Overnight French Toast Casserole is an easy make-ahead breakfast recipe perfect for easy weekend mornings or to feed a crowd.
Updated May 17, 2018
I love a long weekend especially when I have special recipes on hand to make it easier and more fun.
My priority is spending time with friends and family, not slaving in the kitchen. Warmer weather makes it easy to pop things on the grill without much effort, saving 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?!
I’m sharing a family favorite today that is perfect when hosting a houseful or just wanting 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.
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!
Overnight French Toast – An Any Day Favorite Breakfast
Easily made either with gluten or gluten-free bread, the combination of the baguette, strawberry preserves, Neufchatel (light cream cheese) and an egg-milk mixture does not become soggy overnight as one might imagine.
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 flavor is irresistible. The homey flavor of strawberry preserves combined with the tangy light cream cheese, nutmeg, brown sugar and berries with the custardy texture of the bottom layer for a comfort food breakfast recipe you’ll love.
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!
It allows the overnight soaking and still holds it’s structure (though the bottom layer softens when baking in an appealing way), and the top crisps perfectly.
Traditional bread would not provide the same result largely due to the texture of the outside layer of the baguette which is firmer 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 evenly over the top of the bread.
- Evenly distribute the berries and brown sugar over the top.
- Seal the casserole and chill 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!
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
If you’ve tried this Overnight French Toast Casserole recipe RATE THE RECIPE below!
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Overnight French Toast Casserole in Red, White and Blue
Total Time NOTE: the time noted is for compiling the casserole and cooking ;it does not include the chilling time.
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!)
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers says
This looks delicious, Toni and perfect for a long weekend treat!
sue|theviewfromgreatisland says
This is brilliant, I can’t wait to try it with my farmers market berries!
Tricia @ Saving room for dessert says
Very nice Toni – I don’t know why I haven’t made an overnight french toast – but you have inspired me! Hope you have a wonderful holiday weekend – Happy Memorial Day! Great photos 🙂
Joann Woolley says
I love french toast and I love berries and I love breakfast casseroles…. this seems to have my name written all over it! Pinning!
Kennedy Cole@KCole's Creative Corner says
I’m so going to make this for 4th of July. This looks delicious, and I love bread pudding. Especially this one, I love the fresh berries!
Adrianne says
My sons love french toast, so I’ll definitely have to try this recipe out! It looks so quick and easy to make. Win/Win for me!
Colleen says
That is so perfect for my family! I’m always rushed so being able to throw something together the night before is awesome!
Jules Shepard says
So pretty (and patriotic!). Looking forward to giving this a try.
Kim Croisant says
I see some yummy berries in there. I think this is even easy enough for my 8 yr old to make. Thanks!!
Melissa Chapman says
A great breakfast and it has great nutrtional value. Fruit, eggs and bread make it a dish everyone could love and even gluten free.
Stacie says
How yummy! I love the flavors here, and I love that I can make it the night before and have it ready to go in the morning. LOVE this!
Bill Sweeney says
Our family loves French toast. This will make for a great way to start celebrating the 4th of July.
Jaclyn Anne says
French Toast Casserole is pretty much my favorite breakfast ever. EVER! I never thought to make it with berries though – thank you for much for the recipe!
Lisa Favre says
First and foremost, your food photography is absolutely stunning. Also, this recipe is just oh-so perfect for summer!
Toni Dash says
Thank you Lisa! That made my day. And yes this is perfect for summer! I love an easy breakfast recipe that’s filling and out of the norm.
Sherry says
I love this idea for breakfast. This weekend is our first long holiday weekend of the “summer” in Canada. We celebrate Victoria Day on Monday. I will have to do mine red and white.
Toni Dash says
Since the bread is already white you could swap out the blueberries for more raspberries or something else!
Jeni Hawkins says
That’s SO pretty! I love this for breakfast or brunch, but would honestly eat it as breakfast for dinner, too!
Great thing to take to a 4th of July pot luck, as well!
Reesa Lewandowski says
I want a big scoop of this!! It must be amazing with all of the fresh berries in season now too!
Gena says
That is just beautiful! My kids would adore that recipe!
Dina says
This is truly a festive idea for a breakfast casserole. I am in love with the colors, they make me really want to whip this up for Sunday breakfast for the family.
Theresa says
How patriotic! I would love to serve this up on Memorial Day or even Independence Day this year.
Krystel | Travel on a Budget says
I cannot for the life of me eat soggy anything so I’m really happy for that disclaimer. Would love to try this!
Toni Dash says
‘Soggy’ is creepy. I totally get it.
Jodi says
Oh my gosh, that looks so amazing!! I have to make that for the family. It would be a great weekday breakfast for the kids too before school … although school is done next week! A great summer breakfast too!
Kristi says
Looks delicious and you always have such great ideas. This would be perfect for when we have out of town company in a couple of weeks.
Carol Cassara says
I’ve always loved French toast and this looks perfect! Just what the fam would enjoy for breakfast. Love that it’s topped with berries as well!
Letty says
Very interesting recipe.
Bianca Dottin says
This looks delicious! I’ve never thought of making french toast overnight but this looks super easy.
how to make slime says
This sounds so good!! Can’t wait to try it!
Patricia @ Grab a Plate says
Ooo! What a lovely dish! I love all the berries (and preserves) and how the overnight prep makes life easier!
Demeter says
This looks so delicious! Totally worth getting out of bed for!
Anna says
This casserole is so pretty and delicious!
Jamielyn says
Yum!! This is perfect for brunch on the weekends!
Krista says
This is a great breakfast option! Looks tasty!
TidyMom says
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day…….and any kind of french toast always tops the list! Can’t wait to make this!
Erin | Dinners,Dishes and Dessert says
This looks really delicious! A perfect weekend treat!