This Overnight French Toast Casserole is the perfect breakfast casserole for Christmas morning.  Thick slices of French bread get soaked overnight in a rich sweet egg mixture.  The next morning it gets topped with a delicious pecan praline topping, baked, and served warm with syrup.  What a perfect Christmas morning treat!!

If you have overnight guests during the holidays, you probably rack your brain, wondering what you can feed them for breakfast.  I’ll bet you rise early to sneak into the kitchen with the hopes that your guests will sleep in until you’ve had time to prepare breakfast.  And then it happens…5 minutes later…here they come, one by one.  Now you’re trying to prepare breakfast for hungry guests who are crowded around you trying to reminisce.  You’re trying to actively engage in the conversation, while secretly feeling stressed and ready to pull your hair out.  That’s exactly why I’m excited to share this Overnight French Toast Casserole recipe with you.

Prep the casserole the night or even the day before.  The next morning, add a quick pecan praline topping and bake for 45 minutes, before serving it up with some warm syrup!

The Bread

I used 2 loaves of French bread for this recipe.  However, any sturdy bread will work.  You might prefer Challah or Sour Dough.  Use the bread of your choice as long as it’s dense enough to soak up lots of that eggy mixture without falling apart.

Prep the bread

  1. Slice the bread into about 18 to 20 slices, about 3/4-inch in thickness.  Don’t use the end pieces.  You should have plenty of bread with some leftover.
  2.  Arrange the bread slices in two rows in the buttered dish, overlapping the slices.

INGREDIENTS NEEDED FOR THE SWEET EGG MIXTURE

  • 8 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups half & half
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt

MAKE THE SWEET EGG MIXTURE

  1. Add the eggs to a large mixing bowl and whisk until they are foamy and light and lemony in color.  Add the half & half, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.  Whisk until well combined.
  2. Pour the mixture evenly over the bread slices, making sure to cover all of the bread. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

The Pecan Praline Topping

MAKE THE PECAN PRALINE TOPPING (THE NEXT MORNING) This takes 5 minutes!

INGREDIENTS

  • 2 sticks real unsalted butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 cups pecans, coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

PREP THE PECAN PRALINE TOPPING

  1. Add all of the topping ingredients to a medium bowl and mix to combine.
  2. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the casserole.
  3. Bake until golden brown on top, approximately 40 minutes.

Serve this delicious breakfast casserole with warm syrup!

More quick and easy breakfast recipes you might like…

Sour Cream Buttermilk Pancakes

Soft & Tender Buttermilk Drop Biscuits

Buttermilk Pancakes with Cherry Compote

Classic French Toast  

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Overnight French Toast Casserole

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  • Author: Cindy Gibbs
  • Prep Time: 30 minutes
  • Cook Time: 40 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes
  • Yield: 10 servings 1x
  • Category: breakfast/brunch
  • Method: bake
  • Cuisine: American
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Description

This Overnight French Toast Casserole is the perfect breakfast casserole for Christmas morning.  Thick slices of French bread get soaked overnight in a rich sweet egg mixture.  The next morning it gets topped with a delicious pecan praline topping, baked, and served warm with syrup.  What a perfect Christmas morning treat!!

Ingredients

Units Scale

CASSEROLE

  • 2 16–ounce loaves French bread
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups half & half
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • Syrup for serving

PECAN PRALINE TOPPING

  • 2 sticks real unsalted butter, melted
  • 3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
  • 2 cups pecans, coarsely chopped
  • 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
  • 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Instructions

CASSEROLE

  1. Generously butter a 9 x 13 baking or casserole dish.
  2. Slice the bread into about 18 to 20 slices, about 3/4-inch in thickness.  Don’t use the end pieces.  You should have plenty of bread with some leftover.  Arrange the bread slices in two rows in the buttered dish, overlapping the slices.  Set aside.
  3. Add the eggs to a large mixing bowl and whisk until they are foamy and light and lemony in color.  Add the half & half, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.  Whisk until well combined.
  4. Pour the mixture evenly over the bread slices, making sure to cover all of the bread. Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.

PECAN PRALINE TOPPING (make the next morning)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and remove the casserole from the refrigerator.

  1. Add all of the topping ingredients to a medium bowl and mix to combine.  Sprinkle the topping evenly over the casserole.  Bake until golden brown on top, approximately 40 minutes.
  2. Serve warm with syrup.