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.
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.
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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:
- Bread: Cut a loaf of day old French bread into bite sized pieces and place them in a casserole dish.
- 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.
- Topping: A simple but delicious brown sugar cinnamon crumble is the perfect topping to the French toast. Add it right before baking.
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.
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
Recipe
Cinnamon Vanilla Baked French Toast
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
Nutrition
Nutritional Information is an estimate based on third-party calculations and may vary based on products used and serving sizes.
Tried this recipe?Leave a comment and rating below!
Nicole @ Young, Broke and Hungry
Silk Chocolate Almond Milk is my favorite! I’m gonna have to try this recipe for a treat on Sunday Morning. Yummy!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks, Nicole! Enjoy!
sylvie
I *might* have a tiny addiction to french toast – this recipe looks like heaven AND I love that it’s made in the oven! Can’t wait to try it this weekend with my fam ??
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks, Sylvie! I hope you love it. Enjoy!
Mary
Your post has made me so very hungry and nothing in my kitchen will taste as good! I adding these items to my grocery list.
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks, Mary! Enjoy!
Lexi Michelle
this looks sooo delicious!! great pics too!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks, Lexi!
Cynthia @craftoflaughter
Guess what hubby is getting this weekend??
Celebrating Sweets
I hope he likes it! 🙂
hayli
Looks delicious!!!! Kind of like bread pudding
Celebrating Sweets
Exactly! Thanks, Hayli.
Julie @ Julie's Eats & Treats
What a fabulous Christmas tradition! Love all that crumb on this french toast!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks, Julie.
Jaime
Oh man, this looks awesome! I actually just bought Silk the other day because it was on sale. I haven’t tried the chocolate yet, although it looks delicious. I use almond milk in my breakfast smoothies; I like how it has less calories than dairy milk. =)
Celebrating Sweets
I love almond milk for the same reason! It’s perfect for smoothies, way less calories than juice too.
Ana
This looks amazing! French toast is my favorite and you took it to a different level with the cinnamon! Thanks for sharing the recipe!
Celebrating Sweets
Thanks for stopping by, Ana!
Claire
Oh my goodness this looks SO good! I need some now!