This delicious Baked French Toast recipe is a new take that is extremely simple to prepare and cooks like a casserole. Entertain a crowd with ease and impress your loved ones.
I LOVE Baked French Toast!
Growing up in Germany, my mom would usually make it for lunch, actually. Whenever we had some older bread and she had to put something on the table quickly, French toast came to the rescue.
Well, the German name for it, "Arme Ritter" has nothing to do with the French, but actually means "poor knights". Despite a little Google research, I cannot find the history or origin of this name, though.
We didn't drown them in maple syrup, that's something I only came to know and like in Canada. Instead, we often had it as a side with another savory dish.
Baked French Toast Casserole Recipe
Making traditional French toast for a brunch crowd can become quite the ordeal. I prefer visiting with guests over frying away at the hot pan. Luckily, it can also be made in the oven in the form of a casserole.
I'll be honest: when I first heard of French toast casseroles, I was very skeptical. How could it still have the same texture of crispy outsides and a spongy interior? But it truly works and tastes absolutely divine!
Overnight option: Prepare in Advance and Pop in the Oven Later
And it can even be prepared ahead of time as overnight french toast casserole. You can toss the bread cubes and egg mixture at night, cover with a lid or foil, or plastic wrap and let it soak in the fridge overnight.
In the morning just pop the whole dish in the oven while getting ready for breakfast or brunch. Serve topped with (macerated) berries and a drizzle maple syrup. Mmmm...yum!
This is PERFECT if you are hosting Mother's Day brunch, Christmas morning, or any other breakfast occasion when you don't want to cook the day of.
How to Make Macerated Berries for the topping
Macerated berries make a delicious french toast toppings. They are also delicious on pancakes, waffles, and more.
Combine 2 cups of fresh berries (cut large ones in half) and 3 tablespoons of Grand Marnier (orange liquor) or orange juice. Let these ingredients sit to soak for at least 1 hour at room temperature or overnight in the fridge in then airtight container.
Tips for Success:
To ensure the best, most delicious dish, keep these couple of tips in mind.
1. Ensure that the bread cubes are a bit on the crusty side. (Several) day-old bread is great. A crusty French bread loaf, brioche, challah, or slices of my homemade sourdough sandwich bread are perfect for this. Crusty bread cubes will hold up much better while being cooked.
2. You can very simply use a bigger, 9x13 pan and double the recipe. Be bold! Make as much as you need. This recipe scales up very easily so you can entertain a crowd in a cinch. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge and reheated in the microwave.
Random Questions
To keep the French toast casserole warm, you can cover it loosely with aluminum foil and place it in an oven set to a low temperature, around 200°F (93°C), for up to 30 minutes before serving.
A French toast casserole might become soggy if it hasn't been baked long enough or if it has been soaked in the egg mixture for too long before baking. Using stale bread or toasting the bread cubes slightly before soaking can help prevent sogginess.
You can tell if French toast is cooked all the way through by checking for a golden brown color on both sides and a firm texture. To ensure it is fully cooked, use a fork to pierce the center of a slice; if the liquid that emerges is clear, it's ready.
The most common fault when making French toast is using bread that is too fresh and soft. Fresh bread can easily become soggy and fall apart during the cooking process. Using slightly stale bread or toasting it beforehand can help prevent this issue.
Baked French toast might become soggy if the bread has absorbed too much of the egg mixture or if the casserole hasn't been baked for a sufficient amount of time. To prevent sogginess, ensure the bread cubes are evenly coated with the egg mixture but not overly saturated.
French toast is typically cooked on a griddle or skillet over medium heat. The bread is dipped in an egg and milk mixture, then fried until it is golden brown and slightly crispy on the outside.
While not necessary, toasting the bread lightly before making French toast can help create a crispier exterior. However, it's important not to toast it too much, as this can make the bread too hard to absorb the egg mixture properly.
The ideal soaking time for French toast is usually about 30 seconds per side. However, this can vary depending on the thickness and texture of the bread. It's important to avoid soaking the bread for too long, as this can result in soggy French toast.
Other Breakfast Recipes
Keep the breakfast train going with these similar breakfast recipes!
Recipe
Baked French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup milk or almond milk
- 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground cloves optional
- 3-4 cups crusty bread cubes ~ 1-inch cubes
- 3-4 tablespoon brown sugar or cane sugar
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease an 8-inch square baking dish with butter. Place bread cubes into dish to generously cover the bottom.
- In a medium bowl whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, cloves and salt. Pour over bread cubes and toss slightly to coat them. (Up to this point you can prepare the night before and store covered in the fridge.)
- Sprinkle unrefined sugar over top and bake for 40-50 minutes until set. If center is still jiggly, return to oven for 5-10 more minutes. Serve right away topped with macerated berries and maple syrup.
Notes
Nutrition
Pin Baked French Toast Casserole recipe for later?
Annette
I am in fact making this right now for tomorrow morning
Jennifer @ Leelalicious
Let us know how you like it, Annette! 🙂
Anna | One Prickly Pear
Argh, I wish I'd had this for breakfast this morning. It looks simply delicious! Pinned...hehehe.
And congratulations on your partnership with eBay. How exciting! Best of luck 🙂
Regina
Thanks so much Anna, it is a really exciting collaboration. Thanks also for pinning! 🙂
Jacquee | I Sugar Coat It!
I too was skeptical the first time I made baked French toast, but it was a crowd-pleaser. Perfect for Mother's Day. (p.s. I was not able to leave comments on your ebay posts...)
Regina
Thanks for letting me know, Jaqcuee, I wonder, if one needs an account to be able to comment? I will investigate further 🙂
Kelly - Life Made Sweeter
I absolutely love overnight french toasts! This one looks incredible and perfect for Mother's Day!
Regina
Thank you Kelly! I saw you recently posted a french toast recipe as well. Will have to check it out 🙂