Breakfast made easy.
Brioche French Toast Casserole is a comforting and crowd-pleasing breakfast or brunch dish. It combines rich, buttery brioche with warm spices and a custard-like filling for the perfect holiday or weekend treat. Whether you’re a seasoned baker or a novice cook, this guide will walk you through creating the perfect Brioche French Toast Casserole.
What is brioche?
Brioche is a type of enriched dough made with eggs, butter and milk. It’s airy and soft texture absorbs the custard from French toast evenly without becoming soggy or falling apart. When baked, brioche develops a beautiful crispy, golden exterior, thanks to its butter and sugar content.
Why you'll love my recipe.
Customizable
Add your favorite toppings like fresh berries, nuts or drizzle of maple syrup.
Make-ahead friendly
Prepare it the night before and bake it fresh in the morning.
Feeds a crowd
Ideal for serving a group without the hassle of flipping individual slices. This recipe is extremely easy to make! You literally can make everything in one bowl.
Ingredient notes.
Brioche bread
We use store bought brioche bread. Its soft and buttery texture absorbs the custard perfectly. Substitute with challah or Texas toast, if needed.
Eggs
Eggs are the foundation of this custard.
Heavy whipping cream
You can top your French toast casserole with whatever you like – ice cream or maple syrup. We like to enjoy it with fresh fruit, a dusting of powdered sugar and homemade whipped cream.
Milk and eggnog
We love making this recipe using seasonal ingredients and replace the heavy cream in the custard with our favorite eggnog from Organic Valley. A combination of these two dairy products adds a perfect balance of richness and flavor.
Spices
Ground cinnamon, all-spice and a pinch of sea salt.
For the rest of the ingredients, please see the recipe index card below!
How to make Brioche French Toast Casserole.
The section below is a quick overview of how to make this recipe. For full details, see recipe index card below!
Prepare the bread
Slice and cut the brioche into 1″ cubes and place in a 9″x13″ buttered baking dish.
Prepare the custard
In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, eggnog, sugar and spices.
Combine
Pour the custard over the bread, ensuring all the pieces are soaked. Use the back of a spoon to gently press the bread into the custard.
Cover overnight or bake immediately
You have the option to cover the dish tightly with foil and refrigerate overnight or bake immediately. If refrigerating overnight, let the French toast sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before baking, while the oven preheats. If making the same day, let the assembled casserole sit for at least 30 minutes before baking to fully absorb the custard. Bake uncovered for 25-30 minutes until the top is golden and the center is set.
Can I use French bread instead of brioche?
Yes, you can but the texture and flavor will be different than my recipe. Brioche is buttery, soft and creamier in texture. French bread is typically firmer, less rich and neutral in flavor. If you prefer to use French bread, cut the bread into thinner, smaller pieces to avoid a dry casserole and add an extra egg or more heavy cream to increase the custard creaminess to compensate for the bread firmness.
Can I make this casserole the night before?
These kind of simple recipes are my favorite! Yes, you can prepare everything the night before, cover with foil and refrigerate. It’s as simple as that! Let the French toast sit at room temperature for 20 minutes while the oven preheats. Bake uncovered for 38-40 minutes until the top is golden and the center is set.
What's the best way to prevent sogginess?
Ensure the bread is slightly stale and allow the custard to soak in evenly.
Expert tips from my test kitchen.
Use day-old brioche for best texture
Stale brioche absorbs the custard more evenly without becoming overly soggy. If your bread is fresh, lightly toast in the oven at 300F for 10-15 minutes to dry them out.
Prepare the custard with care
Use a mix of eggs, whole milk and heavy cream for a rich custard. You may substitute the heavy cream for eggnog! Add vanilla extract, cinnamon and all-spice for an extra special flavor.
Bake low and slow
Bake the casserole at 350 for 40-45 minutes. You may cover with foil for the first 30 minutes to prevent over-browning. Let the casserole rest for 15 minutes before slicing. This helps maintain the custards structure and flavor.
How to store leftover French toast.
Allow the French toast to cool completely before storing it to prevent condensation, which can make it soggy. Place in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 3 days. Reheat in toaster oven on low heat until warm and crispy. Reheat in microwave at 10 second intervals until warm.
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Brioche French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 - 14 ounce loaf brioche bread cut into 1" cubes
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup whole milk
- 1/2 cup eggnog may substitute for heavy cream
- 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon all-spice
- 1/4 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 Tablespoons butter for the baking dish
For the homemade whipped cream:
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream
- 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
For the garnish:
- powdered sugar
- seasonal fresh fruit
Instructions
Prepare the bread.
- Slice and cut the brioche into 1" cubes and place in a 9"x13" buttered baking dish.1 - 14 ounce loaf brioche bread, 2 Tablespoons butter
Prepare the custard.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, eggnog, sugar and spices.Note: If using French bread instead of Brioche, increase sugar to 1/4 cup.Note: You may substitute the eggnog for heavy whipping cream.4 large eggs, 1 cup whole milk, 1/2 cup eggnog, 2 Tablespoons granulated sugar, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon all-spice
Combine.
- Pour the custard over the bread, ensuring all the pieces are soaked. Use the back of a spoon to gently press the bread into the custard. Set it aside for 30 minutes to allow time for the bread to soak up the custard.
Cover overnight or bake immediately.
- You have the option to cover the dish tightly with foil and refrigerate overnight or bake immediately. If refrigerating overnight, let the French toast sit at room temperature for 20 minutes before baking, while the oven preheats. If making the same day, first let the assembled casserole sit for at least 30 minutes before baking to fully absorb the custard. Bake uncovered at 350°F for 40-42 minutes until the top is golden and the center is set. Garnish the finished casserole with homemade whipped cream, powdered sugar and fresh fruit.Note: Let the casserole rest for 15 minutes before slicing. This helps maintain the custards structure and flavor.powdered sugar, seasonal fresh fruit
- When the French toast is done baking, make the homemade whipped cream. In a medium bowl, add heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar. Beat on medium speed until stiff peaks form. Garnish with the casserole and fresh fruit.1 cup heavy whipping cream, 2 Tablespoons powdered sugar
Nutrition
The provided nutritional value above is an estimate per serving. 100% accuracy is not guarenteed. Please see Nutrition Information Disclaimer in our Privacy Policy.
Nutrition Information Disclaimer
This overnight recipe has saved my busy mornings more than once! It was so tasty.
Thank you for the lovely review!
Christmas morning!
That’s what we said too. 😉