Treat yourself to this easy oven-baked brioche French toast casserole— it's a quick way to level up your breakfast game. It's perfect for weekends or special holiday breakfast or brunch.
Easy Brioche French Toast Casserole
On most mornings, we stick to our go-to banana French toast, but for special occasions like birthdays, mother's day, or Christmas morning, I like to add a touch of indulgence with soft and buttery brioche bread.
But that doesn't mean it's a big production. Just toss all the ingredients into a casserole dish, stick it in the fridge, and bake it to perfection the next day. You can never have enough make ahead breakfast recipes, right?
Drizzle some maple syrup for a classic touch, sprinkle powdered sugar if you're feeling a bit fancy, or go all out with a rainbow of fresh fruits – it's your breakfast, your rules!
So, whether you're serving it up for your little ones' breakfast party or sneaking a moment of peace with your coffee and a slice, get ready for a breakfast upgrade that's as easy as it is delicious.
And if you are looking for another "fancy" yet easy breakfast or brunch idea, you have to try this stuffed French toast with strawberries.
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Ingredients
I am highlighting just the ones that need further explanation. The complete list is in the recipe card below.
- Brioche - You can use either a fresh loaf from the bakery or thick-sliced sandwich bread, depending on whichever is more readily available. I recommend using day-old or slightly stale brioche for best results.
- Eggs- provides structure and richness to the custard mixture
- Milk - whole milk is preferred especially because this recipe doesn't include heavy cream. You can use low-fat milk or a non-dairy alternative if preferred, but the texture will not be as custard-like.
- Maple syrup - sweetens and adds a rich and warm flavor to the casserole.
- Fresh berries - I like to add berries (or any fruit) before baking as it allows them to release their juices and infuse the entire dish with fruity flavor. You can certainly leave them out and add at the end.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Cut the brioche bread into 1-inch cubes. Place the cubes evenly in the prepared baking dish.
Step 2: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon until well combined.
Step 3: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread cubes, ensuring that all the bread is coated.
Step 4: Add berries (optional) and press down slightly on the bread to help it absorb the custard. Cover the dish tightly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15-20 more minutes until the top is golden brown and the center is set. Cool slightly and drizzle with some maple syrup or dust with powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness, if desired.
Tips for Success
- Use day-old bread: Using slightly stale brioche helps it absorb the custard without becoming too mushy. This ensures a better texture in the finished casserole.
- Soak Overnight for Flavor: For enhanced flavor and a more custard-like texture, soak brioche in the custard mixture overnight in the refrigerator. This allows the bread to fully absorb the flavors and results in a richer dish.
- Allow for Cooling Time: After baking, let the casserole cool slightly before serving. This helps the custard set, making it easier to slice
Variations
- Bread - try this recipe with challah bread (the best alternative), french bread, Texas toast, sourdough bread, etc.
- Drizzle maple syrup over the slices before serving, and if desired, dust with powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness.
- Fresh fruit - feel free to add whatever fruit you fancy. Sliced bananas, apples, peaches, mangoes...they will all be delicious! You can also add some nuts for added texture.
- Adjust Sugar and Spice Levels: Depending on your taste preferences, you can adjust the sugar and spice levels in the custard mixture.
Serving suggestions
Here are a few tasty ideas to jazz up your baked French toast casserole:
- Fresh fruits - adds great pop of color, texture, and sweetness
- Fruit compote or jam - give this sugar free strawberry jam a try!
- Whipped cream
- Maple syrup, honey, or date syrup
- Yogurt - try this fruit yogurt dip or flavored yogurts like this vanilla yogurt or strawberry yogurt
- Peanut butter drizzle
- Powdered sugar
Storage
Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
If you plan to store it for a longer period, consider freezing individual portions for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator before reheating.
FAQ
If you don't have stale bread, you can toast or bake the bread. Cut bread into 1 inch cubes. Then place on a baking sheet in a single layer and bake at 300°F for 10-15 minutes. Allow the bread to cool before proceeding with the recipe.
To reheat, you can use the oven or microwave. In the oven, cover the casserole (I like to use this silicone mat) and warm it at a low temperature to avoid drying it out. In the microwave, heat it in short intervals to prevent uneven heating.
You can assemble the casserole and refrigerate no more than a day in advance. Soaking the bread in custard mixture for too long will result in a super soggy casserole.
More Easy Breakfast Ideas
Did you make this recipe? Leave a rating below and let me know how you liked the recipe! Your feedback means so much to me!
Baked Brioche French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 loaf brioche bread (16-18 oz)
- 6 eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- â…“ cup pure maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup fresh berries or fruit of choice
Instructions
- Cut the brioche bread into 1-inch cubes. Place the cubes evenly in the greased 9x13 baking dish with butter or oil.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, and ground cinnamon until well combined.
- Pour the custard mixture evenly over the brioche cubes, ensuring that all the bread is coated.
- Add berries (optional) and press down slightly on the bread to help it absorb the custard. Cover the dish tightly and allow the brioche and custard mixture to soak for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake for 35 minutes. Uncover and bake for 15-20 more minutes until the top is golden brown and the center is set. Cool slightly and drizzle with some maple syrup or dust with powdered sugar for an extra touch of sweetness, if desired.
Video
Notes
- Use day-old bread: Using slightly stale brioche helps it absorb the custard without becoming too mushy.
- Transfer leftovers to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 5 days.
Julie says
Is step 5 supposed to be step 1? I'm confused how do you grease the baking dish when the mixture already sit in baking dish overnight.
Min says
So sorry! Just corrected. You want to grease the dish and add the ingredients. Refrigerate then just bake!
Jenny says
This is AMAZING!! I'll never make another overnight french toast recipe. This should be everyone's go-to. Perfect amount of crispiness and custard. Perfect amount of sweetness and the berries are such a great addition. So many recipes like this overload the casserole with heavy cream, butter, and granulated sugars. This one uses so much less sugar yet is still insanely delicious. I didn't make this for a special occasion - just a Monday morning 🙂 I used Challah bread because I had a loaf of it in my freezer (I thawed it out completely before using).
p.s. I think Step 5 is meant to be Step 1 😀
Min says
I'm so happy to hear this!! Oh actually it's correct. If you want to make it in advance and refrigerate then you can preheat when ready to bake!
Andrea Ochs says
Delicious! The whole family loved it. I added strawberries and bananas.
Min says
Yay! Thanks for sharing!
Kelly says
I made this on Christmas morning and then again on the morning of New Year's Day because it was so good! My 13-month-old devoured it. It was the first time she clearly signed for more of something! The first time I used fresh strawberries and the second time I used defrosted/drained/rinsed frozen cherries. Both were excellent! Like many of Min's recipes, this one will go into our regular rotation. Thanks so much for sharing, Min!
Ariella says
This was absolutely delicious! Through absolutely no fault of the recipe, I was totally unprepared for how long I was supposed to let it sit. However, I can confirm that the recipe is a forgiving one and it turned out beautifully with only 35 minutes of letting it sit. It was the perfect amount of crisp and custardy and the sweetness was perfect too.
Min says
Oh good to know! Thank you so much for sharing! I'm so glad you enjoyed this recipe :).
Stephanie says
Would this work with frozen berries?
Min says
Haven't tried but I would add without thawing so the casserole doesn't turn out soggy