Overnight French Toast
This Overnight French toast is a cozy, make-ahead breakfast casserole with a caramelized maple-butter bottom and custardy bread on top. Simply prep it the night before and bake in the morning for an effortless, delicious holiday breakfast.
Servings 6
Ingredients
- ¾ C butter melted
- 1 ¼ C maple syrup or brown sugar
- 1 t vanilla
- ½ C pecan chopped (optional)
- 12 slices bread dry. (For reference-the bread used in this post is apx 4" X 4.25" X ½")
Custard
- 7 eggs
- 1 C heavy cream
- 1 C milk
Instructions
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a small sauce pan, melt the butter.
- Combine the melted butter, maple syrup (or brown sugar), vanilla, and optional pecans. Pour this mixture into the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together the eggs, heavy cream, and milk until smooth.
- Cube the bread.
- Place the cubed bread into the custard bowl and toss gently to ensure every piece soaks up the custard.
- Spread the soaked bread evenly over the maple-butter layer in the dish.
- Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or bake uncovered right away if all the custard is soaked into the bread before pouring over the maple butter layer.
- Bake uncovered at 350°F for 45 minutes, or until the top is slightly crispy and the center no longer jiggles.
- Spoon each serving and flip it upside down so the caramelized maple-butter layer becomes the topping. Serve with optional berries & powdered sugar.
Notes
Variations
- With or without nuts – pecans and walnuts both taste incredible.
- Add warm spices – cinnamon, nutmeg, pumpkin spice, or cardamom.
- Alcohol twist – add rum, bourbon, or brandy (1–2 tablespoons) to the custard for a holiday flavor boost.
Tips for Success
- Use dry bread. A day-old loaf works best. Even better, sourdough, French bread, or Ezekiel bread give great structure. Avoid fresh sandwich bread. Bread used in this recipe post is Food For Life Ezekiel 4:9.
- Bake uncovered. This ensures the top gets crispy.