Overnight French Toast Bake (with Cinnamon Crumble Topping)

This Overnight French Toast Bake is made with cubes of sourdough bread soaked in a creamy custard and topped with a buttery cinnamon crumble. Prep it the night before and bake in the morning for a warm, comforting breakfast that feeds a crowd!

French toast is a timeless breakfast classic, but let’s be honest—standing at the stove dipping and flipping each slice one at a time can get overwhelming when you’re feeding a family or hosting brunch. Enter the French Toast Bake: all the flavor and comfort of traditional French toast, baked into one cozy casserole dish.

This recipe is perfect for holidays, weekend gatherings, or lazy Sunday mornings. You prep it the night before, let the bread soak overnight, then top it with a buttery cinnamon crumble and bake it until golden brown. The result? A soft, custardy inside with a crisp, caramelized topping that tastes like dessert for breakfast.

It’s a dish that feels indulgent yet is surprisingly simple to make. And if you’ve ever wanted a breakfast that makes your house smell like a bakery—this is it.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Overnight Prep – Assemble the night before and simply bake in the morning.

• Feeds a Crowd – One 9x13 pan serves 8–10 people easily.

• Comfort Food at Its Best – Custardy bread with cinnamon sugar topping = pure happiness.

• Versatile – Works with sourdough, brioche, challah, or French bread.

• Customizable – Add berries, nuts, or chocolate chips for different variations.

Ingredient Breakdown

Let’s look at why each ingredient is essential:

For the French Toast Base

• Bread (1 24-ounce loaf, cubed)
  Bread is the heart of this dish. Sourdough adds a slight tang and chewy texture, while brioche or challah creates a rich, buttery flavor. French bread works too. The key is day-old bread, which absorbs the custard without becoming soggy.

• Eggs (8 large)
  Eggs bind the custard together, creating a creamy, pudding-like texture. They’re the classic foundation of French toast.

• Milk (2 cups)
  Balances the richness of the cream and eggs while keeping the custard smooth. Whole milk works best, but 2% will also do.

• Heavy Cream (½ cup)
  Adds indulgent richness and a velvety texture. It’s the secret to that decadent French toast custard.

• Vanilla Extract (1 tablespoon)
  A warm, aromatic note that enhances the custard and adds bakery-style flavor.

• Sugar (¾ cup)
  Sweetens the custard and caramelizes as it bakes. You can use granulated sugar or swap half with maple syrup for extra depth.

For the Cinnamon Crumble Topping

• All-Purpose Flour (½ cup)
  The base for the crumble topping, helping it form little buttery clusters.

• Brown Sugar (½ cup, packed)
  Adds sweetness with molasses undertones, creating that caramel-like topping.

• Cinnamon (1 teaspoon) & Nutmeg (½ teaspoon)
  The warm spices that make this dish scream cozy breakfast. Nutmeg adds depth and pairs beautifully with cinnamon.

• Salt (¼ teaspoon)
  Balances sweetness and enhances flavor.

• Cold Unsalted Butter (½ cup, cubed)
  The glue that brings the crumble together. Cold butter ensures the topping bakes into a crisp, golden streusel.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Ingredients

French Toast Base

• 1 (24-ounce) loaf sourdough, brioche, challah, or French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes

• 8 large eggs

• 2 cups milk

• ½ cup heavy cream

• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

• ¾ cup sugar

Crumble Topping

• ½ cup all-purpose flour

• ½ cup packed light brown sugar

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• ½ teaspoon nutmeg

• ¼ teaspoon salt

• ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes

Directions

1. Prepare the Bread
   Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Cut the bread into 1-inch cubes and scatter evenly in the dish.

2. Make the Custard
   In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, vanilla, and sugar. Pour evenly over the bread, pressing down lightly so all cubes are soaked.

3. Chill Overnight
   Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, ideally overnight. This allows the bread to fully absorb the custard.

4. Make the Crumble Topping
   In a separate bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Cut in the cold butter with a pastry cutter or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Place in a resealable bag and refrigerate overnight.

5. Bake
   Preheat oven to 350°F. Remove casserole from the fridge, uncover, and sprinkle topping evenly over the bread. Bake uncovered for 45–60 minutes. For a softer texture, bake closer to 45 minutes; for a firmer, crispier bake, go for the full hour.

6. Serve
   Let cool slightly before serving. Top with powdered sugar, maple syrup, or fresh berries.

Tips for Perfect French Toast Bake

• Use Sturdy Bread – Fluffy sandwich bread will turn mushy. Day-old bread works best.

• Soak Overnight – This gives the bread time to absorb custard fully, creating the best texture.

• Cold Butter for Topping – Warm butter will melt into the mixture instead of forming crumbly clusters.

• Customize the Topping – Add chopped pecans, walnuts, or oats for extra crunch.

• Don’t Skip the Resting Time – Letting the casserole cool for 10 minutes after baking helps it set before cutting.

Serving Suggestions

This dish is already incredible, but here are some ways to make it shine:

• Classic: Drizzle with maple syrup and dust with powdered sugar.

• Fresh & Fruity: Top with strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries.

• Decadent: Serve with whipped cream or a scoop of vanilla ice cream (dessert for breakfast!).

• Savory Contrast: Pair with bacon, sausage, or scrambled eggs for a balanced brunch.

Storage & Reheating

• Refrigerator: Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

• Freezer: Wrap tightly in foil or store in freezer-safe containers for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge.

• Reheat: Bake at 325°F until warmed through or microwave individual portions.

Variations

• Berry French Toast Bake – Add 1 cup fresh or frozen berries between the bread layers before chilling.

• Pumpkin Spice French Toast Bake – Add ½ cup pumpkin puree and 1 teaspoon pumpkin spice to the custard.

• Chocolate Chip French Toast Bake – Sprinkle chocolate chips over the bread before adding the custard.

• Nutty Crumble Topping – Add ½ cup chopped pecans or walnuts to the streusel for crunch.

Why You Will Love This Dish

• It’s a make-ahead recipe that saves stress on busy mornings.

• It feeds a crowd without the need to stand over the stove.

• It’s versatile, easily adapted to holidays, brunch, or everyday mornings.

• It’s comforting, with warm cinnamon spice and buttery crumble.

• It makes your kitchen smell like heaven.

If you try this Overnight French Toast Bake, I’d love to see your creation! Snap a photo and tag me on Instagram @CookSnapBake so I can share your masterpiece.

Yield: 8-10

Author: CookSnapBake.com

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Overnight French Toast Bake with Cinnamon Crumble Topping

This Overnight French Toast Bake is made with cubes of sourdough bread soaked in a creamy custard and topped with a buttery cinnamon crumble. Prep it the night before and bake in the morning for a warm, comforting breakfast that feeds a crowd!

Prep time: 20 MinTotal time: 20 Min

Ingredients

• French Toast Base
• 1 (24-ounce) loaf sourdough, brioche, challah, or French bread
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups milk
• ½ cup heavy cream
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• ¾ cup sugar
• Crumble Topping
• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup packed brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ teaspoon nutmeg
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• ½ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed

Instructions

1. Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish. Cut bread into cubes and scatter in dish.
2. Whisk eggs, milk, cream, vanilla, and sugar. Pour evenly over bread. Press down lightly.
3. Cover and refrigerate overnight (or at least 4 hours).
4. Mix flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Cut in butter until crumbly. Refrigerate overnight.
5. Preheat oven to 350°F. Sprinkle topping evenly over bread.
6. Bake 45–60 minutes, uncovered.
7. Cool for 10 minutes before serving. Top with syrup, berries, or powdered sugar.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @cooksnapbake on instagram and hashtag it #Overnight French Toast Bake

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