Indulge with our French Toast Casserole with Brown Sugar Topping! This dish blends rich custard-soaked French bread with a sweet pecan brown sugar topping, creating a mouthwatering treat. A perfect cozy, yet decadent, breakfast with make-ahead convenience, and ideal for family gatherings or special occasions.
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Move over ordinary breakfasts – our French Toast Casserole with Brown Sugar Topping is here to elevate (and also simplify) your holiday and weekend brunches!
This irresistible dish marries the comforting flavors of rich custard-soaked French bread with the sweetness of pecan brown sugar topping.
But what really sets it apart is its convenience! Prepare the casserole the night before, letting the flavors meld overnight, so all that's left to do in the morning is mix up the topping, bake, and enjoy.
Whether it's a holiday or weekend brunch, this casserole promises to delight your loved ones!
Ingredients
- french bread loaf
- eggs
- milk
- half and half
- vanilla
- nutmeg, cinnamon, mace
Brown Sugar Topping:
- butter
- brown sugar
- corn syrup
- pecans
See recipe card for quantities.
Instructions
- Arrange French bread slices in a buttered casserole dish, filling it to within ½ inch of the top. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, half and half, vanilla extract, and spices until well combined.
- Carefully pour the custard mixture over the bread, ensuring all slices are evenly soaked. Cover the dish with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight.
- In a medium bowl, fully combine all the topping ingredients.
- Remove the casserole dish from the refrigerator and evenly and carefully spread the topping mixture over the casserole. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes or until the casserole is puffed and golden. After 30 minutes of baking, carefully remove the foil for the remaining 20 minutes.
- Once baked, let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Hint: Slice the French bread a couple of days in advance to allow it to get slightly stale so it holds its shape and soaks up the custard better.
Substitutions
- French Bread Loaf - We love the texture of French bread in this casserole, but you may be able to use brioche, Italian bread, or sourdough loaf, but you want to ensure you cut it in thick slices.
- Spices - Nutmeg, Cinnamon, and Mace create a perfect nutty, warm, and slightly sweet blend that is perfect in this casserole. If you don't have mace, you can omit it or substitute it with more nutmeg, but we recommend adding the mace as it adds a deep and unique flavor.
- Corn Syrup - You may be able to substitute honey, but we can't be sure without trying.
- Pecans - We haven't tried any other nut in this recipe, but think walnuts would taste good!
Equipment
For this recipe, you'll need a Large Casserole Dish.
Top Tip for Holiday Mornings
- Days Before: Slice your French bread a couple of days in advance to allow it to get slightly stale. This helps the bread better soak up the custard while maintaining its shape, ensuring the best texture in your casserole. Plus, it saves you some time and saves you from cleaning a knife and cutting board the night before a busy holiday!
- Night Before: Assemble the casserole according to directions and go ahead and measure out the topping ingredients the night before, but don't combine until the morning for the best texture.
- In the Morning: Follow the directions to fill your home with the smells of French toast heaven!
- If Serving a Crowd: Blend sweet and savory and serve this with Bacon Egg and Sausage Casserole.
Storage
- Storage - Store this French toast casserole covered or divided into servings in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- Freezing the Whole Casserole - Prepare the casserole according to the baking directions in a freezer-safe baking dish, such as a disposable aluminum foil pan. Once baked, allow it to cool completely. Wrap tightly with plastic wrap and aluminum foil to fully seal and store in the freezer for up to 3 months. When ready to enjoy it, thaw it completely by placing it in the refrigerator for approximately 24 hours. Once thawed, reheat, uncovered, at 350° for about 30 minutes or until heated through.
- Freezing Leftovers - Freeze any leftover casserole in individual servings in a freezer-safe airtight container for up to 3 months.
- Reheating - Reheat this dish in the oven or microwave.
FAQ
If you use too much custard, your casserole will be soggy. If you are worried about a soggy casserole, you can also let your French bread sit out (covered with a towel) for a day or so before making the casserole to allow it to get a little stale. Also, be sure to cut the French bread into thick pieces.
Yes! As written, this french toast bake with brown sugar recipe is fully prepped the night before, just topped with pecan topping, and baked in the morning. If you would like to prep it even more in advance you can fully bake the casserole and freeze it for up to 3 months. When prepping to serve it, thaw it in the fridge for 24 hours and then bake at 350° for around 30 minutes.
Try these recipes next:
Overnight French Toast with Brown Sugar
Ingredients
- 12 oz french bread loaf cut in 1 inch slices
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups half and half
- 2 teaspoon vanilla
- ½ teaspoon nutmeg
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ½ teaspoon mace (optional, but highly recommended)
Topping
- ¾ cup butter melted
- 1 ⅓ cup brown sugar
- 3 tablespoon corn syrup
- 1 ⅓ cup pecans chopped
Instructions
- Generously butter a 9x13 casserole dish, ensuring even coverage across the bottom and sides.
- Arrange French bread slices in the prepared dish, filling it to within ½ inch of the top. Set aside.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, half and half, vanilla extract, and spices until well combined.
- Carefully pour the custard mixture over the bread, ensuring all slices are evenly soaked. Cover the dish with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight.
- In the morning, preheat the oven to 350°F.
- In a medium bowl, fully combine all the topping ingredients.
- Remove the casserole dish from the refrigerator and evenly and carefully spread the topping mixture over the casserole. Cover the dish with aluminum foil.
- Bake at 350°F for 50 minutes or until the casserole is puffed and golden. After 30 minutes of baking, carefully remove the foil for the remaining 20 minutes.
- Once baked, let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Did you make this recipe? Let me know!