This EASY French Toast Casserole recipe is made with Cinnamon Raisin Bread for extra flavor! Bake it immediately, or make it ahead and refrigerate overnight. Treat your family to a delicious weekend breakfast!
Try a unique flavor twist and give our Eggnog French Toast recipe a try this year! Or go savory, and enjoy this Overnight Egg Casserole.
Table of Contents
Why this Breakfast is the best?
When it comes to breakfast for dinner, what does your family enjoy?
Pancakes? Quiche? Or Berry French Toast?
I love to throw things together in the morning and be able to pop it in the oven after a long day. Today’s French Toast Casserole recipe is the perfect comfort food!
Much like this Overnight French Toast Casserole, you can make it the night before and serve it for breakfast too if you prefer!
Whether you’re making this on a Saturday morning, Wednesday night, Christmas morning breakfast, you can’t go wrong with an easy breakfast for dinner recipe!
- It’s easy to assemble. Much easier than standing over a skillet flipping slices of bread!
- The flavor! Today’s recipe is made with Cinnamon Raisin Bread, eggs, real milk, and vanilla extract.
- Perfect for any occasion. French Toast Casserole is great for a weekend breakfast, weeknight dinner, or holiday brunch!
Ingredient Notes
- Bread- We love using a cinnamon raisin bread. But you could also swap it out for cinnamon bagels or brioche too!
- Brown Sugar- adds a caramelized texture (and flavor) to the bread.
- Corn Syrup- used to keep the caramel soft and sweet.
- Butter, Milk, Eggs- all used to create the classic french toast.
PRO TIP- We love making our own homemade vanilla extract, but if using store bought, be sure it’s pure extract, not imitation (for best flavor).
Easy Instructions
If baking immediately, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 13×9 baking dish with non-stick spray. Set aside.
Make sugar syrup. In a small saucepan, melt butter with sugar and corn syrup. Whisk until fully combined and sugar has dissolved. Pour into the bottom of the greased baking dish.
Dice Bread. Cube the cinnamon raisin bread into one-inch cubes. Lay bread cubes over the butter mixture.
Make Egg Mixture. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt. Pour the egg mixture over bread. Cover with foil.
PRO TIP: If making ahead of time, this would be when you would refrigerate the french toast casserole overnight (or all day).
Bake. Bake casserole with foil for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional additional 20 minutes.
Serve warm!
PRO TIP: As you scoop each serving out with a spatula, be sure to get the syrup on the bottom of the pan!
Top with extra syrup and/or powdered sugar. ENJOY. Or drizzle with buttermilk syrup for a rich flavor!
Substitution Ideas
- Change up the type of bread. Use brioche for a sweet, chewy texture. Hawaiian bread, White Bread, and even Banana Bread makes a delicious french toast as well.
- Add toppings! Sprinkle some cinnamon sugar over the top before baking for a crispy topping like in this Snickerdoodle Banana Bread.
- Add extra raisins, craisins, and/or nuts for flavor and texture.
- Use a delicious lemon glaze like we did in our Bread Pudding recipe! Or make an easy vanilla icing!
Freezing and Storage
Store leftover french toast casserole in refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Freeze. Assemble french toast casserole in a foil pan. Cover with foil and freeze for up to 3 months.
Allow to thaw in refrigerator overnight and bake as directed. You may need to add extra time to baking if not fully thawed.
More Breakfast for Dinner recipe ideas!
Get your day started with this hearty Sausage and Gravy Breakfast Casserole! Best part? It can be made ahead of time!
Make a protein packed breakfast (OR DINNER) in minutes with this Instant Pot Egg Bites recipe! Delicious ham wrapped in egg and cheese makes for a hearty breakfast or snack on the go.
More Breakfast Recipes
- Baked Chocolate Donuts
- Cinnamon Rolls
- Italian Sandwich Torte
- Blueberry Pancakes
- Chocolate Cobbler
- Crumb Cake
- Monkey Bread
- Cinnamon Cake
French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- ½ cup unsalted butter
- 1 cup light brown sugar packed
- 2 Tablespoons light corn syrup
- 1 loaf Cinnamon Raisin Bread, cubed 16 ounce
- 6 large eggs
- 1¾ cup whole milk
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
Instructions
- If baking immediately, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray 13×9 baking dish with non-stick spray. Set aside.
- In a small saucepan, melt butter with sugar and corn syrup. Whisk until fully combined and sugar has dissolved.
- Pour into the bottom of the greased baking dish.
- Cube the cinnamon raisin bread into one-inch cubes. Lay bread cubes over the butter mixture.
- In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Pour over bread. Cover with foil.
- PRO TIP: If making ahead of time, this would be when you would refrigerate the french toast casserole overnight (or all day).
- Bake casserole with foil for 25 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional additional 20 minutes.
- Serve warm! Top with extra syrup and/or powdered sugar. ENJOY.
Notes
- PRO TIP: As you scoop each serving out with a spatula, be sure to get the syrup on the bottom of the pan!
- Change up the type of bread. Use brioche for a sweet, chewy texture. Hawaiian bread, White Bread, and even Banana Breadmakes a delicious french toast as well.
- Add toppings! Sprinkle some cinnamon sugar over the top before baking for a crispy topping like in this Snickerdoodle Banana Bread.
- Add extra raisins, craisins, and/or nuts for flavor and texture.
- Use a delicious lemon glaze like we did in our Bread Puddingrecipe! Or make an easy vanilla icing!
This would be a huge hit here at our house even for dinner. Delish!
This french toast was AMAZINGLY delicious – so easy too!
Not only does this taste delicious but it made my whole house smell amazing! It was a great motivator to get my family out of bed and run down to breakfast.
It’s like the best of both worlds – casserole + french toast! Delish!
I love make ahead recipe like this! It leaves me more time to enjoy my family. I cannot wait to try this recipe!
cool! I’ve had french toast for breakfast, and casseroles, but never together! it sounds like a great make-ahead brunch!
I love make ahead french toast casseroles! They’re soo good and easy!
I bet the cinnamon raisin bread really adds something special!
Oh my goodness! This recipe sounds wonderful! Thanks for sharing and linking to TMTT. I will have to make this for our ladies morning bible study. They will love that!
What a sweet way to start the morning. Thanks for linking this up to Sweets for a Saturday.
I love that you used Raisin Bread in this! I love raisins in my Cinnamon rolls too!
This would be so good on Easter morning. Thanks for sharing it with Sweet Tooth Friday!
Wow… this looks amazingly good! We are big fans of breakfast for dinner and will be sure to try this recipe soon.
Thanks for sharing with So Sweet Sundays! 🙂
Oh wow!! This looks amazing!! Thanks for linking it to our 2 Maids a Baking linky party!!!
This sounds like it would make a great addition to a mother’s day brunch!
I changed my name back, I’m no longer Tom
Holy bananas, I have to try this!
A great idea for Easter brunch!
isn’t that more like breakfast for dessert?