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Best Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole with Crumble

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This overnight French toast casserole features a perfect custard-to-bread ratio and a crunchy cinnamon-pecan crumble topping. It’s quick to prep, bakes while you sleep, and delivers a soft, caramelized interior with a buttery, nutty crust.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 loaf (14-16 ounces) brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter, cut into small cubes
  • 3/4 cup chopped pecans
  • Maple syrup (for serving, optional)
  • Fresh berries (for serving, optional)
  • Powdered sugar (for serving, optional)
  • Whipped cream (for serving, optional)

Instructions

  1. Cut the brioche or challah loaf into 1-inch cubes. Spread evenly in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. If bread is fresh, let it sit out uncovered for 1-2 hours to dry slightly.
  2. In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs until well beaten and slightly frothy. Add milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Whisk until fully combined and sugar is dissolved.
  3. Pour the custard evenly over the bread cubes. Gently press down with a spatula to help absorption. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, preferably overnight (8-12 hours).
  4. In a medium bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add cold butter cubes. Use a pastry cutter, forks, or fingers to cut butter into dry ingredients until mixture resembles coarse meal with some pea-sized butter pieces. Stir in chopped pecans. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.
  5. When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350°F. Remove casserole from fridge and let sit on counter for 15 minutes. Sprinkle crumble topping evenly over the top. Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15-20 minutes, until top is golden brown and center is set but slightly jiggly. A knife inserted in center should come out clean.
  6. Let casserole rest for 10 minutes before cutting. Serve warm with maple syrup, fresh berries, powdered sugar, or whipped cream as desired.

Notes

Use slightly stale brioche or challah for best texture. Cold butter is crucial for the crumble. Let casserole rest 10 minutes before serving. For gluten-free, use gluten-free bread and flour blend. For dairy-free, use oat milk and vegan butter. Can be assembled and frozen unbaked for up to 3 months.

Nutrition

Keywords: overnight French toast casserole, French toast casserole, breakfast casserole, brunch recipe, cinnamon pecan crumble, overnight breakfast, easy breakfast

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