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    Peak to Plate » Recipes » Breakfast

    Rustic Sourdough French Toast Casserole

    Published: Nov 16, 2023 by Annie Weisz · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    Jump to Recipe

    This overnight French toast casserole is a perfect option for leisurely weekend breakfasts or special holiday breakfasts. It's a crowd-pleasing breakfast dish that combines the flavors of traditional French toast with rustic sourdough bread. Its straightforward preparation makes it an excellent option for a stress-free morning in the kitchen. Give this family favorite a try today!

    pouring maple syrup over plate of sourdough French toast casserole.
    Jump to:
    • Why You'll Love This Recipe:
    • Ingredient Notes:
    • Step by Step Instructions:
    • Recipe Variations:
    • What to Serve with French Toast Casserole:
    • Recipe FAQ's:
    • Other Recipes You'll Love:
    • Recipe:
    • Sourdough French Toast Casserole

    Why You'll Love This Recipe:

    Simple Ingredients: This French toast bake requires only a few simple ingredients that you probably already have on hand!

    Make-Ahead: This recipe is an easy breakfast that you can prep the night before and bake the next day. See the recipe card below for full make-ahead instructions.

    Easy to Make: Take a few steps out of the classic French toast recipe and make this easy baked French toast casserole instead! With only 10 minutes of prep time, you can throw together this casserole in a breeze and bake it the next morning for an easy and delicious breakfast!

    sourdough french toast casserole ingredients with labels.

    Ingredient Notes:

    • Sourdough: Homemade sourdough bread is the best bread to use for this recipe. But, you can also use French bread, hearty sandwich bread, or another sturdy kind of bread. This recipe is the perfect way to use day-old sourdough because it soaks up the egg mixture without becoming soggy.
    • Maple Syrup: There is just enough real maple syrup in this recipe to give it a hint of sweetness and maple flavor. You can omit it from the egg mixture and just drizzle it on top for serving instead.
    • Whole Milk: Full-fat milk gives a rich quality to this breakfast bake, but if you want to make it even more rich, you can use half and half or heavy cream. Some type of milk or cream is necessary to keep the eggs from becoming rubbery.

    Step by Step Instructions:

    How To Make French Toast Casserole:

    Follow the simple steps below to make this easy French toast casserole recipe!

    greasing baking dish with butter.

    Grease a 9-inch square baking dish or casserole dish with butter. Set aside until ready to use.

    pouring maple syrup into bowl with cracked eggs and milk.

    To a medium bowl, add eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt.

    whisking egg and milk mixture for French toast.

    Whisk until well combined.

    adding butter cubes to baking dish with sourdough cubes.

    To the prepared baking dish, add ⅓ of the pieces of bread in a single layer. Top with ⅓ of the butter cubes.

    baking dish with cubes of sourdough and butter.

    Repeat 2 times until all of the bread and butter cubes are in the pan.

    pouring egg mixture over baking dish of sourdough cubes.

    Pour the egg and milk mixture over the bread cubes.

    pressing bread cubes into egg mixture in baking dish.

    Press the bread cubes down into the egg mixture to make sure all of the bread is coated. Cover with a piece of greased aluminum foil. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or up to 24 hours before baking.

    baking dish covered with foil in oven.

    The next morning, place the covered pan in a cold oven. Heat the oven to 350°F and bake for 50 minutes.

    sourdough French toast casserole baking in oven.

    Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the top of the casserole is golden brown, the butter is bubbly, and the internal temperature reaches 160°F.

    pouring maple syrup over plate of sourdough French toast casserole.

    Remove the pan from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Serve hot and drizzle with maple syrup. Enjoy!

    Pro Tip: Refrigerating the casserole overnight allows the bread to fully absorb the egg and milk mixture, resulting in a more decadent and custardy texture. 

    Recipe Variations:

    There are numerous ways to customize French toast casserole. See below for a few ideas to switch it up!

    • Spices: Incorporate additional baking spices such as cloves, nutmeg, and allspice, along with cinnamon, to enhance the warmth and depth of flavors in the dish. Alternatively, you can add a splash or two of chai tea concentrate for a similar outcome.
    • Fresh Fruit: Diced apples, blueberries, peaches, pears, and more can be added to give this dish some natural sweetness. 1-2 cups of fruit works great.
    • Citrus: Add some orange zest or lemon zest to the egg mixture to add a pop of bright flavor. 1-2 teaspoon of zest works perfect for this recipe.
    • Pumpkin Spice: Add ½ cup of pumpkin puree and swap out the cinnamon for pumpkin spice for a seasonal breakfast treat. To add a little extra decadence, add cubes of cream cheese (about 4 oz) to the bread and butter cubes before pouring the egg mixture over the top.
    • Streusel: For a simple brown sugar streusel, mix together ½ cup all-purpose flour, ¼ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup melted butter, and a pinch of salt. Sprinkle the streusel over the casserole just before baking. For extra crunch, add ½ cup of chopped nuts too!
    sourdough French toast casserole in grey baking dish.

    What to Serve with French Toast Casserole:

    No French toast is complete without a drizzle of warm maple syrup. This tasty breakfast dish is delicious on its own or served with fresh berries, breakfast sausage, or among other brunch dishes for special occasions. No matter how you choose to serve it, this is sure to be your new go-to make-ahead breakfast!

    placing slice of French toast casserole on white plate.
    sourdough French toast casserole with syrup on plate with bite on fork.

    Recipe FAQ's:

    Why is my French toast casserole soggy?

    Using a sturdy bread like sourdough can help keep French toast casserole from becoming soggy. Additionally, using the right ratio of bread to egg mixture helps keep it from getting soggy. You want enough egg mixture to coat the bread with a little extra to be soaked up overnight.

    Is French toast better with milk or cream?

    French toast works well with either milk or cream. Opting for cream will impart a more indulgent texture to the eggs, although milk is also a fantastic choice.

    Is it better to cook French toast in butter or oil?

    Preparing French toast in butter will provide a toastier and richer flavor compared to using oil.

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    If you make this recipe, please leave a star rating at the bottom of the page! This provides helpful feedback to me and fellow readers. And if you want more delicious, wild game recipes you can subscribe to my newsletter and follow along on Instagram and Pinterest!

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    Recipe:

    pouring maple syrup over plate of sourdough French toast casserole.

    Sourdough French Toast Casserole

    Annie Weisz
    French toast casserole is a crowd-pleasing breakfast dish that combines the flavors of traditional French toast with rustic sourdough bread. Its straightforward preparation makes it an excellent option for a stress-free morning in the kitchen.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time 1 hour hr
    Total Time 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins
    Course Breakfast
    Cuisine American
    Servings 9
    Calories 192 kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Equipment

    • 9-inch square baking dish

    Ingredients
      

    • 8 cups sourdough bread cubes (¾"-1")
    • 6 large eggs
    • ½ cup whole milk
    • ¼ cup maple syrup
    • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
    • 1 tablespoon cinnamon
    • pinch salt
    • ¼ cup butter, cut into ¼"-½" cubes
    • butter for greasing the pan

    Instructions
     

    • Grease a 9-inch square baking dish with butter. Set aside until ready to use.
    • To a medium bowl, add eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Whisk until well combined.
    • To the prepared baking dish, add ⅓ of the pieces of bread in a single layer. Top with ⅓ of the butter cubes. Repeat 2 times until all of the bread and butter cubes are in the pan.
    • Pour the egg and milk mixture over the bread cubes. Press the bread cubes down into the egg mixture to make sure all of the bread is coated.
    • Cover with a piece of greased aluminum foil. Refrigerate for at least 8 hours, or up to 24 hours before baking.
    • The next morning, place the covered pan in a cold oven. Heat the oven to 350°F and bake for 50 minutes.
    • Remove the foil and bake for an additional 10 minutes, or until the top of the casserole is golden brown, the butter is bubbly, and the internal temperature reaches 160°F.
    • Remove the pan from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving.
    • Serve hot and drizzle with maple syrup. Enjoy!

    Notes

    • Homemade sourdough bread is the best bread to use for this recipe. But, you can also use French bread, hearty sandwich bread, or another sturdy kind of bread. This recipe is the perfect way to use day-old sourdough because it soaks up the egg mixture without becoming soggy.
    • There is just enough maple syrup in this recipe to give it a hint of sweetness and maple flavor. You can omit it from the egg mixture and just drizzle it on top for serving instead.
    • Full-fat milk gives a rich quality to this breakfast bake, but if you want to make it even more rich, you can use half and half or heavy cream. Some type of milk or cream is necessary to keep the eggs from becoming rubbery.
    • Refrigerating the casserole overnight allows the bread to fully absorb the egg and milk mixture, resulting in a more decadent and custardy texture. 

    Nutrition

    Calories: 192kcalCarbohydrates: 21gProtein: 7gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 5gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 124mgSodium: 238mgPotassium: 117mgFiber: 1gSugar: 7gVitamin A: 341IUVitamin C: 0.03mgCalcium: 66mgIron: 2mg
    Nutrition Information Disclosure
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    Hi, I'm Annie! I'm a wife, mom of 2 boys, Registered Dietitian, Wyoming native, lover of all things food, and the creator of Peak to Plate. I believe that preparing delicious meals and enjoying them mindfully is the best way to pay respect to animals harvested for our consumption. I hope to inspire you to take your cooking skills to new creative heights.

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