This Pioneer Woman French Toast Overnight casserole recipe is a breakfast game-changer. Imagine waking up to the irresistible aroma of caramelized sweetness and perfectly crisp yet soft French toast. This baked French toast casserole, inspired by the queen of comfort food, Ree Drummond, requires just 5 minutes of prep the night before and is guaranteed to feed a hungry crowd. It’s the ultimate make-ahead breakfast for busy mornings or special occasions.
Why This Overnight French Toast Casserole is a Must-Try
Inspired by Ree Drummond’s famous French toast casserole, this recipe takes the classic breakfast dish and makes it even more convenient. I stumbled upon her recipe years ago and it has since become a beloved part of our family’s breakfast repertoire, right alongside our favorite sausage hash brown breakfast casserole.
This overnight French toast casserole has earned a permanent spot on our Christmas morning menu. The sheer joy on my family’s faces when they taste it is priceless, and I’m confident your family will adore it just as much.
What makes this overnight French toast so special? It captures all the comforting, nostalgic flavors of traditional French toast, but elevates them to another level. The French bread bakes to a beautiful golden brown, achieving a delightful crispness on the outside while remaining wonderfully soft and custardy inside. And the pecan streusel topping? It adds a layer of nutty, buttery sweetness that is simply divine.
The best part? You do the minimal prep work the night before – literally just 5-10 minutes – and then the oven handles the rest in the morning. Even if you’re a novice at baked French toast, this overnight recipe is practically foolproof.
If you’re planning a brunch spread and want to balance the sweetness of this overnight French toast, consider pairing it with a savory option like this Christmas breakfast casserole.
Golden brown french toast casserole on a white plate with a spoon
Image: A serving of Pioneer Woman French Toast Overnight Casserole, showcasing its golden-brown crust and inviting texture.
Ingredients for Your Overnight French Toast Casserole
Here’s what you’ll need to prep your cinnamon baked french toast casserole overnight:
- Bread: A 14-inch loaf of French bread is ideal. Slightly stale bread works best for soaking up the custard.
- Eggs: You’ll need 6 large eggs to create the rich custard base.
- Heavy Cream: For that signature creamy, custard-like texture that makes this casserole so indulgent.
- Milk: Whole milk adds richness, but any milk will work.
- Brown Sugar & Granulated Sugar: A blend of both sugars creates a deeper, more complex sweetness.
- Cinnamon: The essential warm spice for classic French toast flavor.
- Vanilla Extract: Enhances all the other flavors and adds a touch of warmth.
And for the irresistible pecan streusel topping (make this in the morning just before baking):
- Pecans: Chopped pecans add a delightful crunch and nutty flavor. Varying sizes create textural interest.
- Butter: Unsalted butter is recommended to control the overall saltiness.
- Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup adds a natural sweetness and complements the pecans beautifully.
These same pantry staples can also be used to create other delicious breakfast treats like brioche French toast casserole and coffee cake. If you’re in the mood for more sweet breakfast delights, be sure to check those out!
How to Prep Your French Toast Casserole Overnight
Ingredients for french toast batter in a clear mixing bowl
Image: French toast batter ingredients in a mixing bowl, ready to be whisked together for the overnight soak.
The beauty of this recipe is the overnight prep. Follow these simple steps the night before you plan to bake:
Step 1: Prepare the French Toast Batter (Night Before)
- Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish with butter. Set aside.
- Slice the French bread into 1-inch thick pieces. Slightly stale bread is perfect for soaking. Arrange bread slices in the greased baking dish, slightly overlapping if necessary.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla extract until well combined. This is your French toast batter.
Step 2: Soak the Bread Overnight
- Pour the prepared French toast batter evenly over the bread slices in the baking dish, ensuring all slices are coated.
- Gently press down on the bread slices to ensure they are submerged in the batter.
- Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate overnight. This allows the bread to soak up all the delicious custard flavor, making it incredibly soft and flavorful.
Image: Uncooked French toast casserole in a baking pan, ready for the pecan streusel topping and baking.
Step 3: Make the Pecan Streusel Topping (Morning Of)
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (180°C).
- Prepare the pecan streusel topping: In a saucepan over medium heat, melt the butter with the maple syrup.
- Once melted, add the chopped pecans and stir to coat them evenly in the butter-syrup mixture.
Step 4: Bake Your Overnight French Toast Casserole (Morning Of)
- Remove the French toast casserole from the refrigerator.
- Pour or spoon the pecan streusel topping evenly over the soaked bread.
- Cover the baking dish with tin foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove the foil and bake uncovered for another 20 minutes, or until the casserole is golden brown and set.
- Let the baked French toast casserole cool in the dish for about 10 minutes before serving and slicing.
Serve it as is, or with a drizzle of extra maple syrup, fresh fruit, or a dollop of butter.
Storing and Reheating Your French Toast Casserole
This overnight French toast casserole recipe yields 8 generous servings, perfect for a weekend brunch or feeding a crowd. Leftovers are unlikely, but if you do have any, here’s how to store them:
Store leftover French toast casserole in the baking dish, covered, or transfer to an airtight container. It will keep well in the refrigerator for 4-5 days. For longer storage, freeze in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
Image: Homemade Pioneer Woman French Toast Overnight Casserole, showcasing the pecan topping before baking.
Reheating Instructions
The best way to reheat French toast casserole is in the oven. Place it back in a casserole dish and bake at 350°F (180°C) for 10-15 minutes, or until heated through.
For single servings, the microwave is a convenient option. Reheat slices in 30-second intervals until warm.
Final Thoughts on Pioneer Woman French Toast Overnight
This Pioneer Woman French toast overnight casserole is pure breakfast bliss. It’s sweet, comforting, and utterly addictive.
With a make-ahead breakfast this delicious and easy, you don’t need a special occasion to make it. It’s a wonderful treat for your family any day of the week, especially on relaxed weekend mornings. I truly hope your family enjoys this easy overnight French toast casserole recipe as much as mine does!
If you make it, please let me know in the comments below! And if you’re eager to try another fantastic Ree Drummond-inspired recipe, you must try this Pioneer Woman stuffing.
Image: A hand pouring maple syrup over a slice of easy Pioneer Woman French Toast Overnight Casserole, ready to be enjoyed.
More Easy Casserole Recipes
If you appreciate the ease and convenience of casseroles, we have many more simple casserole recipes on the blog for you to explore!
Here are a few of our top picks:
For even more recipe inspiration, follow us on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. We share new recipes daily!
Prep Time: 5 minutes (night before)
Cook Time: 40 minutes
Total Time: Overnight soak + 45 minutes
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread, about 14-inches long
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ¾ cup milk
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 ½ tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 cup pecans, chopped
- ¼ cup butter
- ½ cup maple syrup
Instructions
- Night Before: Grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Slice bread into 1-inch slices and arrange in dish. Whisk together eggs, heavy cream, milk, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and vanilla. Pour over bread, press down, cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Morning Of: Preheat oven to 350°F (180°C). Prepare topping: melt butter and maple syrup in a saucepan, stir in pecans. Pour topping over casserole.
- Bake covered for 20 minutes, then uncovered for 20 minutes, until golden brown. Let cool 10 minutes before serving. Serve with extra syrup if desired.
Nutrition Information:
Serving Size: 1 serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 502, Total Fat: 26g, Saturated Fat: 0g, Trans Fat: 0g, Unsaturated Fat: 0g, Cholesterol: 0mg, Sodium: 0mg, Carbohydrates: 51g, Fiber: 0g, Sugar: 0g, Protein: 12g
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