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A decadent and cozy overnight brioche French toast casserole with pecan streusel topping comes together easily, thanks to just a few simple ingredients. Paired with a hot cup of coffee, the rich, warmly spiced dish is a perfect make-ahead holiday brunch for Easter or Christmas, or a delicious treat on a lazy Sunday morning.
If you’re looking for even more overnight breakfast casseroles, check out this croissant breakfast casserole with berries, a sausage breakfast casserole, this maple sausage and apple breakfast bake, and Sallie’s overnight breakfast casserole, too!
Why You’ll Love this Recipe
- Easy. No special cooking skills required — just assemble the ingredients in a dish and pop it in the oven! Hands-on prep time is minimal, and you’ll love the fuss-free breakfast recipe for stress-free holidays.
- Make-Ahead. This French toast bake is best when allowed to sit overnight before baking, giving the bread time to soak up the cinnamon custard. So convenient!
- Decadent. Thanks to buttery brioche bread, warm spices, and a crunchy pecan streusel topping, this baked French toast casserole stands out from the rest. It’s tasty enough for Christmas morning or a baby shower, and equally well suited for a lazy weekend brunch.
- Budget-Friendly. This meatless breakfast casserole requires just a handful of basic ingredients like bread, eggs, and milk. It’s an affordable way to feed a crowd a rich, satisfying, and decadent meal without breaking the bank!
Ingredients
This is just a quick overview of the ingredients that you’ll need for an easy brioche french toast casserole. As always, specific measurements and step-by-step instructions are included in the printable recipe box at the bottom of the post.
- Brioche bread: the best for French toast casserole, thanks to its buttery, rich flavor and soft texture. I use a loaf of brioche from the bakery at our grocery store, but you could also use brioche buns.
- Eggs and whole milk: create the custard that brings the casserole together.
- Vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg: for warmth and cozy flavor.
- Kosher salt: just a pinch of salt enhances the flavors of the other ingredients.
- Flour, brown sugar, pecans, cinnamon, and butter: combine to make the crumb topping that adds great texture and flavor to the dish.
How to Make Brioche French Toast Casserole
This overnight french toast casserole is such an easy, delicious breakfast to prep in advance and bake off the next morning. You’ll find detailed directions in the recipe card below, but here’s the quick version:
- Make the topping, then pop it in the fridge.
- Toast the bread cubes, and then arrange them in a casserole dish.
- Whisk together the custard.
- Pour the custard mixture over the bread.
- Chill in the fridge for at least 4 hours.
- Bake, slice, and serve!
Serving Suggestions
Dust the casserole with powdered sugar just before serving. You can also dress up individual slices with fresh berries, whipped cream, or a drizzle of warm maple syrup.
To round out your brunch spread, pair this brioche french toast casserole recipe with an easy fruit salad with vanilla pudding, with a tray of “pig candy,” with bowls of yogurt with berries and homemade granola, alongside ham steaks with brown sugar glaze, or with southern fried apples or baked apple slices with brown sugar and cinnamon.
Preparation and Storage Tips
- Make Ahead: cover and chill the assembled casserole for at least 4 hours (or up to about 12 hours) before adding the topping and baking.
- How to Store: leftovers will keep covered or in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Bake a big pan on the weekend and reheat individual servings for quick breakfasts throughout the week!
- Freezer Instructions: freeze this casserole before or after baking. Thaw in the fridge overnight before baking the next morning. If your casserole is already baked, it will just need to be reheated according to the directions below.
- How to Reheat: bake the casserole in a 350 degree F oven for about 20 minutes, or until warmed through. You can also reheat individual servings in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds.
Recipe Variations
- Instead of brioche, sub with another rich bread like challah, or try a crusty loaf of French, Italian, or sourdough bread.
- For an even richer custard, swap out the whole milk and use heavy cream or half-and-half (or a combination of these).
- Add more flavor to the custard with other spices like cardamom, cloves, and ginger; by using almond extract in addition to the vanilla extract; or by adding a little bit of freshly grated orange zest.
- Fresh berries would be a lovely addition to the casserole. Layer about 2 cups of blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, or sliced strawberries with the toasted bread before soaking in custard and baking.
- For a nut-free dish, omit the pecans from the streusel topping.
- Make it more savory with the addition of ham and cheese, sausage, or crumbled bacon.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is my French toast casserole soggy? If your dish turns out soggy, it’s probably because you didn’t use stale or toasted bread. Brioche, challah, and other soft breads really need to be toasted (or dry and stale) before assembling the casserole. It can also end up soggy if you don’t allow enough time for the bread to really absorb the custard.
- Can you soak the casserole for too long? Yes, 4-12 hours seems to be the ideal timeframe for soaking the bread in the custard before baking the casserole. You can get away with a little bit less time (say 1-3 hours); however, it’s best to avoid soaking the casserole for much more than about 12 hours. If the bread sits in the custard for too long, you may end up with a mushy, soggy casserole.
- Why is brioche bread so special? Brioche is delicious because it has a unique light, soft, rich texture and a buttery flavor. It’s different from other yeasted breads because it’s enriched with butter, eggs, milk, and sugar, and is usually kneaded three times instead of just two. Its sweet, rich flavor and texture makes brioche particularly ideal for a decadent French toast casserole with a soft, buttery interior and a crispy exterior.
Expert Tips
- Toast the bread (or allow it to get very dry and stale) before assembling the casserole. Dry bread is best for a French toast casserole because it soaks up the custard better and doesn’t fall apart as easily. If you skip this step, you will likely end up with a soggy casserole.
- Allow enough time for the bread to soak in the custard overnight (or for at least 4 hours). This prevents any dry spots in the casserole after it’s baked, avoids a soggy end result, and eliminates any last minute effort in the morning.
- Do not substitute with a lower-fat milk alternative. You need the fat in whole milk (or a richer liquid like heavy cream or half-and-half) to create a custard with the best flavor and texture.
- If the top of the casserole starts to get too dark before it’s done, just tent the casserole loosely with aluminum foil and continue baking.
More Easy Recipes for Your Brunch Table
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Brioche French Toast Casserole
Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 1 hour
Chilling Time 4 hours
Total: 5 hours 20 minutes
An easy overnight breakfast casserole that's rich, decadent, and incredibly delicious!
Ingredients
PECAN CINNAMON STREUSEL TOPPING
- ½ cup all-purpose flour
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- ¼ cup finely chopped pecans
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ½ cup cold salted butter, cut into small pieces
FOR THE CASSEROLE
- 16 ounces brioche bread (about 1 loaf), cut into 1-inch cubes
- 8 large eggs
- 2 ½ cups whole milk
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- Pinch of salt
- Optional, for serving: powdered sugar; maple syrup; fresh berries
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Butter a 9 x 13-inch baking dish or spray with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
MAKE THE TOPPING:
- In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, brown sugar, pecans, and cinnamon. Use a pastry cutter, a fork, or your fingers to work the cold butter into the flour mixture until a crumbly streusel forms and you don't see any dry pockets of flour. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate until you’re ready to bake the casserole.
ASSEMBLE THE CASSEROLE:
- Arrange the bread cubes on a large, rimmed baking sheet. Toast in the 425°F oven for about 3-4 minutes, until dry and lightly golden brown. Let cool.
- Spread the toasted bread cubes in the prepared pan.
- In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes, gently pressing down to make sure that most of the bread is submerged.
REFRIGERATE:
- Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight.
BAKE:
- When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F. Sprinkle the topping mixture evenly over the casserole.
- Bake, uncovered, for 45-60 minutes. The casserole is done when it’s puffed, golden brown, and the center is set. If you insert a knife or cake tester into the middle of the casserole, it should come out clean. Let the casserole rest for at least 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
- Toast the bread (or allow it to get very dry and stale) before assembling the casserole. Dry bread is best for a French toast casserole because it soaks up the custard better and doesn’t fall apart as easily. If you skip this step, you will likely end up with a soggy casserole.
- Allow enough time for the bread to soak in the custard overnight (or for at least 4 hours). This prevents any dry spots in the casserole after it’s baked, avoids a soggy end result, and eliminates any last minute effort in the morning.
- Do not substitute with a lower-fat milk alternative. You need the fat in whole milk (or a richer liquid like heavy cream or half-and-half) to create a custard with the best flavor and texture.
- If the top of the casserole starts to get too dark before it’s done, just tent the casserole loosely with aluminum foil and continue baking.
- Recipe adapted from Lil Luna.
Nutrition
Serving: 1sliceCalories: 562kcalCarbohydrates: 50gProtein: 16gFat: 34gSaturated Fat: 18gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.5gCholesterol: 300mgSodium: 446mgPotassium: 223mgFiber: 1gSugar: 17gVitamin A: 1205IUVitamin C: 0.1mgCalcium: 174mgIron: 2mg
