This easy overnight French toast casserole is the ultimate breakfast flex. Loaded with buttery brioche and a tangy lemon cheesecake topping, it bakes into a golden dream while you sleep in late.
Doesn’t this sound like a dream? Waking up on a gorgeous, sun-drenched morning, pouring yourself a fresh cup of java, and realizing that you have a gourmet breakfast that is already prepared and waiting for you?
Yes? Well, same here. But I want to share something with you, that dream is a reality! I'm talking no messy counters, no flipping slices of bread over the grease splashing skillet, and absolutely no morning stress. That’s right.
So take a deep breath, because I am about to share how you can have this too with this spectacular, easy overnight French toast casserole. It is the ultimate weekend breakfast that lets you sleep in late while still serving up a dish that looks and tastes amazing.
Table of Contents
Why you'll love this Overnight French Toast Casserole recipe?
I want to warn you that this is a show-stopping brioche French toast casserole. I also will warn you that when you pop it into the oven the next morning, your entire house will smell amazing. My third and final warning is that this will guarantee everyone is out of bed once you make it. So, if you want some moments of quiet, I’d wait until you are ready for the kitchen to be full.
A reason I know you will like this is that, unlike other breakfast casseroles, this recipe gives a rich, creamy, and amazing custard. And the best part, it’s not soggy at all. The brioche absorbs the perfect amount of liquid. It is truly the perfect way to make your busy mornings special.
Every forkful has unbelievable texture and flavor, with a lemon cheesecake hint from the sweet, lemony cream cheese topping and cinnamon sugar. It is the ultimate crowd-pleaser breakfast bake that easily satisfies both French toast fans and serious dessert enthusiasts. And let's all be honest with ourselves, who doesn’t love dessert for breakfast?!
Another reason to love this recipe is that it stores and travels beautifully. It serves as a great make-ahead breakfast/brunch for summer get-togethers, family reunions, or lazy weekend mornings on the patio. In fact, this is the perfect type of breakfast bake to serve even as an indulgent dessert - Holiday recipe for your special celebrations.
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Ingredients you'll need
For us to create this decadent recipe, I typically use a combination of rich dairy staples and bright aromatics like lemon zest to elevate the overall profile of the dish. Here is all you need to gather for your grocery list:
For Casserole:
- Brioche Bread: Thick-sliced and buttery, this rich bread acts like a total sponge, soaking up all that delicious custard without ever turning into a soggy mess.
- Eggs: The ultimate structural MVP that binds everything together and creates a rich, fluffy, melt-in-your-mouth texture.
- Whole Milk: Adds the perfect splash of lighter hydration to keep the inside of the bake incredibly tender.
- Heavy Cream: Brings that luxurious, velvet-like richness that elevates the custard from basic breakfast to total restaurant-quality indulgence.
- Brown Sugar: Imparts a deep, molasses-tinted sweetness that caramelizes beautifully into the bread as it bakes.
- Ground Cinnamon: The classic, cozy spice that gives the entire dish that nostalgic, comforting French toast warmth.
- Vanilla Extract: A generous splash that adds a beautiful, aromatic softness, making the whole house smell like a premium bakery.
- Sea Salt: A tiny pinch that quietly balances out the sugars and makes all those rich dairy flavors absolutely pop.
For cream cheese topping:
- Cream Cheese: The star of the show that whisks up into a velvety, cloud-like layer to give us those dreamy cheesecake pockets.
- Lemon Juice and Zest: This dynamic citrus duo cuts right through the rich dairy and delivers that signature, bright, sun-drenched cheesecake tang.
- Confectioner's Sugar: Perfectly sweetens up the cream cheese layer while keeping it completely silky smooth and lump-free.
- Vanilla Extract: Brings warmth to the cream cheese topping.
- Melted Butter: Drizzled across the top right before baking to create a wildly delicious, golden, crispy outer crust.
How to make overnight French toast casserole?
1. Prepping casserole and making custard
To begin with, grease a 9x13-inch baking dish generously with butter or nonstick cooking spray to ensure nothing sticks, then spread your 1 pound of brioche bread cubes evenly into the prepared dish and set it aside
In a blender, add 6 large eggs.
Add your 1 cup of whole milk, 1 cup of heavy cream, ½ cup of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, 1 tablespoon of vanilla extract, and ¼ teaspoon of sea salt.
Blend the mixture for 30 to 45 seconds until the custard is completely smooth, beautifully combined, and frothy.
Pour this lush egg custard evenly over your bread cubes, ensuring every piece gets a little love.
Then cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 3 to 4 hours, to let the brioche absorb all that liquid gold.
Topping
While your bread is happily soaking, or right before you are ready to bake, you can assemble your flavor-packed toppings. Add the 10 oz of room-temperature cream cheese to a medium bowl and whisk it until it is nice and pliable.
Then add the 1 tablespoon of lemon juice, 1 lemon zest, ¼ teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 4 tablespoons of confectioner's sugar.
Whisk vigorously until the mixture is completely smooth and creamy, resembling a dreamy cheesecake filling.
In a separate small bowl, combine the 2 tablespoons of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and a pinch of salt, then mix well to create your spiced sugar crumble. Set both the bowls aside.
Top and Bake your Casserole
When you are ready to bake the next morning, remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter for about 10 minutes to take the chill off while you place your oven rack in the center position and preheat the oven to 350℉. Unwrap the baking dish, then drop spoonfuls of your prepared lemon cream cheese mixture randomly over the top of the custard-soaked bread cubes to create pockets of cheesecake goodness.
Drizzle the 2 tablespoons of melted butter evenly across the surface, and sprinkle your prepared cinnamon sugar mixture all over the bread.
Scatter your fresh blueberries across the top as needed.
Bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes, or until the custard is fully set and the top layer of brioche is a stunning, crispy golden brown. Let the casserole cool down on the counter for 10 to 15 minutes to let the layers settle, then finish with a beautiful dust of confectioner's sugar or a warm drizzle of maple syrup right before serving!
Expert tips
For the ultimate brioche French toast bake, follow along on some of these expert tips!
- For the best results, try to use bread that is a day or two old. Slightly stale bread acts like a sponge, drinking up the custard while retaining its shape perfectly.
- If your brioche loaf is too soft or completely fresh, simply cube the bread, spread the pieces out on a large baking sheet, and pop them into a 300℉ oven for about 10 to 12 minutes. This will help dry the bread out without tossing or toasting it. This will make it absolutely perfect for soaking in the recipe.
Recipe FAQs
Hands down, thick-sliced brioche bread or challah is the absolute gold standard for an overnight bake. Because these breads are enriched with eggs and butter, they have a sturdy yet tender crumb that can easily handle an extended overnight soak without completely dissolving into mush. They yield that perfect, luxurious, bread-pudding-like interior while crisping up beautifully on the edges.
Yes, slightly stale or dry bread is highly recommended! Dry bread structural integrity is much stronger, allowing it to soak up the maximum amount of egg custard without breaking down. If your bread is completely fresh, just use the oven-drying tip mentioned above to get it to that perfect, receptive state.
Absolutely, that is the entire beauty of this recipe! You can fully assemble the bread and custard portion up to 24 hours in advance. Keep it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator until you are ready to add your toppings and bake. It actually tastes even better after it has had a time to rest and absorb the flavors!
Serving Ideas
This casserole is a total superstar without needing any backup singers, but you can easily turn your breakfast display into a full-blown event with a few simple additions.
For example, you can serve this warm casserole alongside a giant, chilled bowl of fresh summer berries or a homemade strawberry compote to echo the bright lemon-citrus notes in the cream cheese topping. Believe me when I say, this is worth your time to get you to next-level breakfast-chef status.
Another idea is to pair a warm slice of this indulgent bake with some crispy, thick-cut smoked beef bacon, savory chicken or turkey breakfast sausage links, a fresh berry fruit salad, a light arugula side salad to contrast the sweet and creamy flavors.
Another idea is to set out a pitcher of ice-cold fresh orange juice, or cold-brew coffee, peach iced tea, or a sparkling citrus mocktail to keep the vibe bright, refreshing, and summery.
Storing, freezing and reheating leftovers
You are telling me you think you will have leftovers?! Well, if you do, allow the casserole to cool to room temperature, then cover it tightly or transfer the slices to an airtight container. It will keep beautifully in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
You can also absolutely freeze cooked portions of this casserole! Wrap individual slices tightly in plastic wrap and place them in a freezer-safe bag for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
To recapture that incredible contrast of textures, reheat individual portions in the oven or toaster oven at 350℉ for about 10 minutes until warmed and crisp on top. In a pinch, the microwave works well too. A quick 45-to-60-second warm-up will help bring it back to life.
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If you made my Overnight French Toast Casserole recipe, please let me know how it turned out for you! I'd love to hear through your comments and ratings below.
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Overnight French Toast Casserole Recipe with Cream Cheese
Ingredients
- 1 pound bread (cut into 1-inch cubes)
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon sea salt
Cream cheese and sugar topping
- 10 oz cream cheese (at room temperature)
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 lemon zest
- ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract
- 4 tablespoons confectioner's sugar
- 2 tablespoons melted butter
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- a pinch of salt
- fresh blueberries (as needed)
Instructions
Make the custard and soak the bread:
- To begin with, grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Spread the bread cubes evenly in the prepared dish. Set it aside.
- In a blender, add eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, ground cinnamon, vanilla extract, and sea salt. Blend for 30-45 seconds until the custard is smooth and frothy.
- Pour the egg custard evenly over the bread cubes. Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (or atleast 3-4 hours).
Prepare the cream cheese topping:
- Add the room temperature cream cheese in a medium bowl and whisk. Then, add lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and confectioner's sugar. whisk well until smooth. set it aside.
- In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, ground cinnamon, salt and mix well. Set it aside.
Bake the casserole
- Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter for 10 minutes while the oven preheats. Place the oven rack in the center and preheat at 350℉.
- Unwrap the casserole, drop spoonfuls of cream cheese mixture randomly on top the custard soaked bread cubes.
- Drizzle with melted butter, sprinkle the prepared cinnamon sugar over the bread, and then top with the blueberries.
- Bake uncovered for 45-50 minutes or until top is golden brown. Let the casserole cool down for 10-15 minutes before serving.
- Dust with confectioner's sugar, or drizzle maple syrup and serve warm.
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