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Home » Breakfast » Cinnamon Vanilla Baked French Toast

Cinnamon Vanilla Baked French Toast

Published: Dec 7, 2020 · Modified: Dec 9, 2021 by Allison · 96 Comments

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This overnight Baked French Toast is flavored with cinnamon and vanilla and topped with a brown sugar crumb topping. Prep the French toast the night before and pop it in the oven in the morning. This make-ahead breakfast is guaranteed to be a crowd pleaser.

Baked french toast on a plate

In very important news, it is Baked French Toast season. You are looking at our very favorite holiday breakfast (and basically what I want to eat every chilly winter morning). This Baked French Toast is perfect because 1) you can make it ahead, and 2) it is delicious and cozy. This is our Christmas morning breakfast every year, and once you taste it you’ll see why.

If Cinnamon Vanilla French Toast isn’t your jam, you can try our Buttermilk Pancake Casserole, Brown Sugar Banana French Toast, or Pumpkin French Toast Casserole. 

Jump to:
  • Recipe overview: Baked French Toast
  • Why you’ll love this recipe
  • Recipe tips
  • Serving and storage
  • More holiday recipes
  • Recipe
Baked french toast in a casserole dish with berries in the background

Recipe overview: Baked French Toast

This fluffy and tender French toast casserole is flavored with vanilla and cinnamon and topped with a buttery brown sugar crumble.
Here are the three components to this recipe:

  1. Bread: Cut a loaf of day old French bread into bite sized pieces and place them in a casserole dish.
  2. Custard sauce: Whisk up a mixture of eggs, milk, half and half, brown sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Pour this mixture over the bread and let it sit in the refrigerator for a couple hours or overnight.
  3. Topping: A simple but delicious brown sugar cinnamon crumble is the perfect topping to the French toast. Add it right before baking.
Step by step to make Baked French Toast

Why you’ll love this recipe

  • Easy – Just a few easy steps, and a basic list of ingredients.
  • Make ahead – All the work is done in advance (either a few hours ahead of time or overnight).
  • Hands off time – No standing at the stove flipping individual slices of French toast. While this bakes in the oven you are free to do whatever you want.
  • Flavor – Rich custard flavored with cinnamon and vanilla and a buttery brown sugar crumb topping. The coziest combination of flavors.
  • Texture – Fluffy and tender cubes of bread paired with a slightly crunchy crumb topping.

Baked french toast on a plate

Recipe tips

  • Use day old bread. You want the bread to be beginning to dry out so that it soaks up that delicious custard without getting too soggy.
  • Allow enough time for the French toast to soak. You need to allow the bread to soak in the custard for at least 3 hours, preferably overnight. This gives the bread a chance to absorb the custard.
  • Feel free to switch up the flavors by adding orange zest, raisins, dried cranberries, or chopped nuts.
  • Out of brown sugar? Try my Brown Sugar Substitute. 
  • Out of half and half? Try my Half and Half Substitute.

Serving and storage

Serving: This French toast is best served right after baking. Allow to cool down just a bit, then serve it warm with maple syrup.
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave.

More holiday recipes

  • Sticky Toffee Pudding
  • Egg Casserole
  • Banana Pancakes
  • Apple Dumplings
  • Cinnamon Bread

Recipe

Baked french toast on a plate

Cinnamon Vanilla Baked French Toast

This overnight Baked French Toast is flavored with cinnamon and vanilla and topped with a brown sugar crumb topping. Prep it the night before and pop it in the oven in the morning! 
4.92 from 23 votes
Print Pin
Course: Breakfast, brunch
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 30 minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes
Refrigerate: 8 hours
Total Time: 9 hours 20 minutes
Servings: 6 – 8
Calories: 362kcal
Author: Allison – Celebrating Sweets

Ingredients

French Toast:

  • One 15 oz loaf French bread, cut into cubes (preferably a day or two old)
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1 cup whole milk
  • 1 cup half and half
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

Topping:

  • ⅔ cup brown sugar
  • ⅔ cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
  • Maple syrup, for serving

Instructions

Preparation (allow time to soak overnight):

  • Place the bread cubes in a greased casserole dish (an 8×11 will make a thicker casserole, a 9×13 will be a bit thinner).
  • In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, half and half, brown sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Pour evenly over the bread cubes. Lightly press down on the top of the bread to allow the top layer of bread to absorb some of the custard mixture, or gently stir it to distribute the custard throughout the bread. Cover, and refrigerate overnight (if you want to bake the same day, allow it to soak for at least 3 hours).

Topping:

  • Combine brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and salt. Add butter, and using your fingers or a fork, work the butter into the dry ingredients until the butter is evenly distributed and the mixture resembles wet, clumpy sand. Cover and refrigerate until you are ready to bake the French toast.

Baking:

  • Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove the French toast from the refrigerator (the bread will have absorbed most of the custard). Crumble the topping over the top of the French toast. Bake uncovered for 40-55 minutes, until puffed, golden brown, and set (check that the center is not too wet).
  • Note: Baking time will depend on how deep your casserole dish is and whether you prefer your french toast more well done. Serve immediately with maple syrup. Leftovers can be refrigerated.

Video

Notes

Serving: This French toast is best served right after baking. Allow to cool down just a bit, then serve it warm with maple syrup.
Storage: Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave.

Nutrition

Calories: 362kcal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 17g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 200mg | Sodium: 171mg | Potassium: 194mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 33g | Vitamin A: 656IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 128mg | Iron: 2mg

Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.

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Comments

  1. James

    December 24, 2018 at 7:58 am

    5 stars
    Can this stay in fridge for 10 hours before cooking?

    Reply
    • Celebrating Sweets

      December 24, 2018 at 8:23 am

      Sure! I’ve left it in the fridge up to 12 hours.

      Reply
  2. Judee

    May 10, 2019 at 1:25 pm

    Looks great

    Reply
  3. Fatima

    June 01, 2019 at 12:22 am

    4 stars
    Can I use white slice bread as a substitute for french bread?

    Reply
    • Celebrating Sweets

      June 03, 2019 at 10:33 am

      That should work, just make sure that it is dried out. White sandwich bread can be quite soft, and it might get mushy if it’s too fresh. Enjoy!

      Reply
  4. Lyn

    November 28, 2019 at 11:22 am

    5 stars
    This is so yummy and easy to make. I made it again this year for my Thanksgiving brunch so I guess it will be my tradition every year. I made it again using pumpkin flavored egg nog in place of the milk & half and half and subbed out about 1/3 of the cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice. The coolest thing about this recipe is you can pretty much use any bread. This time (I’ve made it a few times) I had “old” bagels and English muffins in the fridge that I used.

    Reply
    • Celebrating Sweets

      November 30, 2019 at 6:41 am

      I’m glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for taking the time to comment. Happy holidays!

      Reply
  5. Nellie Tracy

    December 07, 2020 at 2:35 pm

    5 stars
    My family goes crazy for this! A favorite breakfast item of ours for sure!

    Reply
  6. Ashley F.

    December 07, 2020 at 3:22 pm

    5 stars
    We love making french toast! It’s so easy! Love the cinnamon and vanilla flavors here!

    Reply
    • Allison

      December 07, 2020 at 3:32 pm

      I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂

      Reply
  7. Bernadette

    December 15, 2020 at 8:41 pm

    I haven’t tried this yet, just found the recipe. Was wondering if you could use brioche loaf, as long as it was a couple days old?

    Reply
    • Allison

      December 16, 2020 at 8:18 am

      Yes, that should work. Enjoy!

      Reply
  8. Claire

    December 26, 2020 at 7:35 am

    If measured out, how much bread would there be? 15oz French loaf is how much in cups cubed (appx?)? I have old bread in the freezer that came from a restaurant, so I’m not sure how much there is. TIA.

    Reply
    • Allison

      January 04, 2021 at 12:17 pm

      I haven’t measured the bread. If you cube it and place it in an 8×11 (about two thirds full) or a 9×13 (about half full) you should be good. Enjoy!

      Reply
  9. Amber

    April 08, 2022 at 9:52 am

    Is there a substitute for the half and half cream?

    Reply
    • Allison

      April 12, 2022 at 1:44 pm

      You can try using more milk but the richness of the half and half helps the custard set.

      Reply
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aboutHi, I'm Allison! I'm a busy wife and mom with a passion for cooking and baking. This is where you'll find my favorite homemade recipes, designed to help you make every day delicious! Read more....

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