French Toast Bake

Enjoying a plate of baked French toast casserole.

This easy make-ahead brunch or breakfast provides layers of cinnamon French toast with a crusty crumb top for the ultimate comfort food. You can make it the night before or bake it right away.

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Prep Time 10

Cook Time 45

Soaking Time 4

Total Time 4 55

Servings

Calories 435kcal

Author Imma

Ingredients

1 14-ounce loaf bread, cut into chunks (7-8 cups)
7-8 eggs
1 cup (236ml) coconut milk
1 cup (236ml) milk
½ cup (120ml) coquito (or sub with heavy cream)
⅓ cup (65g) sugar
⅓ cup (65g) brown sugar
2 teaspoons (10ml) vanilla extract
1-1½ teaspoons (3-4g) cinnamon
¼-½ teaspoon (1g) nutmeg

Topping

¾ cup (90g) all-purpose flour
½ cup (110g) brown sugar
1 teaspoon (3g) cinnamon
¼-½ teaspoon (1g) nutmeg
¼ teaspoon (1g) salt
½ cup (113g) butter, very cold and cut into pieces

Syrup

2 tablespoons (28g) butter
½ cup (120g) maple syrup
1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla extract
1 tablespoon (15ml) bourbon or rum
¼ teaspoon (1g) salt (optional)

Instructions

Spray or generously grease a 9"×13" baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
Place the bread cubes evenly into the prepared baking dish, and set aside.
Whisk the eggs, coconut milk, coquito, milk, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, nutmeg, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl until everything is thoroughly combined.
Pour the mixture evenly over the bread, pressing down if needed so that everything is soaked with the egg mixture.
Let it sit for 4 hours or preferably overnight. You could bake it right away if you're short on time, but the egg mixture might not thoroughly soak into the bread.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350℉ (180℃).
Next, combine the topping ingredients, flour, the sugars, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, and butter, until crumbly, then sprinkle it evenly over the bread mixture.
Bake for 45-50 minutes or until the top becomes golden brown. It should be crispy on the outside and soft inside.
While the casserole is baking, melt the butter for the syrup in a small saucepan over medium heat.
Once melted, add the maple syrup and stir for 3-4 minutes, or until the syrup is heated.
Remove it from the heat and stir in the vanilla, salt, and bourbon. Set aside and serve with casserole.
Remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to cool slightly. Drizzle the entire casserole with the syrup or allow guests to drizzle it over their portions.

Notes

Want French toast for two? Cut the recipe in half and make it in a loaf pan instead of a casserole dish.
If at any time the French toast bake starts looking like it's browning too much on top, cover it with aluminum foil for the remainder of the bake time.
Please remember that the nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary significantly based on the products used in the recipe.

Nutrition