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This Overnight Birthday Cake French Toast Casserole is the perfect breakfast for a birthday or special occasion! Prepare this breakfast casserole the night before and wake up to a delicious party in a pan!
Looking for more easy breakfast casserole recipes? Try this delicious Overnight Cinnamon Apple Baked French Toast Casserole.
My Favorite Overnight French Toast Casserole
So this is recipe that was originally posted back in 2013 – over 7 years ago! The photos were horrible and the story that went along with it had nothing to do with food (although it was a fantastic story and you can still read it because I saved it and linked to it below – just above the recipe). It didn’t get much love and that was truly the biggest shame because I LOVE this casserole and literally make it every year for my birthday.
My birthday is Christmas day, so that means that my family and I have this for Christmas morning every year, along with this Overnight Sausage and Egg Casserole. Christmas is already busy enough, so two casseroles that are made the night before is the way to go. But the same could be said for any birthday. Why not prep the night before?! Then you can sleep in and wake up to awesomeness.
If you’re wondering how cake and french toast combine and if it’s even good, let me tell you – it is. I’m a little obsessed. It seriously tastes like eating cake, but as a french toast casserole. It’s the perfect way to allow eating cake for breakfast. And when you eat it with frosting – as I ALWAYS do – it’s even better. And if you’re a lover of rainbow chip frosting like I am, just warm it up and pour it all over. It’s just so good! Seriously, this is kind of my birthday guilty pleasure. Can you tell?
How to Make Overnight Birthday Cake French Toast Casserole
To make this pan of birthday perfection, you’ll start with your bread. I recommend either sourdough or french bread. Sourdough is personally my fave, but either would work. Cut it into chunks and toss them into a large bowl.
Then in another large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, cinnamon, vanilla extract and cake mix. You add a full 2 cups of cake mix. I use funfetti cake mix, but regular vanilla would work too. And you could even go crazy and try chocolate cake mix. I haven’t done it, but you could totally try it.
Once it’s all combined, pour it over the bread chunks and gently stir it all together. Then pour it into your casserole dish and spread it evenly. Add some more sprinkles, because it’s your birthday. Then cover it with foil and pop it in the fridge for the night.
The next morning, bake it. While it bakes, combine another cup of cake mix with some butter to make a birthday cake streusel topping. I mean, really. A birthday cake streusel? Does it get any better?
Sprinkle that tasty streusel over the top of the casserole after baking it for about 30 minutes, then finish baking it while the streusel bakes as well.
When it’s done, serve it warm with your choice of frosting (hello, Rainbow Chip!) or maple syrup. Or even a little bit of both. Why not go crazy? It’s your birthday.
This is the Perfect Birthday Breakfast!
If you’re wondering what to make for a birthday breakfast, this is it. It’s so wonderfully tasty, easy to make and a guaranteed crowd pleaser for the cake lover in your life. If you are like me, this will become a birthday tradition that no birthday will be compete without.
More Great Birthday Recipes
Homemade Funfetti Cupcakes
Funfetti Cheesecake with Cake Bottom
Funfetti Bundt Cake
Funfetti Millionaire Cake
Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake
Moist Yellow Cake with Chocolate Frosting
Fluffy Homemade Pancakes
The Best Chocolate Cake
Moist Vanilla Layer Cake
Read the original blog post here.
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Overnight Birthday Cake French Toast Casserole
- Prep Time: 25 mins
- Cook Time: 45 mins
- Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
- Yield: 10-12 Servings
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
The best overnight french toast casserole – made with cake mix! The perfect easy breakfast for a birthday or celebration!
Ingredients
CASSEROLE
- 1 loaf Sourdough Or French Bread, cut into chunks
- 8 large eggs
- 2 1/2 cups (600ml) milk
- 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy whipping cream
- 2 cups Funfetti cake mix
- 2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 5 tbsp sprinkles
TOPPING
- 1 cup Funfetti cake mix
- 1/2 cup (112g) salted butter, cut into pieces
ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS
- Rainbow Chip Frosting or Maple Syrup
Instructions
2. Add the bread chunks to a large bowl and set aside.
3. In another large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, cake mix, cinnamon and vanilla extract.
4. Pour the egg mixture over the bread chunks, then gently stir to combine.
5. Pour the bread mixture into the prepared casserole dish and spread evenly. Spread the sprinkles evenly over the top of the casserole. Cover the casserole and store in the fridge overnight.
6. When ready to bake the casserole, preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C).
7. Bake the casserole for about 25-30 minutes. While the casserole bakes, cut the additional cake mix into butter for the topping until it’s crumbly.
8. Remove the casserole from the oven and crumble the streusel over the top of the casserole.
9. Continue baking the casserole for another 10-25 minutes, or until it’s at your desired level of doneness.
10. Serve the casserole warm with frosting or syrup. To use the frosting, heat it in the microwave until pourable.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Serving
- Calories: 509
- Sugar: 22.1 g
- Sodium: 742.1 mg
- Fat: 19.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 72.4 g
- Protein: 15.7 g
- Cholesterol: 156.5 mg
Recipe modified from Pioneer Woman
Am I able to make this recipe without letting it sit overnight? Can I just make it and then bake it right away? Thanks!
You can. I find that letting it sit helps all the bread absorb more moisture, though, and it turns out better.
Can we do it without the streusel? So it won’t be too sweet? Or what do you suggest?
Sure. That would really come down to preference.
I can’t wait to make this! Do you leave it uncovered white it’s baking in the oven?
I usually leave it uncovered. I hope you enjoy it!
If I wanted to make this recipe in a round cake pan, do you think I can just cut the recipe in half?
Yes, that should be fine.
I plan to make this recipe this year for my Christmas birthday! Sounds so yummy and looks so festive. I can hardly wait to try it!
Awesome! I hope you enjoy it!
Do you know how many cups of cake mix are in a standard box? Do I need more than one box of cake mix? Sounds delicious. I’m preparing for celebrating my daughter’s 21st birthday on “home lockdown” instead of our NYC trip that we had planned…..
I love your ideas!
I believe I used every bit of one box. I don’t think you’ll need two.
OMG!! That was such an entertaining story. LOL! You and your husband sounds like great sports!! 😂 The French toast casserole sounds delicious too! Thanks for sharing your life. I always enjoy reading your about your adventures! Your videos are awesome as well! Thank you Lindsey! ♥️
Thanks so much, Liz!
I see it has been a while since you posted this but the image you created of your “hubs” in his ski mask and goggles working away so diligently absolutely cracked me up. Oh my – may we never get too big to laugh at ourselves in good faith! Such a funny story – although our circumstances are completely different, I think it’s safe to say we’ve all been “there” at some tie. Thanks for the good laugh and for your wonderful overnight sausage & egg casserole – it was delicious, simple and definitely a keeper! Blessings to you, and in another couple of months as we celebrate the birth of our Savior I will send a special prayer your way (after all, it’s not everyone God shares His birthday with)! 😉
Thank you so much Diane!
It’s definitely a funny story to look back on!
Your story is exactly “the something” that would happen to us…It’s even funner if you add FOUR kids to the mix! Warning: The Rug Dr. IS ADDICTIVE. I have to do it at least once a year now. Once you see what comes out of your carpet, you never really recover from it. I bought two steam cleaners, and one was a Kirby/steam cleaner and NONE works as good as the ‘ole Rug Dr. brand my mother used. As cheap as it is, it’s worth the money! (my sis was smart and has very little carpet).
I am soooo making this for my dad’s b-day (day after Christmas) but my son’s b-day is the day before Christmas eve, and it is “kid-like” enough man, I might see if he wants to do it. (Ironically, he had me pick up funfetti cake mix…so I already have 2 boxes). This just looks so fun-fetti-yummy. By the way Happy Birthday! I read on you breakfast casserole page, that you are a Christmas-time baby..and this is your tradition! So it must be GOOD.
I randomly found this while looking for a cake batter cinnamon roll recipe…we are more “french toasty cass” type peoples though, so glad to have found this recipe! I absolutely loved the story with it & your blog as a whole! Will definitely be back for more of your awesome recipes/a good read! 🙂 I am definitely going to have to repost this on my blog & link back! PERFECT recipe for my hubs welcome home breakfast!
-Cici
I’m so glad you found them blog and enjoyed the recipe! Definitely one of my faves! Thanks Cici!
Looking for something totally different and found this and laughed so hard I almost cried. SO happy to hear other people have this kind of crazy life too!
Thanks for sharing.
I just went back and re-read it – it’s been a while. It had me laughing again just remembering it! Like you said, glad to know we aren’t the only ones! 🙂
OH EM GEE…….THIS!!! Aweomse!
I mean AWESOME
Thanks! It’s definitely a favorite! In fact, anything funfetti is. 🙂
This is such a fun recipe! It looks adorable – if I were eating this, I’m sure I’d have a huge grin on my face the whole time. I’m super intrigued by the addition of the cake mix with the french toast. It sounds delicious so I can’t wait to try this recipe!
Thanks! Let me know if you try it and what you think!
You are too funny! Love the french toast casserole!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thanks Shea!
oh my gosh this story had me cracking up while still half asleep in bed! i could totally see my husband and i in the exact same situation. glad your pup is okay, and it sounds like the carpet too!
i have never heard of french toast casserole before, but this sounds amazing! especially since it’s funfetti-ed out! i have only made funfetti waffles before, but i will have to remember this one!
Thanks Carrie! I’m glad you got a good laugh! We definitely had to keep our sense of humor. I’m just hoping that as the carpet dries, the stains stay away!
You should definitely try it. It’s so easy to make and delicious! The original cinnamon version can be found here.
I am SO blown away! Any excuse and recipe to eat funfetti for breakfast is certainly something I can stand behind. Wow! And I love love love rainbow chip icing!
Thanks Sally!! I totally agree. I could eat an entire tub of rainbow chip icing with a spoon. No problem.