Brioche French Toast Casserole

Rich brioche bread soaked in eggs and milk with extra layers of a delicious brown sugar and cinnamon syrup makes a wonderful Brioche French Toast Casserole. 

Do you love French Toast, but wish there was a faster way to make it?  This overnight French Toast Casserole recipe is a favorite on our farmhouse table because it is so easy!

Brioche French Toast Casserole Recipe

I love how easy this Brioche French Toast Casserole recipe is to mix up and walk away while it bakes. This is so much better than standing over the stove and turning individual pieces of French Toast!

I remember my mom spending hours over the stove watching French Toast on Sunday after farm chores were done.  If only she would’ve known how easy it is to make this casserole our family may have enjoyed brunch more often. 

After testing several versions of this casserole for a nice weekend brunch, we’ve perfected the recipe and love forward to serving this French Toast during the holidays.  We’re glad to add this overnight breakfast casserole to our rotation of Breakfast Casserole with Croutons and Raspberry Cream Cheese Croissant Bake.

My favorite part of the French Toast is the crunchy, caramelized crust!  I’m one of those people that prefer the center piece of cake and a soft cookie, but the exposed portion of the toast that carmelizes is the BEST part to enjoy here!

Why This Recipe Works:

• Serving this casserole upside down brings all of the sweet goodness is on the bottom of the pan.  No additional syrup required.
• We all love the richness that a slightly thicker Brioche bread adds to this easy breakfast casserole!
• Easy to cut the recipe in half using a square pan.
• Leftovers reheat very well.
• Great way to add more protein to breakfast by adding eggs.

Ingredients Needed

• Slices of brioche bread
• Butter
• Brown sugar
• Cinnamon
• Eggs
• Milk
• Whipping cream
• Powdered sugar

Overnight French Toast Casserole

We’ve mixed up this French Toast Casserole and put it in the refrigerator overnight and we have mixed it up and put it in the oven immediately. 

It can be made either way, but it does not have to be an overnight casserole.  Flexibility like this is important to us when looking for a good recipe!

If you want the French toast to soak overnight the bread needs to be day old or a bit dried out (but not stale) so that it doesn’t get too soggy while absorbing all of the liquids.  I like to expose the bread to the air during the day and then let it soak in an overnight casserole.  The bread can also be slightly toasted.

When making this French Toast an overnight casserole you’ll also want to bake it a little longer AND let it sit for at least 15 minutes after baking to allow the bread to firm up a bit more as it begins to cool.

Just like the taste of Cinnamon Rolls with Heavy Cream, we really enjoy Overnight French Toast once it’s been baked and has sat out for close to an hour.  Knowing this makes it perfect for Christmas or Easter morning when there’s so much going on, but it’s nice to have some food to grab in between the excitement of guests, gifts and other celebrations.

How to Make Brioche French Toast Casserole

Here is one option and another option we tested and make more often is shown in pictures below.

1. Cut slices of bread in half to form two equal triangles
2. Melt butter and mix in brown sugar and cinnamon, this is the syrup layer to spread on the bottom of a 9 x 13 pan
3. Mix whipping cream, milk and eggs, dip each piece of bread in this mixture and arrange in pan
4. Bake for about 30 mintues at 350ºF until center of bread is no longer soggy and the egdes are a beautiful, caramelized, golden brown

Step By Step Instructions

Test laying pieces of bread in the dish to fit in two flat layers. Trim the side of slices if necessary. Remove from the pan.

Melt butter and stir in brown sugar and cinnamon. Spread 2/3 of the mixture on the bottom of a lightly greased 9 x 13″ baking dish.

Mix together eggs, milk and whipping cream. Dip each piece of bread in the egg mixture and lay in a flat layer in the bottom of the dish.

Then spread remaining 1/3 of the brown sugar mixture across the bottom layer of bread.

Dip second half of the bread in the egg wash and arrange in a second single layer.

Then cover tightly with plastic wrap and set in a level spot in the refrigerator over night.

Unwrap and allow to warm up for about 30 minutes before baking in a 350°F oven for about 30 minutes until the center is lightly browned and the edges are nicely caramelized.

Use a sifter or a spoon to shake a light dusting of powdered sugar over top of the warm casserole just before serving.

Adding Bacon and Pecans

Bacon bits and chopped pecans taste great sprinkled on the brown sugar syrup layer in the bottom of the pan.

Some of us love sprinkling bacon and pecans in the syrup layer and some of us love the classic flavor of plain French Toast. They are most enjoyable when people expect the additions to the casserole. Our kids typically don’t enjoy the surprise.

Bacon bits and toasted pecans can also be served on the side in small dishes without affecting the overall taste.

Recipe Tips

• Use a pan with square edges as slices of bread fit betterSlightly dried bread works best and is necessary to make this an overnight casserole.
• Brioche bread is our favorite because it is rich in flavor, Texas Toast or other thick-sliced crusty breads work well because it holds it’s structure well to soak up the egg mixture.
• The casserole has optimum flavor and texture when allowed to rest for at least 30 minutes after baking
• Keep casserole warm in a warming drawer
• Make even layers of bread in the casserole dish, when the crust is exposed the flavors are the best
• We’ve laid bread flat in two layers, which can be done, but baking time increases and the bottom layer may be soggy

How To Keep French Toast Warm

We like to cover the baked French Toast casserole with foil and use our warming drawer to keep the casserole warm if no one is ready to eat.  If people are actively eating we will cover with foil and leave on top of a warm oven.

If French Toast casserole is completely cooled off we’ll pop a plate in the microwave for 30 seconds to reheat.

Other Easy Breakfast Casseroles:

• Egg and Sausage Casserole
• Biscuit and Gravy Casserole
• Bacon Breakfast Casserole
• Everything Bagel and Sausage Casserole
• Egg, Sausage & Brioche Breakfast Casserole

Originally shared on October 18, 2019 with updates made on January 10, 2024.