Overnight French Toast Casserole is an easy make-ahead breakfast recipe perfect for easy weekend mornings or to feed a crowd.
Warmer weather makes it easy to pop things on the grill without much effort. It saves lots of prep time and clean-up for lunch and dinner.
Breakfast should be just as easy shouldn’t it?
What could start a day better than overnight French toast in a make ahead breakfast casserole?!
This Overnight French Toast Breakfast Casserole is dressed in red, white and blue perfect for summer holidays too.
An Easy Breakfast Recipe
This family favorite recipe is perfect when hosting a houseful. Or to have a Sunday brunch feel without the slaving to make it happen.
A make-ahead breakfast casserole is the ticket, especially when it can be made the night before.
I originally shared a holiday version of this eggnog (Overnight Strawberry-Eggnog French Toast Breakfast Casserole).
It makes breakfast festive and delicious with a special holiday flavor signature of eggnog. Perfect for Christmas morning!
This version is perfect for the Memorial Day weekend (or July 4th) with a little bit of red, white and blue!
Mouthwatering ingredients like strawberry preserves, cream cheese and fresh berries will make this a new favorite!
A Make Ahead Breakfast Casserole
There are many things that make this overnight French toast casserole a perfect choice any day of the year!
The combination of the baguette, strawberry preserves, Neufchatel (light cream cheese) and an egg-milk mixture does not become soggy overnight.
Instead, it bakes up with a crunchy, toasted bread top covering a bread pudding underneath.
Candidly my family is happy to nosh on this for any meal of snack when I make it.
The flavors are irresistible, homey and comforting.
The custardy texture of the bottom layer makes for a comfort food breakfast recipe you’ll love.
Easily made either with gluten or gluten-free bread.
Overnight French Toast Casserole Ingredients
The ingredients in this make ahead breakfast casserole are creamy, fresh and delicious!
- Strawberry Preserves
- French bread baguette
- Neufchatel Cheese or lower fat Cream Cheese
- large Eggs
- Half and Half
- Nutmeg
- Vanilla Extract
- Light Brown Sugar
- Fresh Raspberries
- Fresh Blueberries
Frozen, thawed berries may be substituted!
A Good Baguette Is Key for a great Overnight French Toast Casserole
The texture of a baguette as opposed to regular bread is the secret to this delicious recipe!
Using a baguette allows soaking overnight and maintaining its structure (though the bottom layer softens when baking in an appealing way). The top crisps perfectly.
Traditional bread would not provide the same result!
The fantastic result is due to the texture of the outside layer of the baguette. It has a firmer testure and covers more surface area of the bread.
How to Make Overnight French Toast Casserole – Step by Step:
This make ahead breakfast casserole could not be easier. Just 15 minutes is all it takes to put this overnight french toast together!
- Butter a 13-inch by 9-inch baking pan.
- Briefly microwave the Strawberry preserves to achieve a consistency that can be drizzled.
- Add half of the cubed baguette in a single layer to the prepared 9-inch by 13-inch baking dish.
- Spread the cubed Neufchatel or lower fat cream cheese evenly over the bread.
- Evenly drizzle the preserves over the bread cubes. Add the remaining bread is spread on top.
- Whisk together the eggs, spices and half and half and pour the egg mixture evenly over the top of the bread.
- Evenly distribute the berries and brown sugar over the top.
- Seal the casserole and refrigerate overnight or up to 24 hours.
- Bake the casserole for 20 minutes covered and an additional 10-15 uncovered.
- After cooling for a few minutes the Overnight French Toast Casserole is served with warm syrup!
Lightly dust with powdered sugar if desired.
More Easy Crowd-Pleasing Breakfast Recipe:
- Christmas Breakfast Enchilada Casserole: an Easy Breakfast Casserole All Year Round!
- Overnight Gluten-Free English Muffin Breakfast Casserole
- Overnight Lemon Muffin Breakfast Trifles
- Raspberry Mocha French Vanilla Overnight Oats
- Golden Oven-Baked Pancake Topped with Sauteed Peaches
- Pumpkin French Toast Casserole with Praline Sauce
- Baked French Toast with Croissants
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Recipe
Overnight French Toast Casserole in Red, White and Blue
Ingredients
- 1 cup Strawberry Preserves
- 9 cups French bread baguette cut into 1 ½ inch cubes (approximately one 13 ounce baguette) I used 3 Udi’s gluten-free French Baguette
- 1 8-ounce package Neufchatel Cheese or lower fat Cream Cheese , cut into 1/2-inch cubes
- 4 large Eggs
- 2 cups Half and Half
- 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg , freshly grated if possible
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
- ¼ cup Light Brown Sugar
- 1 cup fresh Raspberries (frozen and thawed berries may be used)
- 1 cup fresh Blueberries (frozen and thawed berries may be used)
Instructions
- Lightly butter a 13x9 inch baking dish.
- Place the strawberry preserves in a bowl and microwave for a minute until they are fluid enough to drizzle; set aside.
- Spread half of the bread cubes in a single layer on the bottom of the prepared pan.
- Evenly distribute the Neufchatel or cream cheese cubes over the bread. Drizzle the warmed preserved evenly over the bread and Neufchatel.
- Distribute the remaining bread cubes over the top of the mixture.
- Whisk together the eggs, half and half, nutmeg and vanilla. Pour evenly over the casserole.
- Sprinkle the berries over the top of the casserole, followed by the brown sugar. Seal tightly with plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator overnight or up to 24 hours.
- Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Remove the casserole from the refrigerator, cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered an additional 10-15 minutes until the casserole sets at the bottom.
Note: if needed place the foil loosely back onto the top of the casserole for the last 5 minutes so the bread does not over brown. - Remove from oven allow to cool for a few minutes and serve. May be served as with traditional French toast with syrup if desired (it's great and sweet enough without it too!)
Tamara G. Suttle says
OMG! Such an easy, beautiful and delicious recipe! This is my most favorite breakfast casserole. I found your recipe In early November 2023 and I’ve made it and given it as gifts at least 5-6 times. Thank you so much for sharing!
Toni Dash says
I’m so glad!! I love a delicious recipe that’s easy lol. It’s my goal in my kitchen life! Glad it’s worked for you too!
Sommer says
Love how festive this is! Can’t wait to make it for the upcoming holidays.
Suzy says
Perfect for Memorial Day!
Krystle says
This is just what I’ve been searching for. It looks perfect for holidays!
Krystle says
PS I’d love to know what you use for the top of your posts for the publish/update date. Would you please share?
Sam says
Such a delicious summer recipe. Everyone in the family loved it.