Easy Homemade French Toast Casserole Recipe

The greatest way to enjoy all the flavors of French toast without having to hunch over the stove, dip and turn each piece is with a French toast casserole. If you've ever attempted to make French toast for a crowd, you've probably experienced the feeling of halfway through a loaf of bread while simultaneously thinking, "What have I done?" and "I'm hungry!" The solution is a French toast casserole. Even better, you only need to throw this dish in the oven after preparing it the night before.

• 3 tablespoons of divided and melted unsalted butter
• 12 cups or 1 (12-ounce) loaf of French bread, broken into bite-sized pieces
• 1/2 cup roughly chopped toasted pecans
• 3 cups half-and-half
• 6 large eggs
• 2/3 cup (132 grams) of light brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon of salt, fine
• 2 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons of maple syrup, divided,
• 3/4 teaspoon of cinnamon powder, divided
• 3 tablespoons of sugar, granulated
• Sugary crumbs for a garnish

• In a 13 x 9-inch baking dish, brush 1 tablespoon of the butter on the bottom and the edges. Spread the bread cubes out evenly on the plate before adding the pecans.
• In a sizable bowl, combine the half-and-half, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, 2 tablespoons of maple syrup, the other 2 tablespoons of melted butter, and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.
• The bread chunks and pecans should be covered with the half-and-half mixture. Lightly push the mixture into the bread chunks to help them absorb the liquid. For at least 8 hours and up to 12 hours, cover and chill.
• Set the oven to 375 Fahrenheit. While the oven heats up, take the baking dish out of the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature.
• In the meantime, mix the remaining 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon, the granulated sugar, and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons of maple syrup in a small bowl.
• For 40 to 45 minutes, or when the sugar coating is crisp and dark brown and the bread has puffy somewhat, sprinkle the cinnamon sugar evenly over the dish.
• Before serving, take the dish out of the oven and let it rest for 10 minutes. Serve it with maple syrup and a light coating of powdered sugar.

Because the taste of maple syrup with delicious breakfast meat is one of life's great pleasures, serve French toast casserole with sausage links or patties, crisp bacon, or vegan sausage. For those who prefer their French toast richer in flavor, place some warmed maple syrup and melted salted butter on the table. For those who enjoy a salty-sweet contrast, place flaky sea salt on the table. For good measure, include a bowl of fruit salad or chopped fruit.

French toast casserole leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days if properly covered. The remaining food can be heated in the microwave, served cold, or at room temperature.

Additionally, you can bake the casserole, allow it to cool fully, cover it tightly in foil or plastic wrap, and freeze it for up to 3 months. Before baking, defrost the food in the refrigerator overnight.

Final word

Worried about handling a brunch crowd during the holidays? Your prayers have been answered by this French toast casserole. This make-ahead casserole makes serving a crowd too simple if all you're looking for is the quickest weekend pick-me-up. It tastes excellent with powdered sugar or maple syrup and isn't overly sweet or heavy. It only requires a quick preparation the night before, covering and cooling, and then baking the next morning. Breakfast is ready in a flash for everybody on the crew.