French bread Archives - The Recipe Rebel Thu, 08 Feb 2024 16:16:47 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.thereciperebel.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/cropped-pwa-32x32.png French bread Archives - The Recipe Rebel 32 32 Baked Overnight Lemon French Toast https://www.thereciperebel.com/baked-overnight-lemon-french-toast/ https://www.thereciperebel.com/baked-overnight-lemon-french-toast/#comments Tue, 11 Apr 2023 06:24:00 +0000 https://www.thereciperebel.com/?p=6210 This Baked Lemon French Toast is so much easier than flipping French toast on the stove! It’s perfect for holiday…

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This Baked Lemon French Toast is so much easier than flipping French toast on the stove! It’s perfect for holiday gatherings, brunch potlucks, and special occasions! Top with fresh berries and whipped cream or yogurt for a special morning treat.

overhead image of baked lemon french toast with blueberries and raspberries.

Make-ahead breakfast recipes are possibly my favorite type of recipe. Who’s with me?

Because (a) although I’m a morning person, that doesn’t mean I want to spend an hour making breakfast, and (b) breakfast is the best meal of the day, so why not make it good?

I have a few variations of baked French toast (not French toast casseroles — although I have those too), like this Light Overnight Caramel French Toast and this Overnight Baked Pumpkin French Toast, and it’s for good reason.

They are just so easy!

I’m going to be honest here, I think I like an overnight baked French toast even more than a French toast casserole.

I just feel like the edges get crispier and it doesn’t just look like a big pile of slop on your guests’ plates. Though I’ve never been known to turn down French toast in any form — I’m not crazy! 😉

I had to make a lemon version of this baked French toast because I know how much we all love lemon here. I feel like it goes perfectly with some fresh fruit and whipped cream or yogurt, which makes it a lighter version than most French toast breakfast casseroles.

baked lemon french toast on a sheet pan.

Friends, this might be my new favorite breakfast, or at least my favorite French toast yet! The lemon is just so light and refreshing, and with a dollop of whipped cream and some fresh berries (or berry sauce), it is just SO good. I can’t even handle it.

I love lemon as much in the summer as I do in the winter. If you do too, then you’ll love my Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake recipe, these Baked Lemon Blueberry Donuts, and this Cream Cheese-Filled Blueberry Lemon Bread.

Ingredients Needed:

This easy recipe uses fresh but simple ingredients you may already have in your pantry!

ingredients needed for lemon french toast.
  • Bread: French bread is generally my bread of choice, but you can use any bread so long as it will hold its shape well.
  • Eggs: to make the mixture that the bread will soak in. In some countries, French toast is even called “eggy bread”!
  • Milk: I use low-fat milk, but any kind will work just fine, even non-dairy options.
  • Sugar: white granulated sugar will work well for this dish, you can use brown sugar or maple syrup if you prefer but the amounts may vary.
  • Lemon: use a fresh lemon for the lemon juice and fresh lemon zest for the best flavor.

How to Make Baked Lemon French Toast

This dleicious breakfast is quick and easy to make. Full instructions are included in the recipe card below.

  1. Prepare the bread: Slice the French bread nice and thick and lay on a baking sheet or in a baking dish.
  2. Make egg mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice.
  3. Coat bread: Pour the mixture evenly over the bread slices in the pan. Flip the bread slices so that both sides are covered in egg mixture.
  4. Refrigerate and bake: Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for at least 2 hours. Bake until edges are light golden brown.

Baked Lemon French Toast FAQs

Why is my overnight French toast soggy?

If your lemon french toast is soggy, it could be for a few reasons. Make sure the type of bread is thick and sturdy enough. A crusty bread like a French loaf stands up better in the egg batter than a softer sandwich bread.
If you have thinner slices of bread, you may be able to use more slices or use less egg mixture.

Which bread is best for French toast?

Believe it or not, stale bread is actually best for French toast because it’s already a little drier, so will soak up the egg mixture better before baking. If I don’t have stale bread already, I will generally toast the slices briefly to dry them out before adding to my pan.

How do I store lemon french toast?

Once the french toast is baked, it’s best served fresh. If you have any leftovers, they will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. Reheat in the toaster, air fryer, or oven for a crisp exterior, but you can microwave if preferred.

Can I freeze French toast?

You can freeze leftover French toast for up to 3 months. I recommend freezing individual slices on a parchment-lined sheet pan, then moving them to a freezer bag. To reheat, thaw or reheat from frozen in the microwave or toaster.

Tips and Notes

  • Bread. Use bread that will hold its shape, as it will be soaked in a liquid mixture which will break it down. Thick sliced bread, crusty bread, and challah bread are good options.
  • No Burning Trick. Don’t be afraid to squish the bread to fit into the pan. If there’s a lot of extra room the egg mixture can begin to burn on the pan after the 25-minute mark. Using parchment paper can also help with this. 
  • Dish Type. Because of the long baking time, I recommend using a glass 9×13″ pan, a light colored baking sheet or ceramic casserole dish. A dark pan will cause the French toast to brown too quickly.
  • Large Batch. You can easily double up the recipe and squish more slices onto a rimmed baking sheet like the one I used here to feed a crowd.
close up image of lemon french toast on a plate with blueberries and whipped cream.

Baked Lemon French Toast Variations

  • Mix up the fruit. Swapping out the lemon for orange or top this French toast with raspberry or cranberry sauce.
  • Lemons: Try this recipe with limes, oranges, or grapefruit if you prefer!
  • Dairy-Free: Make this french toast dairy-free (lactose-free). Use non-dairy milk like coconut milk or almond milk instead of cow’s milk.

Serving Suggestions

Make this easy french toast recipe for a lazy weekend brunch. Serve it with other delicious breakfast recipes like my Easy Yogurt Parfaits, these delicious Baked Apples, and, of course, a generous serving of my crispy Air Fryer Bacon.

To drink, have a fruity Smoothie, Caramel Frappuccino, or even a Cold Brew Coffee to get your day going!

More French Toast Recipes You’ll Love

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Baked Overnight Lemon French Toast

This Baked Lemon French Toast is so much easier than flipping French toast on the stove! It’s perfect for holiday gatherings, brunch potlucks, and special occasions! Top with fresh berries and whipped cream or yogurt for a special morning treat.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Diet Vegetarian
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Chilling time 2 hours
Total Time 2 hours 35 minutes
Servings 8
Calories 232cal

Ingredients

  • 8 slices French bread about 1″ thick
  • 4 eggs
  • ¾ cup milk any kind will do
  • 3 tablespoons sugar
  • zest and juice from 2 lemons

Instructions

  • Lightly grease a 9×13″ pan or small-rimmed sheet pan, you can also use parchment paper if desired. Place bread slices in a single layer in the greased baking dish. You can squish them a little if need be — ideally you don’t want too much extra space around them to prevent the egg mixture from burning.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, lemon zest, and lemon juice. Pour the mixture evenly over the bread slices in the pan. Flip the bread slices so that both sides are covered in egg mixture. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight or for at least 2 hours.
  • Remove plastic wrap and bake at 350 degrees F for 25-30 minutes, until golden brown and centers are set. Serve with whipped cream and fresh berries if desired.

Notes

Storage:
  • Fridge: Refrigerate leftover French toast for up to 4 days. I recommend reheating in the toaster, air fryer, or oven for a crisp exterior, but you can microwave if preferred.
  • Freezer: You can freeze leftover French toast for up to 3 months. I recommend freezing individual slices on a parchment-lined sheet pan, then moving them to a freezer bag. To reheat, thaw or reheat from frozen in the microwave or toaster.
 

Nutrition

Calories: 232cal | Carbohydrates: 39g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 0.01g | Cholesterol: 83mg | Sodium: 425mg | Potassium: 141mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 162IU | Calcium: 74mg | Iron: 3mg

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Cheesy Garlic Bread https://www.thereciperebel.com/cheesy-garlic-bread/ https://www.thereciperebel.com/cheesy-garlic-bread/#comments Mon, 06 Mar 2023 06:00:00 +0000 https://www.thereciperebel.com/?p=36058 This Homemade Cheesy Garlic Bread recipe is packed with flavor, and it’s so easy to make. Packed with herby flavors…

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This Homemade Cheesy Garlic Bread recipe is packed with flavor, and it’s so easy to make. Packed with herby flavors and three types of cheese, it’s the perfect side dish for just about any meal!

Top view of sliced cheesy garlic bread on a tray with chopped parsley sprinkled on top.

This is the best cheesy garlic bread I have ever had, and I’ve tried a few!

We love having bread sides with dinner, it’s the perfect way to compliment just about any main meal. (It’s also perfect for dunking in any of my soup recipes!)

While I love Classic Garlic Bread, sometimes I’m looking for something a bit more indulgent. This Cheesy Garlic Bread is what we’re after!

This homemade garlic bread is the best comfort food for snacking and it’s a perfect appetizer for dinner parties too. Pair it with some marinara, ranch or homemade Homemade Salsa and I don’t need much else 😉

If you love this recipe, you’ll also love my Garlic Herb Dinner Rolls and my Homemade Breadsticks.

Ingredients Needed:

Top view of cheesy garlic bread ingredients in glass bowls on grey surface.
  • Butter: use salted butter as it has a better flavor for this side dish. If you only have unsalted butter to hand, add a pinch of salt to the butter mixture.
  • Seasoning: freshly chopped garlic cloves and fresh parsley bring so much rich and herby flavor to this garlic bread.
  • Cheese: a combination of Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, and cheddar cheese works perfectly for this recipe, but you can use almost any kind!
  • Bread: I love to use French bread that has a crunchy crust with soft bread in the middle. Ciabatta or sourdough would also work great!

How to Make Cheesy Garlic Bread

This homemade garlic cheese bread is quick and easy to make. Full instructions are included in the recipe card below.

  1. Make garlic butter: Mix together the butter, garlic, parsley, and Parmesan cheese.
  2. Add butter to bread: Spread butter evenly on the bread slices.
  3. Add cheese: Add shredded cheese evenly on the slices.
  4. Bake: Bake until desired crispness is reached.

Cheesy Garlic Bread FAQs

Can I make this garlic bread ahead of time?

You can make the homemade garlic butter ahead of time. It will last for up to a week in the fridge or for up to 6 months in the freezer. Keep it on hand so you can whip up fresh cheesy garlic bread quickly and easily anytime you wish!

How do I store garlic bread?

Store cheesy garlic bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Allow it to cool to room temperature before putting it in the fridge.
I recommend reheating in the oven or the air fryer for a crisp texture.

Can I freeze garlic bread?

Yes! Have cheesy garlic bread on hand by making it up, cooking it, and letting the slices completely cool. Place on a tray lined with parchment paper and put it in the freezer for 30 minutes.
Once frozen, you can put the bread slices in a freezer-safe container or in a Ziploc bag with parchment paper between each slice so it doesn’t stick. Store in the freezer for up to 6 months!
You can also freeze garlic bread before baking — simply prep completely, wrap in plastic wrap and freeze. If you bake from frozen, you may need to add 10-15 minutes.

Tips and Notes

  • Real butter. Use real butter for this recipe, not margarine. It just has a better flavor!
  • Room temperature. Softer butter will incorporate more easily with the other ingredients and have a smoother texture.
  • Use fresh ingredients. I recommend using fresh parsley and fresh garlic for the best flavor.

Cheesy Garlic Bread Variations

  • Mix up the herbs. Feel free to play around with herbs and spices. Try adding other fresh herbs such as rosemary, basil, oregano, or thyme. Use garlic powder as well as fresh garlic for a stronger flavor.
  • Spice it up. Add ground black pepper, some red pepper flakes, or chili powder to the tops of your cheesy garlic bread slices for a bit of heat.
  • Cheese. Use other cheeses like Monterey Jack, Provolone, or even a Mexican Cheese Mix for more flavor!
Close up of a piece of cheesy garlic bread being lifted off a baking pan.

Serving Suggestions

This cheesy garlic bread is perfect as a side dish to just about any meal, but it will taste wonderful with a tomatoey main dish like this Easy Lasagna, my delicious Baked Ziti, and this reader-favorite One Pot Hamburger Helper dish!

Other side dishes that will work well with this garlic bread are my Air Fryer Green Beans, this Air Fryer Broccoli, or Corn on the Cob for some added color!

More Bread Recipes to Try

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Cheesy Garlic Bread

This Homemade Cheesy Garlic Bread recipe is packed with flavor, and it’s so easy to make. Packed with herby flavors and three types of cheese, it’s the perfect side dish for just about any meal!
Course Appetizer, Side Dish
Cuisine American, Italian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 305cal

Ingredients

  • ½ cup salted butter room temperature (you can use unsalted and add salt)
  • 2 cloves garlic very finely chopped about 1 ½ teaspoons fresh or ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1 loaf French bread
  • 2 cups mozzarella cheese shredded
  • 1 cup cheddar cheese shredded

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • In a medium bowl, add butter, garlic, parsley, and Parmesan cheese.
  • Beat ingredients with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined and creamy. Taste and adjust to your preferences as desired.
  • Slice french bread in half crosswise and place on parchment lined baking sheet with the cut side up. Press halved loaves down with a cutting board or another sheet pan (this helps to prevent the edges from curling too much).
  • Spread butter evenly on the cut sides. Top each slice with shredded cheese.
  • Bake at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes until desired crispness is reached, broiling to brown further if desired.
  • Garnish with finely chopped parsley, then slice into strips. Serve hot.

Video

Notes

  • Make Ahead: You can make the homemade garlic butter ahead of time. It will last for up to a week in the fridge or for up to 6 months in the freezer. Keep it on hand so you can whip up fresh cheesy garlic bread quickly and easily anytime you wish!
  • Store: Store cheesy garlic bread in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Allow it to cool to room temperature before putting it in the fridge.
  • Freeze: Make the cheesy garlic bread, cook it, and let the slices completely cool. Place on a tray lined with parchment paper and put it in the freezer for 30 minutes. Once frozen, you can put the bread slices in a freezer-safe container or in a Ziploc bag. Wrap the slices individually in plastic wrap, or put parchment paper between each slice so they don’t stick together. Store in the freezer for up to 6 months.
 

Nutrition

Serving: 10g | Calories: 305cal | Carbohydrates: 22g | Protein: 12g | Fat: 19g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.4g | Cholesterol: 53mg | Sodium: 528mg | Potassium: 80mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 582IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 218mg | Iron: 2mg

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Air Fryer French Toast https://www.thereciperebel.com/air-fryer-french-toast/ https://www.thereciperebel.com/air-fryer-french-toast/#respond Wed, 01 Mar 2023 05:55:00 +0000 https://www.thereciperebel.com/?p=36164 Air Fryer French Toast is the perfect way to start your day! Made with crusty French bread in an eggy…

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Air Fryer French Toast is the perfect way to start your day! Made with crusty French bread in an eggy batter, it’s warmly spiced with cinnamon sugar and vanilla. Ready in just 15 minutes, it’s perfect for busy mornings and brunches!

Top view of french toast on plate with blueberries and strawberries.

We love French toast here, and it’s no wonder. It’s deliciously sweet, perfectly spiced, and it’s so easy to make!

French toast can be made in different ways like in the Slow Cooker or on the Stovetop, depending on how much time you have, and how you want to flavor it.

Making French toast in the air fryer is the best way I’ve found to get those deliciously crispy edges while keeping the inside soft and fluffy!

This quick breakfast dish is so versatile, it can be enjoyed on its own, with savory sides like eggs and bacon, or with sweet toppings like maple syrup and whipped cream.

It’s one of the easiest breakfast recipes to make, so it’s perfect for lazy days or busy mornings!

If you love French toast for a sweet breakfast or brunch idea, you’ll love my Lemon Blueberry Cream Cheese Coffee Cake as well as this Fruit and Yoghurt Breakfast Tart. Alternatively, check out my other Delicious Brunch Recipes.

Ingredients Needed:

ingredients for air fryer french toast in glass bowls.
  • Bread: I like to use thick slices of French bread for French toast. It keeps together nicely when coated in the batter. If your bread is a few days old, that’s even better!
  • Sugar and Cinnamon: I use regular ground cinnamon and white granulated sugar for this recipe, but you can use an alternative sweetener if you prefer.
  • Milk and Eggs: they make the base of the batter for French toast. Use whole milk for the richest flavor, but lower-fat milk or dairy-free milk like oat milk will work ok as well.
  • Vanilla Extract: adds a warmness to the toast and compliments the cinnamon well.

How to Make Air Fryer French Toast

This French toast is super quick and easy to make. Full instructions are included in the recipe card below.

  1. Make cinnamon sugar: Mix together the sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
  2. Make egg mix: Mix the eggs, milk, and vanilla in a dish, then add in half of the cinnamon sugar.
  3. Mix: Whisk together until combined.
  4. Coat bread. Dip each bread slice in egg mixture on both sides. Remove from the egg mixture and allow excess to run off.
  5. Put in air fryer. Place in the prepared air fryer. Repeat with all of the bread slices that will fit. Sprinkle extra cinnamon sugar on top.
  6. Cook. Cook each slice, flipping and cooking until completely golden brown. Serve hot.

Air Fryer French Toast FAQs

Can French toast be prepped ahead of time?

Yes! Prepare the batter ahead of time and store it in the fridge up to a day in advance. Slice the bread and keep it covered for a few days as well, it can be better to use stale bread as it hold together better in the batter and still tastes great!

How do I store French toast?

French toast will last in the fridge once cooked for 3-5 days. To reheat, simply warm in the microwave, toast in the oven, or heat in the air fryer until heated through.

Can I freeze French toast?

Yes! Cook the French toast slices and let them cool completely before transferring them to a baking sheet in a single layer.
Put the full baking sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes, until the slices have just frozen.
Once frozen, transfer the slices to a ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months, separating them with pieces of parchment paper so they don’t stick together.
To serve, bake at 350ºF in the oven for 10 minutes (or until heated through), or reheat in the toaster or in the Air Fryer.

Tips and Notes

  • Flip. Make sure to flip the slices of bread over in the Air Fryer for maximum crispiness on both sides.
  • Stale bread. Bread that is stale will soak up the egg mixture better, and the crust will have softened slightly as well. If you don’t have stale bread, place your slices in the toaster (or in the air fryer!) for a minute or two to dry out slightly.
  • Slice thickness. 1 inch is the perfect thickness for French toast. Slices this thick are soft but still have enough structure to not get soggy in the batter.
  • Crispiness. Serve French toast immediately, where possible. When French toast comes out of the air fryer it is hot and crispy. The longer it stays out, the less crispy it will become.
  • Keep it warm. Keep cooked slices of French toast warm while you cook the rest by putting it in a dish in the oven set to 250ºF.
close up of syrup being poured on golden french toast.

Air Fryer French Toast Variations

  • Use another bread. You can use another type of bread to make French toast, like white bread or whole wheat bread. Slices of bread from a normal sandwich loaf may tear when you take them out of the batter, so use thick sliced bread or a heartier loaf for best results. Alternatively, try using brioche bread or cinnamon raisin for extra decadent French toast.
  • French toast sticks. Cut the slices of bread into small rectangle-like shapes, then coat them in the egg mixture and cook them in the air fryer to make French toast sticks. This is great for a buffet-style breakfast or for sweet snacks! Reduce the cooking time as necessary, keeping an eye to make sure the sticks don’t overcook.
  • Toppings. You can get creative with your toppings as French toast is such a versatile breakfast food. Spread with some butter and serve with eggs and bacon for something more savory (it even works well with tomato sauce!), or add maple syrup, Whipped Cream, Nutella, chopped nuts, etc.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this decadent French toast with fresh berries and fruit, with a light side of Easy Yogurt Parfait with Fresh Berries, or even this colorful Creamy Fruit Salad.

French toast makes a filling breakfast as it is filled with carbs and protein, it’s such a comforting way to start your day!

You can top your French toast with anything you like to suit your preference. Make it sweet with sweet syrups like maple, caramel, or chocolate, or use melted chocolate for a drizzle, with chocolate chips on top.

Make it savory by serving it with bacon, cooked egg, or an Omelette!

More Sweet Breakfast Recipes to Try

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overhead view air fryer french toast on a plate, sprinkled with powdered sugar and surrounded with berries.
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Air Fryer French Toast

Air Fryer French Toast is the perfect way to start your day! Made with crusty French bread in an eggy batter, it's warmly spiced with cinnamon sugar and vanilla. Ready in just 15 minutes it's perfect for busy mornings and brunches!
Course Air fryer, Breakfast
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 207cal

Ingredients

  • 6-8 slices french bread 1" thick
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar (or another sweetener)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • ½ cup milk
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 4 eggs

Instructions

  • Slice French bread into 1″ slices. Stir together sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl.
  • Preheat the air fryer to 375 degrees F.
  • Whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla in a shallow dish until combined. (The dish should be big enough to lay a piece of your sliced bread in to fully coat it.) Then, add half of the cinnamon sugar, this will help to prevent the cinnamon from clumping.
  • Place a piece of parchment paper in the bottom of the air fryer basket and spray it with non-aerosol non-stick spray.
  • Dip each bread slice in egg mixture, making sure it is coated on both sides. Remove the slice of bread from the egg mixture and allow the excess batter to run off back into the dish. Place the slice laying flat on the parchment in the air fryer.
  • Repeat with all of the bread slices you can fit, in a single layer (you may have to do more than one batch). Sprinkle extra cinnamon sugar on top of the slices.
  • Cook the slices until they are golden brown, this will take about 5 minutes, before flipping them over and cooking until the other side is golden brown too.
  • Serve hot with fresh berries and maple syrup, or a dusting of powdered sugar!

Notes

To Store: Store cooked French toast in an airtight container or plastic bag in the fridge for 3-5 days.
To reheat, simply warm in the microwave, toast in the oven, or heat in the air fryer until heated through.
To Freeze: Cook the French toast slices and let them cool completely before transferring them to a baking sheet in a single layer.
Put the full baking sheet in the freezer for 30 minutes, until the slices have just frozen.
Once frozen, transfer the slices to a ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months, separating them with pieces of parchment paper so they don’t stick together.
To serve, bake at 350ºF in the oven for 10 minutes (or until heated through), or reheat in the toaster or in the Air Fryer!
 

Nutrition

Serving: 6g | Calories: 207cal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 0.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 393mg | Potassium: 108mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 40IU | Vitamin C: 0.01mg | Calcium: 61mg | Iron: 3mg

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Overnight Apple Crisp French Toast https://www.thereciperebel.com/overnight-apple-crisp-french-toast/ https://www.thereciperebel.com/overnight-apple-crisp-french-toast/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2022 06:56:00 +0000 https://www.thereciperebel.com/?p=2314 This Overnight Apple Crisp French Toast is a simple, crowd-pleasing make-ahead breakfast. Crusty French bread is soaked in a sweet…

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This Overnight Apple Crisp French Toast is a simple, crowd-pleasing make-ahead breakfast. Crusty French bread is soaked in a sweet batter, topped with homemade apple crisp, and baked until soft in the middle and crispy on top.

overhead image of apple crisp french toast in white baking dish.

Okay, fine, I admit it! This Overnight Apple Crisp French Toast is really just an excuse to eat dessert for breakfast.

Since making my French Toast Casserole and my Overnight Caramel French Toast, I’ve been so excited to put together another delicious breakfast. I got to thinking, “why couldn’t I build an apple crisp on top of baked French toast? So, I did.

Best. Decision. Ever.

This just might be the best French toast I’ve ever eaten.

And if you love apple crisp as much as I do, check out my Maple-Glazed Apple Crisp Cookies, Maple Glazed Apple Crisp Cinnamon Buns, Baked Maple Glazed Apple Crisp Doughnuts (Donuts) or Apple Crisp Pancakes (yep, I’ve done it all!).

Ingredients Needed:

ingredients needed for apple crisp french toast bake.

This Overnight Apple Crisp French Toast Casserole is made with ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.

  • Bread: I stick to French bread, but feel free to use another variety. Brioche or challah are both also great options. Day old works best! If you don’t have day old bread, I like to throw the slices in the toaster to dry them out slightly.
  • Eggs and Milk or Half-and-Half: the main ingredients in our batter
  • Sweetener: you can sweeten the batter using either brown sugar or maple syrup. Both are great!
  • Vanilla: adds flavor depth and a little extra sweetness.
  • Cinnamon: adds a subtle sweet spiciness.
  • Salt: a pinch of salt enhances the flavor.
  • Apples: just use your favorite variety! The apples should be peeled, cored, and very thinly sliced.
  • Streusel: we’re topping the French toast bake off with a simple streusel made with rolled oats, flour, cold butter, and brown sugar.
apple crisp french toast finished with one piece cut out.

How to Make Overnight Apple Crisp French Toast

This delicious sweet breakfast takes a quick 20 minutes to prep. Full instructions are included in the recipe card down below.

  1. Soak the bread: In a bowl, mix together eggs, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Pour over the bread slices, then cover and refrigerate for 1 hour or overnight.
  2. Make the streusel: In a separate bowl, cut together oats, flour, butter, and brown sugar.
  3. Assemble and bake: Spread the apples over the bread, top with streusel, then bake until the apples are tender and the streusel is golden.

Overnight French Toast Casserole FAQs

Why is my overnight French toast soggy?

There are a couple of reasons your French toast bake came out soggy. First, you may not have used the right bread. A crustier bread like a French loaf stands up better in the batter than a softer sandwich bread would. You may have also just soaked the bread too long. It can sit in the batter for anywhere from 1-8ish hours, but I don’t recommend going much longer than that.

Is French toast supposed to be soggy or crispy?

In my opinion, a perfect French toast casserole is soft in the middle with a slightly crispy edge. So, both I suppose!

Can I use fresh bread?

Fresh bread won’t soak up the egg mixture as well as day old bread, so it could turn out soggy.
If you only have fresh bread, leave it out on the counter for 30-60 minutes, or pop the slices in the toaster to dry them out slightly before using.

Can you soak French toast too long?

You sure can. Soaking too long will make your bread soggy (or using fresh bread), so overnight is fine, but assemble and bake your casserole first thing in the morning.

How to store:

Once your casserole is baked, it’s best served right away. However, leftovers will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, warm individual servings in the microwave or heat up a larger amount in the oven.

overhead image of apple crisp french toast on white plate with fork.

Tips and Notes

  • Slice the apples thinly. The thin apples get nice and soft as they bake.
  • Remove the peel. Apple peel can take on an unpleasant chewy texture in the oven. I recommend removing it before you slice the apples.
  • Use old bread. Okay, not too old, but bread that is slightly stale holds up better next to the batter.
  • Use cold butter. The cold butter steams in the oven and creates little pockets of air which makes the streusel topping lighter and fluffier.
  • Try another bread. French bread is, of course, a classic. However, other kinds like brioche or challah would be delicious too.

Serving Suggestions

Serve this breakfast with any of your favorite breakfast/brunch recipes!

I love it with a smoothie on the side, a scoop of Creamy Fruit Salad, bacon and eggs, or a refreshing glass of Cold Brew Coffee!

piece of apple french toast bake on white plate with fork and syrup.

More French Toast Recipes You’ll Love

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Overnight Apple Crisp French Toast

This Overnight Apple Crisp French Toast is a simple, crowd-pleasing make-ahead breakfast. Crusty French bread is soaked in a sweet batter, topped with homemade apple crisp, and baked until soft in the middle and crispy on top.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes
Servings 10
Calories 303cal

Ingredients

French toast

  • 1 loaf French bread (450 grams)
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk or half and half
  • ¼ cup brown sugar or maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp salt

Streusel

  • cup rolled oats
  • ½ cup flour
  • ½ cup cold butter
  • ½ cup brown sugar
  • 2 medium apples peeled, cored and thinly sliced

Instructions

  • Spray a 9×13” pan with non-stick spray and lay bread slices on the bottom of the pan in a single layer (use as many as you need to fill the pan, stacking and squishing as needed be – just leave some room for your apples!).
  • Combine eggs, milk, ¼ cup brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt with a whisk and pour over the bread slices, trying to coat the bread evenly. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 1 hour or overnight.
  • Meanwhile, make the streusel. Cut together oats, flour, butter, and brown sugar with a pastry cutter or your hands until crumbly. Store in an air tight container until ready to bake.
  • When ready to bake, preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spread apples over the bread and top with streusel.
  • Bake for 1 hour, or until bread is set, apples are tender and streusel is golden. Cover with foil half way through baking if the top is browning too quickly. Serve with syrup, or without!

Notes

Tips:
  • Slice the apples thinly. The thin apples get nice and soft as they bake.
  • Remove the peel. Apple peel can take on an unpleasant chewy texture in the oven. I recommend removing it before you slice the apples.
  • Use old bread. Okay, not too old, but bread that is slightly stale holds up better next to the batter.
  • Use cold butter. The cold butter steams in the oven and creates little pockets of air which makes the streusel topping lighter and fluffier.
  • Try another bread. French bread is, of course, a classic. However, other kinds like brioche or challah would be delicious too.
 
Storing:
Once your casserole is baked, it’s best served right away. However, leftovers will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. To reheat, warm individual servings in the microwave or heat up a larger amount in the oven.

Nutrition

Calories: 303cal | Carbohydrates: 43g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Cholesterol: 79mg | Sodium: 191mg | Potassium: 217mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 31g | Vitamin A: 495IU | Vitamin C: 3.4mg | Calcium: 101mg | Iron: 1mg

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Easy French Toast Recipe https://www.thereciperebel.com/french-toast-recipe/ https://www.thereciperebel.com/french-toast-recipe/#comments Mon, 13 Dec 2021 06:33:00 +0000 https://www.thereciperebel.com/?p=24894 This Easy French Toast Recipe is a classic breakfast recipe that’s ready in just 25 minutes! Crusty slices of French…

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This Easy French Toast Recipe is a classic breakfast recipe that’s ready in just 25 minutes! Crusty slices of French bread are doused in a lightly sweetened batter and cooked until soft in the middle and golden-brown and crispy on the outside.

overhead image of two slices of french toast on grey plate with fresh berries

This French toast recipe is a breakfast classic that results in heart, delicious, perfectly sweet, and golden-brown French toast. It’s made with pantry staples, comes together in under 30 minutes, and is a guaranteed hit at the breakfast table.

My kids love it topped with Strawberry Sauce (or this Rhubarb Sauce in the summer!) and homemade Whipped Cream!

It’s an extra special breakfast that is perfect for Thanksgiving, Christmas or a lazy weekend at home.

three slices of french toast in black skillet

When dragging myself out of bed to cook breakfast is not super high on my list of priorities, I try to plan ahead with recipes like crockpot breakfast casserole, overnight peach cobbler French toast casserole, or classic French toast casserole.

Love your air fryer? Try this Air Fryer French Toast next!

Ingredients needed:

This recipe is made up of ingredients you probably already have in your fridge and pantry!

  • French Bread: I love to use thick slices of French bread for French toast. It holds up nicely even when soaked in the batter. If it’s a few days old, even better!
  • Granulated Sugar, Cinnamon, Eggs, Milk, and Vanilla Extract: the ingredients needed for the batter to give the bread that sweet golden-brown and crispy exterior.
  • Butter: be sure to use unsalted butter. Sweet breakfast doesn’t need to be salty!
ingredients needed for basic french toast recipe

How to make French toast

  1. Prep the ingredients: Slice the French bread into 1″ slices. Mix together cinnamon, sugar, eggs, milk, and vanilla.
  2. Dip in batter: Take each slice of bread and dip them into the egg mixture until coated on both sides.
  3. Cook and serve: Cook on a hot, greased griddle for 5 minutes on each side then serve with the toppings of your choice!

French toast FAQs

What is the best bread for French toast?

I love to use a thick, soft French bread for this recipe. It’s heartier than other types of bread so it holds up nicely next to the wet batter. You can also use sourdough, challah, or brioche if preferred.
For best results, grab your French bread a day or two in advance, take it out of the paper bag and place in a completely sealed plastic bag (you can also freeze up to 3 months). This way, the crust will soften and you won’t have tough edges.

Can you use other milk?

Absolutely! I usually use regular milk, but you can use heavy cream or half-and-half for a richer flavor or use any plant-based milks for a non-dairy option.

Why doesn’t my French toast get crispy?

If your French toast didn’t get crispy, it likely had too much moisture. Make sure you let any excess batter run off the bread before you cook it or you’ll end up with soggy toast.

Can French toast be prepped ahead of time?

Totally! You can prep the batter ahead of time and store it in the fridge up to a day in advance.
You can also cook and cool the French toast, then freeze it for 30 minutes in a single layer on a baking sheet. Once it’s frozen, transfer the slices to a ziplock bag and freeze for up to 3 months. To serve, bake at 350ºF for 10 minutes or until heated through or reheat in the toaster!

How long does French toast last in the fridge?

Leftovers will last in the fridge for 3-5 days. To reheat, simply warm in the microwave or toast in the oven until heated through.

close up image of two slices of french toast with dusting of powdered sugar

Tips and tricks:

  • Use day old bread. Stale bread will soak up the egg mixture better, and the crust has time to soften. Be sure to place it in a plastic bag (you don’t want to leave it in a paper bag or wrapping that doesn’t seal) so that it doesn’t dry out and the crust softens.
  • Cut 1″ slices of bread. This is the perfect thickness for French toast. It’s soft but still has enough structure to not get soggy in the batter.
  • Keep the already cooked French toast warm while you cook the rest by keeping it in the oven set to 250ºF.

Serving suggestions

French toast makes the perfect addition to a brunch spread with all your favorite breakfast recipes! Serve it up next to bacon and eggs, a breakfast skillet, peanut butter banana smoothies, crustless quiche, you name it.

You can also serve French toast on its own with a simple pat of butter and maple syrup or dress it up with fresh fruit, jam, strawberry sauce, powdered sugar, whipped cream, sprinkles, Nutella, peanut butter, chopped nuts, caramel sauce, or chocolate drizzle.

More French toast recipes to try

Love breakfast? We do, too!

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Easy French Toast recipe

This Easy French Toast Recipe is a classic breakfast or brunch recipe that's ready in just 25 minutes! Crusty slices of French bread are doused in a lightly sweetened batter and cooked until soft in the middle and golden-brown and crispy on the outside.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American, canadian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 323cal

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf French bread*
  • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar (or another sweetener)
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 8 eggs
  • cup milk** (any kind)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter

Instructions

  • Slice French bread into 1" slices (I get about 12-14 slices)
  • Stir together sugar and cinnamon.
  • Whisk together eggs, milk and vanilla until combined, then add in cinnamon sugar (this helps to prevent clumps of cinnamon).
  • Heat a large griddle to medium heat. Spray with non stick spray or melt 2 tablespoons of butter on the hot griddle (If you have to cook in batches, save some butter to add to the pan later).
  • Dip each bread slice in egg mixture on both sides. Remove from the egg mixture and allow excess to run off, then place on the hot griddle.
  • Repeat with all of the bread slices (you may have to do more then one batch).
  • Cook each slice until golden brown (about 5 minutes) before flipping and cooking until the other side is golden brown (about 5 minutes).
  • Serve.

Video

Notes

** Any kind of milk or even cream can be substituted for the milk — dairy or non-dairy. 
Notes:
  • Use day old bread. Stale bread will soak up the egg mixture better, and the crust has time to soften. Be sure to place it in a plastic bag (you don’t want to leave it in a paper bag or wrapping that doesn’t seal) so that it doesn’t dry out and the crust softens.
  • Cut 1″ slices of bread. This is the perfect thickness for French toast. It’s soft but still has enough structure to not get soggy in the batter.
  • Keep the already cooked French toast warm while you cook the rest by keeping it in the oven set to 250ºF.
 
Storage:
Leftovers will last in the fridge for 3-5 days. To reheat, simply warm in the microwave or toast in the oven until heated through.

Nutrition

Calories: 323cal | Carbohydrates: 45g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 175mg | Sodium: 414mg | Potassium: 179mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 394IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 3mg

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Garlic Bread https://www.thereciperebel.com/garlic-bread/ https://www.thereciperebel.com/garlic-bread/#comments Wed, 27 Oct 2021 06:33:00 +0000 https://www.thereciperebel.com/?p=23521 This homemade Garlic Bread is a classic side dish or appetizer that comes together in just 20 minutes! Sliced French…

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This homemade Garlic Bread is a classic side dish or appetizer that comes together in just 20 minutes! Sliced French bread is slathered with homemade garlic butter, then baked until soft, buttery, and golden-brown.

basket of garlic bread slices

This recipe makes the best garlic bread! It’s so easy to make, smothered in homemade garlic butter, has a soft, buttery center, crispy edges, and a golden-brown, slightly crispy crunch.

The best part? You can bake it a little less or a little more so that you get it as soft or as crispy as you like.

It’s an appetizer or side dish that is always a hit. Serve it with this Spaghetti and Meatballs, a bowl of Chicken Rice Soup, or this Chicken Tortellini Soup or just eat the whole loaf on its own…yep, it’s that good. 😉

Ingredients Needed:

  • Butter: you can use salted butter or unsalted butter and add salt yourself. Be sure to soften it room temperature so that the finished garlic butter is smooth and spreadable.
  • Garlic: I recommend using fresh garlic for a sharper, more garlicky flavor. If you prefer a more subtle flavor, you can use ½ teaspoon of garlic powder instead.
  • Parsley: use finely chopped, fresh parsley for a brighter flavor. If all you have is dried parsley, that will work as well.
  • Parmesan: this is optional but highly recommended to add a salty, cheesiness.
  • French Bread: I like to use French bread which has that classic soft texture with a flaky, crispy crust. You can also use a baguette which has a crunchier, chewier texture.

How to make Garlic Bread

This garlic bread recipe uses my homemade garlic butter which takes just 10 minutes to whip up! Try it with Roasted Garlic to take the flavor to the next level.

  1. Make the garlic butter. In a medium bowl, add room temperature butter, garlic, parsley, and cheese. Beat with an electric mixer until creamy.
  2. Prep the garlic bread. Slice the bread into 3/4″ slices, then spread the butter evenly on one side of each slice.
  3. Bake. Lay the buttered bread on a parchment paper lined baking sheet and bake at 375ºF for 8-10 minutes or until crisped to your liking.

What bread to use

I like to use French bread. It has a slightly crispy, flaky crust and takes on that classic soft, buttery center when baked.

If you prefer a heartier, chewier garlic bread, you can use a baguette instead. Keep in mind that different types of bread will cook differently so you may have to adjust the baking time!

Tips and tricks

  • Use real butter, not margarine. It just has a better flavor!
  • Bring the butter to room temperature. Softer butter will incorporate more easily with the other ingredients and have a smoother texture.
  • Use fresh ingredients. I recommend using fresh parsley and fresh garlic for the best flavor.
  • Get creative. Feel free to play around with herbs and spices. Try adding other fresh herbs such as rosemary, basil, oregano, or thyme. Use garlic powder along with fresh garlic for a stronger flavor. Add black pepper for a kick of spice. You really can’t go wrong!
  • Make it cheesy. If you prefer a cheesier garlic bread, layer on shredded mozzarella cheese and broil it until melted.
  • Prep ahead of time. The homemade garlic butter will last for up to a week in the fridge or for up to 6 months in the freezer. Make it ahead of time and keep it on hand so you can whip up this garlic bread quickly and easily anytime!
side angle photo of basket with garlic bread slices

What to serve with garlic bread

This makes the best appetizer next to a side of marinara sauce for dipping. You can also serve it as a side dish next to so many different entrees! Here are a few of my favorites:

How to store leftovers:

Homemade garlic bread is best right away but will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. It can also be wrapped in foil and plastic wrap, then frozen for up to 6 months.

To enjoy again, bake in the oven to warm and re-crisp.

Can garlic bread be cooked from frozen?

It can! If your garlic bread is frozen, you can bake it straight from frozen, just adding time as needed until it’s heated all the way through.

The best way to do this is to flash freeze the slices individually (freeze on the pan for just a couple hours) then pop them into a large freezer bag and take one or two out when you need them.

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Garlic Bread

This homemade Garlic Bread is a classic side dish or appetizer that comes together in just 20 minutes! Sliced French bread is slathered with homemade garlic butter, then baked until soft, buttery, and golden-brown.
Course Appetizer, Bread and Baked Goods
Cuisine American, Italian
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Servings 13 slices
Calories 125cal

Ingredients

  • ½ cup salted butter room temperature (you can use unsalted and add salt)
  • 3 cloves garlic very finely chopped or pureed (about 1 ½ teaspoons fresh or ½ teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley finely chopped
  • 1 tablespoon shredded Parmesan cheese optional
  • 1 loaf French bread

Instructions

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F
  • In a medium bowl, add butter, garlic, parsley and cheese.
  • Beat with an electric mixer on medium speed until combined and creamy. Taste and adjust to your preferences as desired.
  • Slice French bread into 3/4" slices (I get about 12-13 per loaf) and spread the butter evenly on one side of each slice. Lay slices on a parchment lined baking sheet with the butter side up.
  • Bake at 375 degrees F for 8-10 minutes until desired crispness is reached.

Video

Notes

Notes:
  • Use real butter, not margarine. It just has a better flavor!
  • Bring the butter to room temperature. Softer butter will incorporate more easily with the other ingredients and have a smoother texture.
  • Use fresh ingredients. I recommend using fresh parsley and fresh garlic for the best flavor.
  • Get creative. Feel free to play around with herbs and spices. Try adding other fresh herbs such as rosemary, basil, oregano, or thyme. Use garlic powder along with fresh garlic for a stronger flavor. Add black pepper for a kick of spice. You really can’t go wrong!
  • Prep ahead of time. The homemade garlic butter will last for up to a week in the fridge or for up to 6 months in the freezer. Make it ahead of time and keep it on hand so you can whip up this garlic bread quickly and easily anytime!
 
Storage:
Homemade garlic bread is best right away but will last in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days. It can also be wrapped in foil and plastic wrap, then frozen for up to 6 months.
To enjoy again, bake in the oven to warm and re-crisp.

Nutrition

Calories: 125cal | Carbohydrates: 14g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 2g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 16mg | Sodium: 184mg | Potassium: 38mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 201IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 18mg | Iron: 1mg

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French Toast Casserole https://www.thereciperebel.com/french-toast-casserole/ https://www.thereciperebel.com/french-toast-casserole/#comments Tue, 10 Dec 2019 06:26:54 +0000 https://www.thereciperebel.com/?p=14686 French Toast Casserole is perfect for prepping the night before and popping in the oven for a weekend or holiday…

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French Toast Casserole is perfect for prepping the night before and popping in the oven for a weekend or holiday brunch! An overnight French toast bake with cinnamon, vanilla and maple and crispy cinnamon sugar topping.

Love a sweet breakfast? Try this Easy Cinnamon Roll Casserole, this Overnight Peach Cobbler French Toast Casserole or this Overnight Apple Crisp French Toast next!

french toast casserole in glass pan with glaze drizzle from a spoon

We are big breakfast lovers here.

It doesn’t matter if it’s breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner — if breakfast is on the table, we’re all in! There was no struggle to eat when this French Toast Casserole was on the table 😉

Some of our favorites for busy mornings?

Slow Cooker Oatmeal for those mornings we just can’t get it together, these Mini Frittata Muffins for a healthy breakfast or school lunch, and these Healthy Blueberry Oatmeal Muffins for when we are running out the door, whatever the time of day.

But we also love sitting down to a relaxed breakfast or lunch on weekends, holidays, or birthdays — these Whole Wheat Pancakes often make an appearance, and The BEST Cinnamon Buns are a favorite always!

french toast casserole whole drizzled with glaze

Adding to our list of favorites today is this easy French Toast Bake, which I love most because you can prep it completely the night before you need it.

The center is soft and tender like a bread pudding, but I love a sprinkling of cinnamon sugar on mine just for that fun texture!

How to make French Toast Casserole:

  1. Start with your bread — cut it or tear it into small pieces, and throw it into a greased baking dish.
  2. Whisk up your egg mixture, and pour it over top.
  3. Stir up the streusel mixture to throw on top.
  4. At this point, you can refrigerate to bake the next day (if you’re doing this, you may want to leave the streusel and add it in the morning so it stays crunchy), or you can let it sit for a couple hours and bake right away.
  5. Serve warm or at room temperature — my kids even love the leftovers for lunches!
french toast casserole piece with pan and maple syrup in the background

What’s the best bread for French toast?

Stale bread is best for French toast because it’s a little drier, and will soak up that egg mixture before baking.

If I don’t have stale bread, I like to toast slices briefly to dry them out before adding to my pan.

In reality, you can use almost any leftover breads or baking you have to make French toast!

Brioche, or Brioche buns, leftover croissants, donuts, pancakes, cinnamon raisin bread would all be amazing, and I’m all for using up leftover bits before they’ve gone bad.

Variations on this French Toast Casserole:

  • To make this French Toast Casserole dairy free, substitute the dairy milk for almond or coconut milk and be sure that your bread doesn’t contain dairy.
  • You can swap the brown sugar for maple syrup for a maple twist on this French toast bake.
  • Add in chocolate chips, swirls of peanut butter, fresh or frozen berries, chopped bananas, nuts, or chunks of cream cheese if you want! This recipe is really an awesome one for adapting and having fun with. Let your mind go wild!
french toast casserole with syrup drizzle on white plate

What to serve with Baked French Toast:

This French toast recipe doesn’t need much for side dishes, but I love serving it with smoothies (this Healthy Strawberry Smoothie recipe and this Pineapple Smoothie are favorites), or fruit salad (this Creamy Fruit Salad RecipeHawaiian Fruit Salad, and Christmas Fruit Salad are fun ones depending on the season!), to create a more balanced meal.

Coffee is also a must!

Some of our best French Toast recipes:

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French Toast Casserole

French Toast Casserole is perfect for prepping the night before and popping in the oven for a weekend or holiday brunch! An overnight French toast bake with cinnamon, vanilla and maple syrup and crispy cinnamon sugar topping.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 55 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 416.58cal

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf French bread (450g)
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup (or granulated sugar)
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Cinnamon Sugar

  • 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Glaze

  • 1/4 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

  • Lightly grease a 9×9" pan.
  • Cut or tear bread into 1" cubes and place in pan — it will be full and that's okay!
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon and vanilla. Pour over bread in pan, doing your best to evenly distribute the mixture over the bread.
  • Using a spatula, press the bread down into the liquid the best you can.
  • Cinnamon Sugar: In a small bowl, combine sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle over bread.
  • Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
  • Cover (with foil or a lid) and bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes. Remove cover and bake another 15-20 minutes until set in the middle and top is slightly crispy.
  • Glaze: stir together powdered sugar and milk and drizzle over French toast, or serve with syrup, fruit, whipped cream or yogurt as desired.

Notes

*You can bake this in a 9×13″ pan if you prefer, but the casserole will be quite thin and will require reduced baking time.

Nutrition

Calories: 416.58cal | Carbohydrates: 68.16g | Protein: 16.6g | Fat: 8.21g | Saturated Fat: 2.97g | Cholesterol: 222.56mg | Sodium: 446.64mg | Potassium: 280.35mg | Fiber: 2.13g | Sugar: 29.25g | Vitamin A: 382.68IU | Calcium: 150.23mg | Iron: 3.5mg

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Overnight Caramel French Toast https://www.thereciperebel.com/light-overnight-caramel-french-toast/ https://www.thereciperebel.com/light-overnight-caramel-french-toast/#comments Wed, 09 Oct 2019 06:19:04 +0000 https://www.thereciperebel.com/?p=1489 Overnight french toast baked with sticky caramel sauce that you don’t have to feel guilty about! The perfect overnight breakfast…

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Overnight french toast baked with sticky caramel sauce that you don’t have to feel guilty about! The perfect overnight breakfast for any holiday.

overnight caramel french toast on sheet pan with fresh blueberries on the side

It’s our first really cold day here (we’re even expecting snow tonight!) and part of me is ready to sit around the fireplace with a mug of Crockpot Hot Chocolate and the other part of me is longing for a little more fall.

This Overnight Caramel French Toast? It’s going to be doing a lot of consoling this winter.

There are so many good things going on in this overnight French toast, it’s really hard to focus on any point that makes it particularly awesome. There’s just too much to love about it!

baked french toast overhead close up on sheet pan

Love easy breakfasts? Try this Air Fryer French Toast or this French Toast Casserole next!

Why you want to make this Caramel Overnight French Toast:

  1. You can make it ahead — in fact, you need to make it ahead so that the bread can soak up all of that custardy goodness. Which means in the morning you just have to pop it in the oven and there’s literally nothing else to be done.
  2. It’s light — I’m not going to tell you this Caramel French Toast is healthy. But it’s also not as unhealthy as you might expect. For one good thick slice, it’s around 265 calories, complete with crisp caramelized sugar crust and gooey caramel. If that’s not a holiday miracle, I don’t know what is! (For reference, I first snagged this recipe from Cooking Light but have adapted it since then. So if Cooking Light calls this “light” French toast, we go with it).
  3. That crispy caramelized sugar top and gooey bottom are just an epic combination — especially because they sandwich perfectly cooked French Toast.
  4. It’s baked! Which means, no flipping, no wondering if it’s baked. It cooks perfectly in the oven with no extra work on your part.
  5. You can make an extra large batch and bake it on a sheet pan if you’re serving a crowd.
overnight french toast sheet pan before baking on white marble background

We are totally nuts about breakfast here, but we rarely eat a hot breakfast like pancakes or french toast unless we’re eating brunch. Or brinner.

Because who has time for that? When I can finally drag myself out of bed in the morning, it’s for a serious mug of coffee and something to eat, like, now.

I am not about to spend an hour or more slaving over the stove to make a hot breakfast, no matter how badly I want it.

Just waiting 5 minutes for the coffee to brew is hard enough.

So when I stumble upon a solid, make ahead breakfast that everyone loves? It’s a keeper!

What’s the best bread for French toast?

There are a few answers to this question, but what it comes down to is a couple of factors:

  • You want it extra thick sliced — I prefer to buy a loaf of unsliced French bread so I can cut my own. If you use slices that are too thin, they will soak up too much of the liquid and be soggy.
  • You don’t want it too fresh — stale bread that’s been sitting on the counter for a couple of days is best because it’s drier and can soak up more eggy deliciousness. This is a great recipe for using up that leftover bread! (Don’t have stale bread but need some French toast? Pop your slices in the toaster or in the oven on low to dry them out a bit before making your French toast.
caramel french toast stack on white plate with syrup drizzled over top

Tips for making the best baked French toast:

  • Think ahead: french toast is best with stale bread, and a long rest in the fridge to ensure the bread has soaked up all the egg mixture.
  • Use a large enough pan: try not tot squish your bread pieces together or they may not bake evenly
  • Easy removal: the caramel on the bottom can get sticky as it cools. Your best bet for getting nice clean pieces from the pan is to grease your pan and not to wait too long before serving. Also be sure to bake your French toast in the middle of the oven — the heat comes from the bottom element in most cases and if you bake it close to the bottom, your caramel may burn.

*This recipe and post were updated from the original from December 2014.

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Overnight Caramel French Toast

Light Overnight Caramel French Toast: so decadent and super easy! The perfect treat for a relaxing morning.
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings 10 servings
Calories 265cal

Ingredients

  • 10 slices French bread
  • 1 cup brown sugar packed
  • 1/2 cup light corn syrup
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 2 tbsp light or heavy cream
  • 2 1/2 cups low-fat milk
  • 1 tbsp flour
  • 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp salt
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 tbsp sugar
  • 1 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  • Spray a 13×9" baking dish or large rimmed baking sheet with non-stick spray.
  • In a small pot, combine brown sugar, corn syrup and butter. Cook over medium heat until mixture is bubbly, 4-5 minutes, stirring constantly. Stir in cream and pour into prepared baking dish.
  • Arrange bread slices on top of caramel in dish.
  • In a bowl, combine milk, flour, vanilla, salt and eggs with a whisk. Pour over bread. Cover and refrigerate 4 hours or overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
  • Combine sugar and cinnamon and sprinkle evenly over bread. Bake for 45-50 minutes or until golden. Let stand a few minutes before serving.

Nutrition

Calories: 265cal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 8g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 178mg | Sugar: 41g

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Baked Overnight Pumpkin French Toast https://www.thereciperebel.com/baked-overnight-pumpkin-french-toast/ https://www.thereciperebel.com/baked-overnight-pumpkin-french-toast/#comments Tue, 24 Sep 2019 06:00:32 +0000 https://www.thereciperebel.com/?p=5956 This Overnight Pumpkin French Toast is so easy — you can make ahead for holiday gatherings and brunches and bake…

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This Overnight Pumpkin French Toast is so easy — you can make ahead for holiday gatherings and brunches and bake together in one pan! Naturally sweetened and made with real ingredients.

baked pumpkin french toast in glass baking dish with whipped cream syrup and cinnamon sticks

September is here and it’s all pumpkin spice all the time.

I mean, for you pumpkin lovers, that is.

I’m not judging! I have a few in my own house who look forward to it every year.

I, on the other hand, do not.

That being said, I don’t hate it, and I solemnly swear to do my Food Blogger Duty and bring you some awesome pumpkin treats (Pumpkin Pudding Cake, Slow Cooker Pumpkin Spice LattePumpkin Cheesecake Bars Recipe….) in the fall, but I just do not yearn for it like some most people do.

Here are the things we love about this Overnight Pumpkin French Toast:

  1. Breakfast foods are the way to our hearts around here: french toast, pancakes, eggs, waffles — we’ll take them all, please and thank you
  2. Make ahead is the only way to do a holiday breakfast, or really any weekend breakfast. Who’s got the energy to do all that prep in the morning??
  3. The smell as it’s baking in the oven
  4. No flipping! Seriously, so easy you guys.
pumpkin french toast two slices on white plate overhead with whipped cream on plate

With the holidays coming up (yes, they’re coming — and quicker than you think!), make ahead breakfasts that you can bake and serve a lot all at once are essential. I, for one, do not enjoy slaving over a skillet flipping pancakes or french toast while everyone else eats! Tell me I’m not the only one.

Tips for making this Baked Pumpkin French Toast:

This Pumpkin French Toast is seriously so easy, I don’t even have that many tips to share! But I always like to expand a little more in post than in the recipe card just to make sure it turns out exactly the way you want it.

  • Look for pure canned pumpkin, and not pumpkin pie filling. You can swap the pumpkin for pie filling but you may want to omit the syrup and the spices.
  • You want to let the bread sit long enough that it soaks up all of that eggy mixture — this is why it’s best prepped the night before and makes it perfect for holiday brunches!
  • Be sure to slice your own French bread (or grab extra thick sliced bread at the store!), as thin slices will end up with too much moisture and may be soggy. If you only have thin sliced bread, I recommend doubling the bread and baking on a baking sheet or halving the egg mixture.
  • If you’re looking to serve more than 6 (or your 6 are very hungry!), feel free to double the recipe and bake in 2 9×13″ pans or a sheet pan.
  • Want to knock this fall breakfast out of the park? Serve with apple pie filling for the ultimate combo!
two pieces of pumpkin french toast with syrup on white plate

More Make Ahead breakfasts we love!

Watch the Pumpkin French Toast Recipe Video

*The recipe and photos have been updated since the original from August 2016

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Baked Overnight Pumpkin French Toast

This Overnight Pumpkin French Toast is so easy — you can make ahead for holiday gatherings and brunches and bake together in one pan!
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6
Calories 286cal

Ingredients

  • 3 eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup canned pumpkin puree not pie filling
  • 1/4 cup pure maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 6 thick slices French bread

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, pumpkin, syrup, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg until smooth.
  • Place French bread in a single layer in a well-greased 9×13" pan. Pour egg mixture evenly over top. Flip bread and move it around the pan to try to get the egg mixture evenly distributed if necessary (I don't usually!)
  • Cover in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 3 hours or overnight.
  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
  • Remove pan from the refrigerator, uncover and bake for 30-40 minutes until outside is golden brown and insides are set (as per your preference).
  • Serve with whipped cream and maple syrup or as you prefer.

Nutrition

Calories: 286cal | Carbohydrates: 49g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 4g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 85mg | Sodium: 379mg | Potassium: 238mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 12g | Vitamin A: 3360IU | Vitamin C: 0.8mg | Calcium: 106mg | Iron: 3mg

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Crockpot French Toast Recipe https://www.thereciperebel.com/crockpot-french-toast-recipe/ https://www.thereciperebel.com/crockpot-french-toast-recipe/#comments Mon, 22 Oct 2018 06:16:42 +0000 https://www.thereciperebel.com/?p=11991 This Crockpot French Toast is rich and moist and loaded with cinnamon and vanilla flavors — it’s an overnight french…

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This Crockpot French Toast is rich and moist and loaded with cinnamon and vanilla flavors — it’s an overnight french toast casserole that will impress all of your guests!

crockpot french toast overhead in slow cooker overhead with fresh blueberries and raspberries on top

It’s no secret that we love breakfast food around here, regardless what time of the day it is!

This Crockpot French toast is an easy slow cooker breakfast recipe that’s perfect for a lazy Sunday brunch, or a holiday breakfast buffet around Christmas or Thanksgiving. It’s so easy (it has just SIX ingredients!), and you can top it any way you like.

Greek yogurt and fresh fruit.

Warm maple syrup.

Strawberry sauce and whipped cream.

I mean, we could throw a scoop of ice cream on it and call it bread pudding if we wanted to 😉

crockpot french toast with syrup drizzle and fresh raspberries and blueberries on the side

How to make Crockpot French Toast:

The only problem with Crockpot French Toast is that you can’t wake up to it in the morning. An 8 or 10 hour cook time, even on low, would be way too long and you’d end up with dry French toast and a very crusty exterior!

I still like to consider this an overnight Crockpot French Toast because you can prep it completely ahead of time in the slow cooker, store it in the fridge overnight and simply turn it on in the morning.

I prefer to use bread cubes or torn bread instead of slices, because it fits better in the crockpot and you won’t really be able to get a slice out of the slow cooker since it all cooks together anyway.

slice of crockpot french toast being pulled out of slow cooker on metal scoop

Substitutions for this Crockpot French Toast:

  • To make dairy-free: you can simply swap the milk with almond or another dairy-free milk.
  • To make gluten-free: you can simply swap the bread with gluten-free bread of your choice
  • This french toast recipe is naturally vegetarian but not vegan.
  • To make it healthier: you can reduce or leave out the sugar, or substitute with a natural sugar or other sweetener. You can use hearty, whole grain bread which will add more fiber and protein. I use 1% milk, but you can even use skim if you prefer.

How to make this French Toast in the oven:

You can absolutely use this recipe as a base and simply bake it in the oven. You will prepare it just like the recipe notes, but in a 9×9″ baking dish, lightly greased.

Bake for 30-40 minutes at 350 degrees F until completely set.

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Crockpot French Toast

This Crockpot French Toast is rich and moist and loaded with cinnamon and vanilla flavors — it’s an overnight french toast casserole that will impress all of your guests!
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings 6 servings
Calories 385cal

Ingredients

  • 8 slices French bread cubed or torn
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar (honey or maple syrup will also work)
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

  • Grease a 2.5-4 quart crockpot with non stick spray and add the French bread.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, sugar, cinnamon and vanilla and pour over bread cubes. Use a spatula to press down on the bread so that most of the bread is soaked.
  • Cover and refrigerate at least 1-2 hours or up to 24 hours.
  • Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high for 1.5-2 hours, until it looks dry and set in the center (it shouldn’t look gooey).
  • Serve immediately with syrup or as desired.

Nutrition

Calories: 385cal | Carbohydrates: 61g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 169mg | Sodium: 529mg | Potassium: 262mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 335IU | Vitamin C: 0.2mg | Calcium: 145mg | Iron: 4mg

Tried this recipe?

Tag @thereciperebel or hashtag #thereciperebel —
I love to see what you’re making!

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