This overnight Brioche French Toast Casserole is soaked in a sweet maple syrup custard and topped with a buttery cinnamon streusel. Easy to prep ahead and bake in the morning for a sweet, cozy breakfast. Dairy-free option, too!
Made this for Easter. SO SO SO GOOD. Best french toast I have ever eaten. Thank you so much, and I will definitely be making this recipe again for my family. It was perfect to soak overnight and then easy bake in the morning. The crumble on top was just wow and i served it with banana. ★★★★★
- Lillian
I'm a big fan of French toast—especially these homemade French toast bagels and this protein French toast recipe. But I have to admit, this overnight French toast casserole is my all-time favorite. It's made with soft, fluffy brioche bread soaked in a sweet maple syrup custard and topped with a buttery cinnamon streusel made with coconut sugar. It's the perfect dish for Sunday brunch, a party, or a cozy family breakfast.
Brioche French Toast Casserole is also a total favorite for holiday mornings and weekend brunches. It's that cozy, comforting dish that feels extra special without any extra fuss — perfect for Christmas, Easter, or any time you want to treat yourself.
This French toast casserole pairs perfectly with this sweet potato crusted quiche. But honestly, it's so delicious on its own, you really don't need anything else to make it a hit.
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Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Easy to make: It takes just 10 minutes to prep, then you let it soak overnight and bake it in the morning.
- Packed with flavor: This dish is warm and buttery, topped with a sweet cinnamon streusel you won't be able to resist.
- No refined sugar: The recipe is naturally sweetened with maple syrup and coconut sugar for a healthier treat.
- Customizable: Mix in your favorites like chocolate chips, berries, or nuts to make it your own.
The Ingredients
- Brioche Bread: Stale bread is best! You need one loaf cut into 1-inch cubes. After soaking and baking, it's soft and delicious! If you can't find brioche, Texas Toast or Challah works great too.
- Milk: Any type of milk works here, including oat, almond, cow's milk, or soy.
- Eggs: Eggs help the casserole hold together and add a bit of protein.
- Maple Syrup: Adds just the right touch of natural sweetness. You can swap in honey if you prefer.
- Vanilla Extract
- Ground Cinnamon
- All-Purpose Flour: This is the base for the streusel; however, gluten-free flour can be used if needed.
- Coconut Sugar: This adds an extra layer of yumminess and sweetness to the topping. Light brown sugar is a fine substitute.
- Ground Cinnamon: For that perfect cinnamon flavor.
- Butter: Use cold, cubed butter to get that melt-in-your-mouth streusel texture.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Make Overnight Brioche French Toast Casserole
- Step 1: Toss cubed brioche in a greased dish, then pour over a mix of almond milk, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours or overnight.
- Step 2: When you're ready, preheat the oven to 350°F. Sprinkle the buttery cinnamon streusel on top, then bake until golden and bubbly. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving with fresh berries. Enjoy!
Hint: Don't worry if the casserole deflates after baking — it's just moisture releasing. The texture might settle, but the flavor will still be delicious!
Video Tutorial
Expert Baking Tips
- Take your time soaking: Let the bread soak overnight so it absorbs the custard fully and gets that perfect texture.
- Use day-old bread: Slightly stale brioche holds up better and soaks in the custard without turning mushy.
- Keep butter cold for the streusel: Cold butter creates those delicious, crumbly topping bits everyone loves.
- Watch the topping: If the streusel starts to brown too quickly, loosely cover the casserole with foil to prevent burning while it finishes baking.
- Don't stress if it sinks: It's normal for the casserole to deflate a bit after baking—that's just moisture releasing, and the flavor stays amazing.
Equipment
- Knife
- Cutting Board
- 9x13 or 9x11 Baking Dish
- Measuring Cups
Substitutions & Variations
- To make it dairy-free: Use almond or oat milk instead of cow's milk, and swap butter for vegan butter or solid, chilled coconut oil.
- To make it gluten-free: Use gluten-free all-purpose flour for the streusel and opt for a gluten-free bread alternative, such as a gluten-free challah or brioche.
- To make it nut-free: This recipe is already nut-free.
- Add berries: Fold fresh berries into the custard before baking for a juicy pop of flavor in every bite.
- Brioche bread swap: Instead of brioche bread, you can use Texas Toast or Challah.
- Maple syurp: Swap maple syrup for honey for a different natural sweetness.
- Coconut sugar swap: For the streusel, coconut sugar can be replaced with light brown sugar.
- Add chocolate chips: Sprinkle chocolate chips into the custard or on top for a melty, sweet surprise.
- Add nuts: Toss chopped nuts into the streusel or sprinkle on top for extra crunch.
Storage and Meal Prep
Baked French toast casserole keeps well in the fridge for up to 3 days. Store leftovers in an airtight container or cover the dish in foil to keep it fresh. To reheat, warm individual servings in the oven or toaster oven until heated through — I don't recommend the microwave since it can make the French toast soggy.
For easy meal prep, assemble the casserole the night before and let it soak in the fridge overnight. Then, pop it in the oven fresh in the morning for a warm, cozy breakfast with minimal effort!
Frequently Asked Questions
I highly recommend using stale or dried-out bread for the best results. Fresh bread will work, but it tends to get a little soggy. If your bread is fresh, you can slice it and bake it at a low 250°F for about 10 minutes to dry it out a bit. Stale bread soaks up the custard better and holds its shape nicely.
You can prep the casserole the night before and keep it in the fridge overnight before baking.
Store leftover French toast in an airtight container for up to 3 days in the fridge.
Yes! Brioche, Challah, or Texas Toast all work great because they soak up the custard well without falling apart.
If it's soggy, it's usually because it didn't soak long enough or the bread used wasn't the right kind. Soft breads, such as brioche or challah, work best for a fluffy, tender casserole.
Yes! Bake the casserole as directed and let it completely cool. Then wrap it tightly with plastic wrap and foil (in a freezer-safe dish) and freeze for up to 4 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the fridge and warm in the oven at 325°F until warm.
More Recipes You'll Love
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Pairing
These are my favorite dishes to serve with brioche French toast casserole:
Did you make this recipe?
If you make this recipe, be sure to comment and rate it down below. Also, don't forget to tag me @healthfulblondie on Instagram and use the hashtag #healthfulblondie so I can see your delicious creation and share it with my followers!
📖 Recipe
Overnight Brioche French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
French Toast Casserole:
- 1 loaf brioche bread (stale is best_), 14 - 16oz, cut into 1-inch cubes.
- 1 ⅔ cups oat milk or unsweetened almond milk, vanilla or plain
- 6 eggs
- ¼ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Streusel Topping:
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour, spoon & leveled
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar, or light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 5 tablespoon cold unsalted butter, cubed
- Optional Topping: fresh berries, maple syrup and/or powdered sugar for topping
Instructions
Prepare (Night Before):
- Lightly grease a 9x13" baking pan with nonstick spray or butter.
- Add cubed brioche to the greased baking dish.
- In a medium bowl, whisk together almond milk, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Pour mixture over bread and use your hands to make sure all pieces of bread are saturated.
- Wrap the baking dish with tin foil and let it sit in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours or overnight, if possible.
Bake (Day Of):
- Once ready, preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Make the streusel topping by adding all the ingredients to a small mixing bowl. Use two knives or your hands to “cut” the cubed butter into the flour. It should be crumbly.
- Once the oven is heated, remove the tin foil, evenly sprinkle the streusel on top of the casserole, and bake for 40 - 50 minutes, until the top is golden brown. If browning too fast, add tin foil back on top during the last 15 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool for 5 minutes.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired, and serve with fresh berries. Enjoy!
Andrea says
Easy to make and so good. Everyone loved this recipe! Will be making again soon.
Jenny says
THE BEST!! Loved this recipe
Lillian says
Made this for Easter. SO SO SO GOOD. Best french toast I have ever eaten. Thank you so much and I will definitely be making this recipe again for my family. It was perfect to soak overnight and then easy bake in the morning. The crumble on top was just wow and i served it with banana.