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Overnight Cinnamon Apple Baked French Toast Casserole is the perfect recipe for holidays or any time you want a fun breakfast without a ton of work. This easy breakfast casserole loaded with fresh apples and a delicious streusel topping!
Overnight French Toast Makes Breakfast Easy
The past few days, I’ve been spending time with some awesome bloggers in San Francisco. I’m home now, but I had a blast with everyone. It was a super relaxed trip. There was a general agenda of some fun things to do to explore the city but no pressure or strict schedule. I finally got to see the Golden Gate Bridge too! The last time I was in San Fran with the hubs, there was so much fog you’d have thought the bridge wasn’t real. This time we had amazing weather every day. And since Dorothy (from Crazy for Crust) grew up there, she was the perfect guide!
To give you an idea of the relaxed nature of the trip, one morning when I walked into the suite at the hotel that acted as our gathering space and “home base”, I asked if there was coffee creamer when I made coffee. The response I got was, “There’s Baileys!” Oh, how I love Lisa (from Wine and Glue)! 🙂 And I did have Baileys. I mean, that’s what vacation – and friends – are for, right? The weekend was full of just the right mix of blogging talk and relaxing with friends.
One of the great things about this french toast casserole is that because it’s so easy to prepare, you can totally enjoy time with your family rather than spend a bunch of time making breakfast. Particularly at the holidays, with so much going on and so much food being prepared, it allows you to get some prep work done ahead so you can spend the morning with your family. That’s how I like it. Not to mention that it’s cinnamon apple, which I love.
How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole
Preparing this breakfast casserole is quite easy and uses pretty standard ingredients, which I’m into. You’ll want a nice sized loaf of bread, about 1 pound. I personally am a big fan of sourdough bread in all things, so it’s what I use in this casserole. Feel free to use another kind of bread, but I wouldn’t suggest regular sandwich bread. That would be a little soft and wouldn’t bake quick as nicely. Add some chopped apples to the bread and add it to a casserole dish.
The egg and milk mixture that’s poured over the bread is all mixed together in a big bowl. Easy, right? You’ll combine eggs, milk, cream, sugars and some flavorings. I like to use a mix of 2% milk and heavy cream to get some good fat in there and keep this casserole soft and moist. I also love using a mix of regular and brown sugars. The brown sugar adds some nice flavor to compliment the cinnamon and apples. For additional flavor, we’ve got some vanilla and cinnamon.
I like to try to be sure when I pour the mixture over the bread that I get all the bread on top a little wet. It’ll moisten and soak up the liquid overnight, but that’ll help make sure that nothing gets too dry when it bakes later. On top of the casserole is some cinnamon streusel – which is basically like magic when sprinkled over anything.
How Long Does French Toast Casserole Need To Cook?
The casserole should be baked for about 35-40 minutes. It’ll depend a bit on your preference – some people like a little moister center and some like it a little more cooked. One way to test the doneness is to stick a knife in the middle and see how much moisture comes out on it.
I like to serve the french toast casserole with some maple syrup, but powdered sugar and even caramel sauce could make fun additions. You know me – always finding a way to satisfy that sweet tooth. 😉
Your Whole Family Will Love This Easy Breakfast Casserole
This breakfast casserole was a big hit! The cinnamon and apples are such a great flavor for breakfast. The apples soften while baking, but they aren’t soggy. The inside is soft and moist, the top is just crunchy enough. I can’t wait to make it again when the holidays roll around. 🙂
More French Toast Recipes You Might Like:
Pumpkin Bread French Toast
Overnight Baked Banana French Toast Casserole
Overnight Funfetti Cake Batter French Toast Casserole
Overnight Pumpkin Spice Baked French Toast Casserole
Berry French Toast Casserole
Bailey’s Spiked French Toast
Overnight Cinnamon Apple Baked French Toast Casserole
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 12
- Category: Dessert
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: American
Description
Overnight Cinnamon Apple Baked French Toast Casserole is the perfect easy recipe for holidays or any time you want a fun breakfast without a ton of work. It’s loaded with fresh apples and a delicious streusel topping!
Ingredients
Casserole
- 1 lb loaf Sourdough Or French Bread, cut into chunks
- 3 cups (326g) chopped apples (2 large apples)
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups (480ml) milk (whole or 2%)
- 1/2 cup (120ml) heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup (104g) sugar
- 1/4 cup (36g) light brown sugar, unpacked
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Streusel Topping and Additional Ingredients
- 3/4 cup (98g) all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup (169g) firmly packed brown sugar
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tsp apple pie spice
- 1/2 cup (112g) salted butter, cut into pieces
- Additional toppings such as maple syrup, powdered sugar, whipped cream or caramel sauce, optional
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish.
- Then chop the bread into bite-sized chunks with a serrated knife and place the chunks in a large bowl.
- Chop the apples into small chunks. (The skin can be peeled off or left on according to personal preference.) Add the apples to the bowl with the bread and stir gently to combine.
- Lay the bread chunks and chopped apples in an even layer in the bottom of the dish.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, sugars, cinnamon and vanilla. Pour evenly over bread, making sure the top is saturated.
- Cover the casserole and store in the fridge overnight.
- When ready to bake the casserole, preheat the oven to 350°F (176°C).
- Bake the casserole uncovered for about 35-40 minutes.
- While the casserole bakes, combine the dry ingredients for the streusel in a small bowl. Add the butter and mash it into the dry mixture until it becomes crumbly.
- Remove the casserole from the oven and sprinkle the streusel over the top of the casserole.
- Bake casserole for about 5 more minutes, or until the streusel is melted and crisp.
- Allow the casserole to cool slightly. Serve warm with syrup or other desired toppings.
- Store in the fridge. Tastes best when eaten within 4 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 Slice
- Calories: 457
- Sugar: 30.4 g
- Sodium: 405.4 mg
- Fat: 17.8 g
- Carbohydrates: 60.8 g
- Protein: 14.7 g
- Cholesterol: 161.7 mg
Filed Under:
Enjoy!
Do you think I could replace the eggs with applesauce and omit the apple chunks? I have an egg allergy but I need to try this! Thanks!
I’m not super familiar with using egg replacements, but I think it’d be worth trying.
Hi Lindsay, do you take the crust off the bread first? I bought some sourdough and the crust is on the harder side. Thanks!
I don’t usually remove the crust. It softens overnight in the milk mixture.
What can I use to substitute the bread to make this gluten free?
Perhaps gluten free bread? I’m not sure.
Could you freeze the casserole before the streusal part?
I haven’t ever tried it to know for sure. I might be ok.
I am doubling the recipe, for about 12 people. How much longer do you think I should bake it? Thanks.
Have you tried making this in a crockpot? If so, how long would one cook it for?
I don’t have any heavy cream just 2% milk…any suggestions?
That would be fine for substituting.
How long can i keep this in the fridge after it is baked?
I’d say 4-5 days is best.
Have you ever tried adding cooked, crumbled and drained breakfast sausage to this casserole? The idea of sweet and savory sounds intriguing.
I haven’t tried it, but I could be it possibly being good. I do love sweet and savory.
I just did exactly that and it was WONDERFUL!!! BUT be sure and cook and drain and crumble sausage first…..lol…. Take my word for it!! 🤦
Hi, I am going to make this casserole over the weekend. I noticed that you mention that the apple didn’t get too mushy. I absolutely cannot stand crunchy apples in baked things… Are they thoroughly cooked and soft? Or should I cook them for a bit ahead of time before I put them in a casserole so they are completely soft?
It’s been a while since I’ve made it, so I’m not sure I remember the exact consistency of the apples. If you would prefer they be particularly soft, you could certainly cook them first.
Thanks for asking this question! I’m wondering if Apple Pie Filling can be used? Some people may say they’ll make it too sweet but I think it might be ok to ensure the apples are soft enough. Please tell me your thoughts! 😉
I would think it’d be ok, but you may need to bake it a little longer with all that filling being added.
Hi I was wondering what type of apples or combo of apples do you use? would granny smith be the only ones or could I use Jazz or honey crisp apples with out them turning into apple sauce?
I used Red Delicious apples – I like their crispness. I haven’t tried the other varieties, but if they’re a softer apple I’m sure they’d taste fine, it’d just be a matter of crispness preference.
Hi Lindsay! Would I be able to make this 2 nights in advance?
I haven’t ever tried it. Not sure if it’d get too soggy or not. Probably worth a try.
Can you use canned apples?
I haven’t tried it, but I don’t know why not.
Hi I was wondering I have left over apple turnovers would this work as well do you think
I’m not sure. I don’t know how the pastry would do. It’d probably be worth a try.
Hello! Can we leave the casserole mixture in the fridge for some hours (2-3) instead of leaving for overnight?
That should be fine.
What can I use instead of apple pie spice?
I might try and google to get the right amounts, but it’s a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and all spice. You could also just use al intel cinnamon and nutmeg to keep it simple.