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–+ servings
A thick slice of Overnight French Toast Bake topped with butter, fresh blueberries, and maple syrup.

Overnight French Toast Bake (Make-Ahead)

This make-ahead French toast bake is perfect for busy mornings. Prepare it the night before and bake it in the morning for a delicious, comforting breakfast.
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Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Refrigeration Time 12 hours
Total Time 13 hours 5 minutes
Servings: 8 people
Course: Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine: American
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the French Toast
  • 1 loaf crusty sourdough or French bread torn into chunks or cut into cubes
  • 8 eggs
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar firmly packed
  • 2 Tbsp. vanilla extract
For the Topping
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1/2 cup brown sugar firmly packed
  • 1 tsp. ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 1 pinch freshly grated nutmeg optional
  • 1/2 cup cold butter cut into pieces
For Serving
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries
  • 1 tablespoon butter for serving
  • 1 cup warm syrup for serving

Equipment

  • 13x9-inch baking pan
  • Large bowl
  • Pastry blender

Method
 

  1. Grease a 13x9 inch baking pan with butter. Tear or cut the bread into chunks and distribute evenly in the pan.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and vanilla extract. Pour this mixture evenly over the bread in the baking pan.
  3. Cover the pan tightly and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 8 hours. If you are short on time, you can bake it immediately.
  4. For the topping: In a separate bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg (if using). Add the cold butter pieces and use a pastry blender or your fingers to mix until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  5. When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the French toast bake from the refrigerator and sprinkle the topping evenly over the top.
  6. Bake for 45 minutes for a softer texture, or for 1 hour or more for a firmer texture.
  7. Serve warm, topped with butter, drizzled with syrup, and sprinkled with fresh blueberries.

Notes

This recipe is a make-ahead dream, perfect for weekend brunches or busy weekday mornings. The longer it chills, the more the bread absorbs the custard, resulting in a richer flavor and softer texture.

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