French Toast Casserole Recipe

French bread: A loaf of French bread cut into cubes serves as the base of the casserole, providing a sturdy yet soft texture.

Eggs: These are essential for binding the ingredients together and giving the casserole its custard-like consistency.

Milk: Adds moisture and helps create the custard mixture.

Heavy cream: Adds richness and a creamy texture to the dish.

Sugar: Provides sweetness to the custard mixture.

Brown sugar: Adds a deeper, caramel-like sweetness to both the custard and the topping.

Vanilla extract: Enhances the flavor with a warm, aromatic note.

Flour: Used in the topping to create a crumbly texture.

Cinnamon: Adds a warm, spicy flavor to the topping.

Salt: Enhances the overall flavor of the dish.

Butter: Cold and cut into pieces, it is used in the topping to create a crispy, buttery crust.

When making the topping mixture for the French toast casserole, ensure that the butter is very cold. This helps create a crumbly texture that will bake into a deliciously crispy topping. Use a pastry cutter or two forks to cut the butter into the flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. This technique ensures that the butter is evenly distributed, resulting in a perfect golden-brown crust.

• french bread - Substitute with brioche: Brioche is rich and buttery, making it a great alternative for a more decadent casserole.

• french bread - Substitute with challah: Challah is slightly sweet and has a similar texture, perfect for soaking up the custard mixture.

• eggs - Substitute with flax eggs: Mix 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed with 3 tablespoons of water for each egg. This is a good vegan alternative.

• milk - Substitute with almond milk: Almond milk is a dairy-free option that works well in custard-based recipes.

• heavy cream - Substitute with coconut cream: Coconut cream provides a rich, creamy texture and is a good dairy-free alternative.

• sugar - Substitute with maple syrup: Maple syrup adds a natural sweetness and a hint of maple flavor.

• brown sugar - Substitute with coconut sugar: Coconut sugar has a similar caramel-like flavor and is a less processed option.

• vanilla extract - Substitute with almond extract: Almond extract provides a different but complementary flavor profile.

• flour - Substitute with almond flour: Almond flour is a gluten-free option that adds a nutty flavor.

• cinnamon - Substitute with nutmeg: Nutmeg offers a warm, slightly sweet flavor that can complement the dish.

• salt - Substitute with sea salt: Sea salt can provide a more nuanced flavor compared to regular table salt.

• butter - Substitute with margarine: Margarine is a non-dairy alternative that can be used in the same way as butter.

• Allow the French toast casserole to cool completely before storing. This prevents condensation from forming inside the container, which can make the casserole soggy.
• Transfer the cooled casserole to an airtight container or cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil. This helps to maintain its freshness and prevents it from absorbing any unwanted odors from the fridge.
• Store the casserole in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. Reheat individual servings in the microwave or the entire dish in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through.
• For longer storage, freeze the French toast casserole. Cut it into individual portions and wrap each piece tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. This makes it easy to thaw and reheat only what you need.
• Label the container or bag with the date to keep track of its freshness. The casserole can be frozen for up to 2-3 months.
• To reheat from frozen, thaw the desired portion in the refrigerator overnight. Once thawed, reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) until warmed through, or microwave individual portions until hot.
• For an extra touch, sprinkle a bit of cinnamon or powdered sugar on top before serving to refresh the flavors.

• Oven Method:

  1. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place the leftover French toast casserole in an oven-safe dish.
  3. Cover the dish with aluminum foil to prevent it from drying out.
  4. Heat for about 20-25 minutes, or until warmed through. Remove the foil for the last 5 minutes to crisp up the top.
  5. Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar.

• Microwave Method:

  1. Place a portion of the French toast casserole on a microwave-safe plate.
  2. Cover with a microwave-safe cover or a damp paper towel to retain moisture.
  3. Heat on medium power for 1-2 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure it heats evenly.
  4. Let it sit for a minute before serving to allow the heat to distribute.

• Stovetop Method:

  1. Heat a non-stick skillet over medium-low heat.
  2. Add a small amount of butter or oil to the skillet.
  3. Place slices of the French toast casserole in the skillet.
  4. Cover with a lid and heat for about 3-4 minutes on each side, or until warmed through and slightly crispy.
  5. Serve with fresh berries or a dollop of whipped cream.

• Air Fryer Method:

  1. Preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C).
  2. Place pieces of the French toast casserole in the air fryer basket in a single layer.
  3. Heat for 5-7 minutes, checking halfway through to ensure even heating.
  4. Serve with a side of fresh fruit or a sprinkle of cinnamon.

• Oven: Used to bake the French toast casserole at the specified temperature.

• Baking dish: Greased to hold the cubed French bread and the egg mixture.

• Mixing bowl: Used to whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugars, and vanilla extract.

• Whisk: Essential for blending the egg mixture smoothly.

• Another bowl: Needed to mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt for the topping.

• Pastry cutter: Useful for cutting the cold butter into the topping mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs.

• Measuring cups: Required to measure out the milk, heavy cream, sugars, and flour accurately.

• Measuring spoons: Used to measure the vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt.

• Knife: Handy for cutting the loaf of French bread into cubes.

• Cutting board: Provides a surface to safely cut the French bread.

• Spatula: Helps to evenly spread the egg mixture over the bread cubes and to sprinkle the topping mixture.

• Cooling rack: Allows the casserole to cool slightly before serving.

Prepare ingredients ahead: Cube the french bread and mix the egg mixture the night before to save time in the morning.

Use a food processor: Quickly cut in the cold butter with a food processor instead of doing it by hand.

Pre-measure dry ingredients: Measure out the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt in advance and store them in a sealed container.

Line the baking dish: Use parchment paper to line the baking dish for easy cleanup.

Double the recipe: Make two casseroles at once and freeze one for later use.