Paula Deens Overnight French Toast

Wake up to an irresistibly decadent breakfast with Paula Deen’s Overnight French Toast! This make-ahead recipe combines thick slices of day-old French bread soaked in a rich custard of eggs, half-and-half, and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Topped with a buttery praline glaze made of brown sugar, chopped pecans, and a touch of corn syrup, this baked casserole delivers a perfect balance of creamy, crunchy, and sweet in every bite. With just 15 minutes of prep the night before, it’s a stress-free way to treat your family or guests to a bakery-worthy French toast experience. Garnish with powdered sugar and serve with warm maple syrup for a crowd-pleasing breakfast or brunch centerpiece that’s as elegant as it is effortless!

Nutriscore Rating: 56/100

Prep Time:15 mins

Cook Time:40 mins

Total Time:55 mins

Servings: 8

Ingredients

• 1 loaf French bread (preferably day-old)
• 8 large Eggs
• 2 cups Half-and-half
• 1 cup Milk
• 2 tablespoons Granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
• 0.5 teaspoons Ground cinnamon
• 0.5 teaspoons Ground nutmeg
• 0.25 teaspoons Salt
• 0.5 cup Unsalted butter (melted)
• 1 cup Light brown sugar (packed)
• 1 cup Chopped pecans
• 2 tablespoons Light corn syrup
• 0.5 teaspoons Cinnamon (for topping)
• 2 tablespoons Powdered sugar (for optional garnish)

Directions

Step 1

Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.

Step 2

Cut the French bread into 1-inch slices. Arrange the slices in a single layer across the greased baking dish, slightly overlapping if needed.

Step 3

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.

Step 4

Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread slices. Press down gently to ensure the bread absorbs the custard. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

Step 5

The next morning, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).

Step 6

In a medium bowl, prepare the praline topping by mixing the melted butter, light brown sugar, chopped pecans, light corn syrup, and cinnamon until a crumbly mixture forms.

Step 7

Remove the French toast casserole from the refrigerator and spread the praline topping evenly over the soaked bread slices.

Step 8

Bake the casserole, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the custard is set.

Step 9

Remove from the oven and let it cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Step 10

Optional: Dust with powdered sugar before serving and pair with warm maple syrup.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(2129.9g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	5329.4

Total Fat 291.3g	0%
Saturated Fat 118.9g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.8g
Cholesterol 1931.5mg	0%
Sodium 3824.8mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 580.5g	0%
Dietary Fiber 24.6g	0%
Total Sugars 350.8g
Protein 125.2g	0%

Vitamin D 435.4IU	0%
Calcium 1375.1mg	0%
Iron 23.1mg	0%
Potassium 2878.0mg	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: 48.2%

Protein: 9.2%

Carbs: 42.6%