This Sourdough French Toast Casserole is an easy recipe for a weekend brunch or when you're hosting guests! It's light and fluffy with a custard-like layer on the bottom and a crispy topping sprinkled with brown sugar and pecans.
This recipe can be made as a same-day or overnight recipe, and is a fantastic way to use up any slightly stale sourdough bread. You can make this recipe with store-bought sourdough bread or homemade sourdough bread! Try it with this Easy Sourdough Bread or this Sourdough Discard Brioche Bread.
Why you'll love this recipe
- This easy recipe comes together with less than 15 minutes of hands-on time and can be made as a same-day or overnight recipe if you want to prep in advance!
- This French toast is light and fluffy with a custard-like base and a crispy topping of brown sugar and pecans.
- This is a great way to use up your slightly stale or leftover sourdough bread (either homemade or store-bought).
- Try it with this Easy Sourdough Bread or this Sourdough Discard Brioche Bread!
- Sourdough French Toast Casserole is a perfect breakfast or brunch recipe to feed a crowd with minimal effort!
- Looking for a smaller portion? Try this Sourdough French Toast.
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Ingredients
There are only a few key ingredients you'll need to bring this French toast casserole together.
- Sourdough bread: This can be homemade or store-bought, and it can be fresh or slightly stale. You can also make this recipe with a different type of bread if you prefer.
- Want to make a loaf specifically for French toast? Try my Easy Sourdough Bread, Easy Sourdough Discard Bread, or this Sourdough Discard Brioche Bread.
- Pecans or walnuts: These are optional, but they give a really great flavor and great crunch to the finished French toast!
See full recipe below for detailed directions.
Substitutions & Variations
This is a very adaptable recipe and below are a few easy substitutions and variations you can try.
- Use store-bought bread - Make this recipe with homemade bread or store-bought, both will be delicious!
- Change up your toppings - Customize your French toast casserole with different toppings such as maple syrup, fresh fruits, chopped nuts, chocolate chips, and more!
- Make a classic Sourdough French Toast - Looking for a smaller portion? Try my Sourdough French Toast!
How to Make Sourdough French Toast Casserole
There are only a few key steps to bring this recipe together. The full recipe with detailed directions is at the bottom of this post.
- Step 1: Spread the cubed sourdough bread evenly into the baking dish.
- Step 2: Mix together the ingredients for the egg mixture.
- Step 3: Carefully pour the egg mixture over the bread, making sure every piece is moistened. Cover and let rest for at least 30-60 minutes.
- Step 4: Combine the ingredients for the topping.
- Step 5: Sprinkle the topping over the soaked bread.
- Step 6: Bake until browned and the eggs have firmed. Let rest for 10 minutes before serving.
Expert Baking Tips
- Cut your bread into roughly 1-inch cubes. Smaller or larger will work, too, you just want to make sure everything gets coated in the egg mixture!
- Use store-bought sourdough bread if you're in a pinch. Or if you have some slightly stale bread in your kitchen, this is a great time to use it.
- Let the bread soak in the egg mixture for at least 30-60 minutes (longer is better!). You can even let it soak overnight.
- Top your French toast casserole with your favorite toppings! I like to use butter and maple syrup, or some fresh berries with powdered sugar.
- Looking for more easy brunch recipes? Try these Sourdough Lemon Blueberry Scones, these Sourdough Discard Waffles, and these Sourdough Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins.
Making Overnight French Toast Casserole
To make this as an overnight recipe, once you've poured the egg mixture on top of the bread cubes, cover the dish and place it in the refrigerator overnight (up to 12 hours). This gives the bread even more time to soak up the egg mixture and develop an even deeper flavor.
Storage
Room Temperature Storage: You can store leftover French toast casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave for 30-60 seconds before adding your toppings.
Freezer Storage: I recommend freezing French toast casserole in individual portions in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. Let it thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating in the microwave in the morning.
Recipe FAQs
They're accurate! I use the metric measurements for my own baking, especially with the flour and sourdough discard, so I recommend you do the same! There can be such a huge variation in cups measurements, particularly for those two ingredients.
Yes! Any type of bread will work, but bread that holds its shape and has a nice crust will be the best for soaking up the egg mixture (this is why sourdough is so great).
More Easy Sourdough Breakfast Recipes
If you tried this Sourdough French Toast Casserole or any other recipe on my website, please leave a ⭐ star rating and let me know how it went in the comments below. I'd love to hear from you! Happy Baking!
Sourdough French Toast Casserole
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 cups cubed sourdough bread
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter melted
- 2 ½ cups milk non-dairy or regular dairy
- 8 eggs
- ¼ cup brown sugar packed
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
For the Topping
- 6 Tablespoons unsalted butter cold, cubed
- ¾ cup brown sugar packed
- ¾ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¾ cup pecans or walnuts chopped (optional)
Instructions
- Brush a 9x13-inch baking dish with melted butter. Be sure to coat the sides as well as the bottom.
- Cut your sourdough bread into roughly 1-inch cubes. Spread the bread cubes in the baking dish.
- In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs, brown sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until combined. Slowly pour the egg mixture over top of the cubed bread, coating each piece of bread in the mixture. If needed, use a spoon or your hands to gently press the bread into the egg mixture so that it has all been moistened.
- Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and let sit at room temperature for at least 30-60 minutes. During this time, the bread will soak up a majority of the egg mixture. If you are going to let the dish sit for more than 2 hours, put it in the refrigerator. You can also put the dish in the refrigerator overnight at this point (for up to 12 hours), then continue the next day.
- Preheat the oven to 375℉ (190℃).
- Make the topping. In a medium bowl, combine the cubed butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Using your hands, combine the mixture and smash the butter cubes until they're incorporated and roughly pea-sized. Mix in the chopped pecans or walnuts. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the soaked bread.
- Bake for 45-50 minutes until browned, and the eggs have set. A knife inserted in the center should come out clean. Let the casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving with your favorite toppings.
Jessica Vogl says
So delicious and perfect for breakfast for a crowd! I'm absolutely making this the next time we're hosting family for the weekend!