Make Ahead Oven Baked French Toast

Perfect for busy mornings or holiday brunches, this Make Ahead Oven Baked French Toast is a sweet and satisfying way to feed a crowd with minimal effort. Featuring thick slices of day-old French bread soaked overnight in a luscious custard made with eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla, and a touch of cinnamon, this dish bakes to golden perfection in under 40 minutes. The overnight preparation ensures every slice is infused with rich flavor, while the oven-baked method frees you from flipping individual pieces. Serve it warm with a dusting of powdered sugar, a drizzle of maple syrup, and a medley of fresh berries for a show-stopping, make-ahead breakfast casserole that's perfect for special occasions or stress-free weekend mornings.

Nutriscore Rating: 58/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:55 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 loaf French bread (day-old, sliced thick)
• 8 large Eggs
• 2 cups Whole milk
• 1 cup Heavy cream
• 1.5 cups Granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons Vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon Ground cinnamon
• 0.25 teaspoon Salt
• 1 tablespoon Unsalted butter (to grease the pan)
• 0 optional Maple syrup (for serving)
• 0 optional Powdered sugar (for garnish)
• 0 optional Fresh berries (for serving)

Directions

Step 1

Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with unsalted butter.

Step 2

Cut the French bread into thick slices, about 1-inch thick, and arrange them in the baking dish in a slightly overlapping pattern.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt until well combined.

Step 4

Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread slices, ensuring each slice is well soaked.

Step 5

Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight to allow the bread to absorb the custard.

Step 6

When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).

Step 7

Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and let it sit at room temperature for about 10-15 minutes while the oven preheats.

Step 8

Bake the French toast uncovered for 35-40 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the custard is set in the center.

Step 9

Remove from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving.

Step 10

Sprinkle with powdered sugar, drizzle with maple syrup, and add fresh berries for garnish if desired. Serve warm.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2084.7g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	4398.4

Total Fat 155.6g	0%
Saturated Fat 79.0g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.5g
Cholesterol 1818.0mg	0%
Sodium 3927.7mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 616.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 15.0g	0%
Total Sugars 368.1g
Protein 107.1g	0%

Vitamin D 551.8IU	0%
Calcium 1089.5mg	0%
Iron 22.8mg	0%
Potassium 1974.2mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 32.6%

Protein: 10.0%

Carbs: 57.4%