Serve a crowd or enjoy this Cinnamon French Toast Casserole all week long. It’s easy to prep and perfect for holiday breakfasts, weekend brunch, or anytime you want to make breakfast feel like a special occasion!
Can you tell I’ve had breakfast on my mind lately? My recent blog posts might have been a hint 🙂
Check out some other recent Breakfast & Brunch recipes HERE
But it’s not hard to do when there are so many amazing ways to start the day with something delicious. For this recipe, I went with a hands-off version of French toast. This Cinnamon French Toast Casserole is rich and sweet and has the perfect texture combo of soft and fluffy inside with a crispy crunch layer on top.
Easy Prep French Toast Casserole
When I say easy, I really mean EASY. It doesn’t get any simpler than combining the wet ingredients together and mixing in cubes of bread before baking. I love the thick, spongy texture of brioche, but of course you can swap this for any type of bread you prefer. This French Toast Casserole would also be a great way to use up a loaf that’s started to go stale. Cheers for less food waste!
The only part about this recipe that’s actually difficult is resisting the urge to open the oven and peek. And let me just say, I could totally understand why because as this casserole is baking, your kitchen is going to smell incredibly good. But if you can do it, you’ll be more likely to get the crunchy topping layer by allowing the streusel on top to brown and crisp.
Oh, and don’t forget the toppings for your French Toast Casserole! As little dusting of powdered sugar is never a bad idea, nor is the classic pairing of maple syrup. I recently found a new ingredient: Bourbon Barrel-Aged Maple Syrup. Seriously sending out all the heart-eye emojis for this one and making sure it’s on my list to replace when this bottle runs empty. It’s that good!
Round out your fancied up breakfast or brunch with coffee (duh) and pair with fruit, eggs, or any other breakfast side that slants more towards salty or savory. This French Toast Casserole is definitely on the sweeter side of things so balancing out flavors with something from the other side of the spectrum can make a meal that much more satisfying.
Need some savory inspiration? Try this Sun-Dried Tomato & Kale Frittata
Here’s the recipe for this Cinnamon French Toast Casserole
Cinnamon French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
For the French Toast
- 1 loaf Brioche bread
- 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 3 tsp vanilla extract
- 8 eggs
- 2¼ cup whole milk
- ½ tsp cinnamon
- ⅔ cup packed brown sugar
For the Streusel Topping
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup flour
- 6 tbsp butter
- 1/2 tsp cinnamon
- powdered sugar, optional
- maple syrup, optional
Instructions
For the French Toast
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9"x13" casserole dish. Slice the bread into thick slices, then into 1" cubes. Place in a large mixing bowl.
- Beat or mix together cream cheese and sugar. Use a soft spatula to scrape the sides of the bowl, then add the vanilla, eggs, milk, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Beat or mix together until smooth. Set aside while you prepare the streusel topping.
For the Streusel Topping
- Using a hand mixer or fork, combine the brown sugar, flour, butter and cinnamon until the texture is crumbly.
For the Casserole
- Pour the cream cheese mixture over the prepared bread. Combine using the soft spatula, then transfer to the prepared casserole dish. Spread the streusel topping in an even layer.
- Bake uncovered for 45–55 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from oven and allow to cool slightly. Serve immediately with powdered sugar (if using) and maple syrup.
Nutrition
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Questions & Reviews
Super yummy recipe that I tried out for friends on Easter. Everyone was obsessed! The prep took me much longer than the 10 min indicated but it was totally worth it. Recipe pinned and on the list of brunch recipes to follow again in the future.
Susannah, thank you for the recipe feedback! I will go back and edit the prep time, I think I can see where some of those steps may take longer than when I was testing it. But so glad to hear you enjoyed it!
So I didn’t have a 13×9 readily available, I’m using an 8×11 casserole dish. How much longer should I bake it for?