Overnight Overnight Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole combines the best parts about cinnamon rolls and French toast into an easy make-ahead breakfast!
These easy and delicious breakfasts make life easier: Extra Super Fluffy Blueberry Pancakes, Baked Croissant Breakfast Sandwiches, and Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Muffins.
I love a good holiday breakfast or brunch recipe that requires minimal work and packs maximum deliciousness! I’ve been testing out breakfast recipes for Christmas morning this year and I’m telling you right here, right now, this baked French toast is the winner. Not only is it so very tasty, but the making it the night before part really cinches it for me. I want to spend time with my family Christmas morning, not in the kitchen!
Why This Recipe Works
Universally loved – Everyone goes crazy for this French toast casserole, even my super picky twins, and that is saying something because normally the only breakfast food they will eat is cereal, peanut butter toast, and waffles. (And we’re not talking about my favorite homemade, super fluffy Belgian-style waffles, we are talking frozen waffles.)
Make Ahead – I’m always a huge fan of recipes you can make ahead of the actual event because whatever it is, Christmas morning, a picnic, dinner with friends, you want to enjoy the moment like everyone else, not be stuck in the kitchen making food.
Hard to mess up – This recipe is nearly foolproof! The trick is using that thick-cut Texas toast (the thicker the bread, the less chance it has of being too soggy in the morning). Then it’s as easy as layering it up with the yummy cinnamon/sugar goodness as you go, covering, popping in the fridge and voila – breakfast is served!
Easy clean up – Not much clean-up is involved with this overnight French toast bake. You can put all the prep tools in the dishwasher the night before, and the morning of, I just put the pan in the sink to soak for a bit and wash it later. Easy, peasy.
Here’s How You Make It
Making this easy French toast casserole takes only 55 minutes, and that includes prep the night before! The night before: Prepping the French toast bake
- First, cut the Texas toast into 1-inch cubes and add about half of them to a prepared, 9″ x 13″ baking pan (look for one that’s at least 2 inches deep around the edges).
- In a small bowl, mix together the ¼ cup of sugar, ¼ cup of brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon. Sprinkle this sugar mixture over the bread cubes you’ve put in the baking pan.
- Add the rest of the bread cubes to the pan. In another bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, vanilla, and sugar. Pour this over the top of the cubes, as evenly as possible.
- Cover the pan with plastic wrap and put in the fridge up to 8 hours or overnight.
The morning of:
5. Remove the pan from the fridge about an hour before you want to serve it. Preheat the oven to 350. Uncover the pan. Sprinkle the top with more cinnamon and sugar, then drizzle all over with melted butter.
6. Put the overnight French toast casserole in the oven and bake for 35-45 minutes until browned and the bread is baked through.
7. While the casserole bakes, make the cream cheese glaze by mixing together cream cheese, butter, vanilla, powdered sugar, and milk. Drizzle this glaze over the slightly cooled casserole after you pull it out of the oven.
- Serve!
Why Is My French Toast Casserole Soggy?
If your overnight French toast bake is coming out of the oven soggy it could be due to one of two issues:
- You’ve soaked the bread too long. I don’t know how long you sleep but for me overnight is about 8 hours. Don’t make this right after dinner then bake it the following morning at 8 am. Think about popping this in the fridge right before you go to bed, 8 hours max.
- You cooked it at too low of a temperature. 350 should be the perfect temperature. Check it after 35 minutes to see if it’s baked, and then about every 5 minutes thereafter till it’s reached the perfect amount of doneness for you.
Expert Tips
- Do use a very thick bread for this French toast casserole. I like to use thick-sliced Texas-style toast. If you can’t find it, I suggest purchasing a whole loaf of bread, like an Italian loaf. That way you can cut it into 1-inch pieces yourself. If you don’t like the idea of crust in your French toast bake, cut that off first before cutting the rest of the bread into cubes.
- Leftover casserole will keep in the fridge for up to 3 days. I recommend warming it back up in the oven for best results. Freezing this dish will cause the bread to be soggy and gross when rewarmed; I do not recommend it.
If you like this recipe, you’ll love my classic French Toast Casserole recipe!
Overnight Cinnamon Roll French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 12 slices thick Texas-style white bread - very soft, very thick white bread – often called “Texas Toast”
- 2 cups milk - (I usually use Fat Free Half & Half)
- 6 large eggs
- 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3 tablespoons sugar
Topping
- ½ cup sugar - divided
- ¼ cup packed brown sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons ground cinnamon - divided
- 6 tablespoons melted butter
Icing
- 2 ounces cream cheese - softened
- 3 tablespoons butter - softened
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 4-6 tablespoons milk - as needed
- 4-5 cups powdered sugar
Instructions
Night Before
- Cut bread into 1-inch cubes. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking pan/casserole dish and layer half of the bread cubes in the pan. In a small bowl mix together 1/4 cup sugar, 1/4 cup brown sugar, and 1 tablespoon of cinnamon (I use a fork for this). Sprinkle mixture over bread cubes in the pan.
- Layer remaining half of the bread cubes over the top. Whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla, and sugar. Pour over the bread cubes (being sure to pour over all of the cubes, not just right in the middle). Cover tightly with plastic wrap and chill overnight in the fridge.
Morning Of
- Mix together remaining 1/4 cup sugar and 1/2 tablespoon (about 2 teaspoons) cinnamon and sprinkle mixture over the top of the bread cubes. Drizzle melted butter over the top. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes until browned and bread is baked through.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes until browned and bread is baked through. While French toast is baking, prepare the icing.
- Cream together cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Mix in vanilla and 4 tablespoons milk. Gradually mix in powdered sugar until completely incorporated. Add 1-2 tablespoons of milk if needed to make icing pourable. Pour over slightly cooled French toast casserole and serve.
This sounds absolutely delicious! While i don’t normally eat such sweet stuFf who can resist cinnamoN roles? I will definitely try this for Christmas morning and can spot a keeper when i see one. I have Tried several recipes from this site and loved every one.
Hi how do you think this would go serVed cold as picnic item?
Hi Marianne — I definitely prefer it warm, but it could be delicious cold as well. Let me know how it goes.
I did it and althoUgh i’m sure it is better warm, it was well recEived!
I had tRouble getting the center to cook?! Altho the tip was crispy the middle was still sof. Any hints to get ot cooked through??
If you want you could try covering with foil and cook it longer to keep the top from getting overdone and the center will firm up more.
Made most of your dishes for Thanksgiving. All of your data she’s for Christmas and am now making your overnights get Cinnamom Roll French Toast Casserole. Everything turned out Tasty and easy to make.
So thrilled to hear you’ve been back so many times this holiday season, Veronika!! Thank you so much. Happy (and tasty 😉 ) Holidays to you!
Hi! What is the MINIMUM amount of time that the bread should soak? I’m thinking of making this for dinner and not overnight. Thanks!
I recommend 8 hours but maybe you could get away with 4-6 but I haven’t tested this out myself.