Stuffed French Toast Casserole
Here’s one of those easy breakfast casserole recipes you can prepare and store overnight. It’s called Stuffed French Toast Casserole because of the layers of bread and cream cheese. I’ve been making this casserole for years because I was tired of being left out of all the Christmas fun while I was in the kitchen making breakfast.
We started this tradition while our kids were still young. I prepare this French toast casserole overnight, then on Christmas morning, this breakfast casserole is put into the oven. While it bakes, we gather around the Christmas tree to open presents. The aroma it creates in our home is amazing! Without fail, by the time the families arrive to join us for Christmas lunch, they navigate to my kitchen for leftover breakfast casserole!
This is French toast easy and one of the best breakfast ideas that can be a wonderful addition for other occasions like Mother’s Day or Easter Day brunch or just a potluck. It’s an easy make ahead breakfast casserole, economical, and travels well.
This post is all about one of my favorite breakfast casserole recipes.
Best bread for French toast
You don’t need fancy bread for this recipe. I usually just pick up one of the least expensive loaves of bread at the grocery store. A dry bread is best, so you can pick up the bread a few days before you plan to prepare the casserole. You can also prepare the bread cubes by placing them in a large bowl on your kitchen counter and let them sit there while you work on your other recipes. By the end of the day the bread cubes will be ready for you to prepare for your overnight casserole.
Maple syrup or pancake syrup?
It’s a matter of preference. I always consider how the syrup is used in a recipe. Since it’s going to be part of the recipe and poured into the egg batter, then an inexpensive pancake syrup will be fine. You may want to dress up your table with a premium Maple syrup to serve over the French toast. It’s just a matter of which you prefer. Of course Maple syrup (the real Maple syrup) is going to be much higher in price. For this recipe you do not need to spend that much. A generic pancake syrup will be just fine.
Dairy or non-dairy milk?
The type of milk you use is up to whatever kind of dairy or (non-dairy) you prefer. Since we don’t consume cow milk, I usually use oat milk, however any plant based milk that you prefer (if you do not drink cow’s milk) will work. It’s a matter of personal taste and availability.
Find a similar baking dish here.
What’s a good casserole baking dish?
My go to casserole dish has got to be Pyrex. The 13 x 9 x 2 casserole dish is one of those ideal kitchen items Everyone should have in their kitchen. I have a link here to a Pyrex dish similar to the one we use, but keep an eye out the next time you’re at your favorite thrift store. Pyrex is one of those products you want to keep an eye out for at a thrift store.
So that’s my recipe for a breakfast casserole. It will continue to be a tradition in our home. I hope you give this recipe a try!
Enjoy!
Stuffed French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- One pound loaf of day old bread cut or torn into cubes
- One 8-ounce package cream cheese cut into cubes
- One dozen eggs
- 1 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup syrup (maple or pancake)
- Dash of cinnamon
Instructions
- Prepare a 13 x 9 x 2 inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Spread half the bread cubes into the dish.
- Arrange half of the cream cheese cubes over the bread cubes.
- Layer with remaining bread cubes and then remaining cream cheese.
- Whisk eggs milk and syrup together.
- Pour over the bread/cheese.
- Top with dash of ground cinnamon.
- Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- To bake: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Bake uncovered 35 to 40 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Let stand for about 15 minutes before cutting.
- Serve with maple/pancake syrup and/or powdered sugar.
