make-ahead breakfast casserole the night before for a stress-free, crowd-pleasing brunch. It features custardy bread topped with a crunchy cinnamon streusel, baked until golden.

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 ground cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • For the Streusel Topping:
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/4 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small pieces
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

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, 2 teaspoons cinnamon, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and salt until fully combined. This is your custard base.
  3. Pour the custard mixture slowly and evenly over the bread cubes, pressing down gently to help the bread absorb the liquid.
  4. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. This step is key for the best texture.
  5. When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F.
  6. Prepare the streusel topping: In a small bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cold butter pieces, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Use your fingers or a pastry blender to cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  7. Remove the plastic wrap from the casserole dish. Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the soaked bread.
  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.
  9. Let the baked French toast casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Serve warm with maple syrup.

Notes

  • Use slightly stale bread for the best results; it absorbs the custard better without becoming mushy.
  • If you need a quick breakfast, you can skip the overnight chill, but allow the bread to soak for at least 30 minutes before baking.
  • This recipe works well as a sheet pan French toast recipe if you use a large rimmed baking sheet instead of a deep casserole dish; adjust baking time slightly.

Nutrition

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