Easy Overnight French Toast Bake (Perfect for Christmas Morning)

Hi, I’m Hannah! There is a unique magic to Christmas morning—the quiet excitement, the cozy pajamas, the happy chaos of presents. The last thing I want to do is miss out on those moments because I’m stuck in the kitchen. My favorite ‘good habit’ for a relaxed holiday morning is to prepare a special breakfast the night before. This Easy Overnight French Toast Bake is my gift to myself. I assemble it on Christmas Eve, and in the morning, I just pop it in the oven. The whole house fills with the warm scent of cinnamon and maple, and we get to enjoy a delicious, crowd-pleasing breakfast with zero morning stress.

Why You’ll Love This Overnight French Toast Bake

• The Ultimate Make-Ahead Breakfast: This is the key. You do all the work the night before, making your Christmas morning completely stress-free.
• Serves a Crowd Effortlessly: No more standing over a hot skillet flipping individual slices of French toast. This casserole serves everyone at once.
• Incredibly Delicious & Cozy: It has all the classic flavors of French toast—a rich, custardy center and a golden, slightly crisp top, all with warm holiday spices.
• Healthy-ish & Customizable: We use whole-grain bread and a natural sweetener like maple syrup. It feels like an indulgence, but it’s made with wholesome ingredients.

The Simple Ingredients You’ll Need

This recipe uses classic breakfast staples to create something truly special.

• Bread: The most important ingredient! Use a sturdy, thick-cut bread like brioche, challah, or a day-old country loaf. A heartier bread will soak up the custard without getting mushy.
• Eggs: These create the rich, custardy base that is essential for French toast.
• Milk: Any milk of your choice works here—dairy or non-dairy like almond or oat milk.
• Maple Syrup: We use pure maple syrup to naturally sweeten the custard.
• Vanilla & Spices: Pure vanilla extract, a generous amount of cinnamon, and a pinch of nutmeg are what make this taste and smell like the holidays.
• For the Streusel Topping (Optional): A simple mix of flour, coconut sugar (or brown sugar), cinnamon, and cold butter creates a delicious, crumbly topping that adds a wonderful texture.

How to Make This Easy Christmas Breakfast

The process is wonderfully simple and split into two parts for a stress-free morning. The full, detailed recipe is in the recipe card below.

The Night Before (5-10 Minutes of Prep):

1. Arrange the Bread: Cube your bread and arrange it in a greased baking dish.
2. Whisk the Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, and spices until smooth.
3. Soak: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes. Press down gently to ensure all the bread is soaking up the liquid. Cover the dish and place it in the refrigerator overnight. That’s it!

Christmas Morning (2 Minutes of Prep):

1. Prep for Baking: Take the dish out of the fridge and let it sit on the counter while your oven preheats.
2. Add Topping & Bake: If using, sprinkle the streusel topping over the casserole. Bake until the center is set and the top is golden brown and puffy. Serve warm with extra maple syrup!

Tips for the Best Overnight French Toast Bake

• The “Day-Old Bread” Habit: Using bread that is slightly stale or dried out is a fantastic ‘good habit’ for any French toast recipe. It absorbs the custard much better without falling apart, resulting in a perfect texture.
• Press It Down: Before you put the dish in the fridge, use a spatula to gently press down on the bread. This ensures every last piece gets a chance to soak up that delicious custard.
• Cover While Baking: To prevent the top from getting too brown before the center is cooked, you can bake the casserole covered with foil for the first 20-25 minutes, then uncover it for the last 15-20 minutes to let the top get golden and crisp.
• Let It Rest: After you pull your beautiful Overnight French Toast Bake from the oven, let it rest for 5-10 minutes. This allows the custard to fully set, making it much easier to slice and serve.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• Can I bake this on the same day?
  Yes. If you don’t have time to let it sit overnight, you can assemble it and let it soak for at least 1-2 hours in the refrigerator before baking. The overnight soak is best for maximum flavor, though.
• How do I make this dairy-free?
  It’s easy! Use a non-dairy milk like almond, soy, or oat milk in the custard. For the topping, use solid coconut oil or a dairy-free butter substitute in place of regular butter.
• What other toppings can I use?
  This casserole is delicious with a variety of toppings! Fresh berries, sliced bananas, chopped pecans or walnuts, or a dusting of powdered sugar are all wonderful additions.
• How do I store and reheat leftovers?
  Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual slices in the microwave or a toaster oven until warm.

More Easy Christmas Morning Recipes

• Easy Healthy Banana Oatmeal Muffins
• Easy Christmas Cookies (Healthy Oatmeal Cranberry)
• Easy Chewy Gingerbread Cookies (Healthy & One-Bowl)

Build Your Healthiest Habit

End the “what’s for dinner?” stress. Get my free guide with 5 Healthy Dinners in Under 30 Minutes, plus simple weekly recipes to help you feel good, consistently.

Get My Free Guide!

Easy Overnight French Toast Bake Recipe

Easy Overnight French Toast Bake! Assemble it the night before and just pop it in the oven in the morning. It's warm, custardy, and a delicious breakfast the whole family will love.

Print Recipe Pin Recipe

Prep Time 10 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

chilling 8 hours hrs

Total Time 8 hours hrs 45 minutes mins

Servings 9

Equipment

• 9×13 inch Baking Dish
• Large Mixing Bowl
• Whisk

Ingredients

  

For the French Toast:

• 1 loaf about 1 lb day-old brioche, challah, or French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
• 8 large eggs
• 2 cups milk of choice
• 1/2 cup pure maple syrup
• 2 tsp pure vanilla extract
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt

For the Streusel Topping (Optional):

• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour or whole wheat
• 1/2 cup coconut sugar or packed brown sugar
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 cup cold unsalted butter cut into small cubes
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans

Instructions

 

The night before

• Prep Dish & Bread: Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Spread the bread cubes evenly in the dish.
• Make Custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until smooth and well combined.
• Soak: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes. Gently press down on the bread with a spatula to help it absorb the liquid.
• Refrigerate: Cover the dish tightly with foil or plastic wrap and place it in the refrigerator to soak for at least 8 hours, or overnight.

The morning of

• Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter while the oven heats up.
• Make Streusel (If Using): In a medium bowl, combine the flour, coconut sugar, and cinnamon. Add the cold butter cubes and use your fingertips or a pastry cutter to cut the butter into the mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the chopped pecans.
• Top & Bake: Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the French toast bake.
• Bake: Bake for 40-50 minutes, until the center is set (a knife inserted should come out clean) and the top is golden brown and puffy. If the top is browning too quickly, you can cover it loosely with foil.
• Rest & Serve: Let the French toast bake rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving. Serve warm with additional maple syrup, fresh berries, or a dusting of powdered sugar.