Apple French Toast Casserole
It is absolutely wonderful to wake up to this Overnight Apple French Toast Casserole Bake. Moist on the inside, slightly crispy on the outside, french toast cubes are combined with yummy apples, and topped with a cinnamon crumb topping.
Hello, breakfast of my dreams!
Baked French Toast Casserole…with Apples!
I love French Toast Casseroles. They are so easy to make, you can prep them ahead of time and keep it in the refrigerator overnight and bake them in the morning when you are ready to brunch your heart out.
I shared this Berry French Toast Casserole recipe a few years ago and it is still one of my most popular posts on the blog.
So here is a twist to your beloved classic. Apple French Toast Casserole.
This oven baked French toast recipe incorporates apples instead of berries, and then we top it with a buttery, crumbly streusel topping.
French toast infused with cinnamon flavors, combined with juicy apples and a brown sugar crumb top, drizzled with sticky maple syrup to round it up.
I highly recommend serving it with a cup of hot coffee or tea…
I’m telling you you’re going to love Apple French Toast Casserole!
Ingredient Notes
Here are some of the ingredients you will need For the Apple French Toast Casserole:
- apples – slice them into very thin slices so they cook easily. I like using honey crisp apples or other baking apples for this. They can be peeled or unpeeled.
- French bread – dryer, stale bread works better as they will soak up the egg mixture better. You can also use sourdough, challah, regular white bread, or even healthier breads such as whole wheat.
- eggs
- milk – 2% or more will make your French Toast Casserole creamier, but you can also use lower fat or even milk substitute such as oat milk and almond milk
- vanilla extract – pure vanilla extract gives it the best flavor!
- brown sugar
- powdered sugar
- maple syrup
As for the streusel topping (YUM!!!), you will need:
- brown sugar
- all purpose flour
- ground cinnamon
- unsalted butter
Let’s Make Apple French Toast Casserole!
Brunch is one of my favorite things about the weekends.
I love to slowly get up in the morning, enjoy the relaxing pace of the weekend, and savor the meal that is breakfast and brunch.
When brunch can be made ahead of time, life is even better.
I typically make Apple French Toast Casserole the night before, let it sit overnight, and then bake it in the morning. Or you can make it a few hours ahead of time.
If you are really press for time, and wanted Apple French Toast Casserole at the last minute, then go ahead and skip the soaking step. It’s not the best way to make it but it’s still totally edible and will still be yummy.
Step 1: Bring together casserole
The first thing I do when I make Apple French Toast Casserole is to whisk together eggs, milk, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and brown sugar in a large mixing bowl.
I then prepare a 9″x13″ casserole by greasing it with cooking oil spray.
Spread half the cubed French bread to casserole dish, add half of the sliced apples, then pour half of the egg mixture.
Add the rest of the French bread, then add the rest of the sliced apples, then the rest of the egg mixture.
Step 2: Let it rest
Cover and store Apple French Toast Casserole overnight or for a couple of hours in the refrigerator. This will let the egg mixture soaks into the bread thus making it moist and flavorful.
Make the crumb topping separately and let it sit in the refrigerator overnight too, but do not add it to the Apple French Toast Casserole until you are ready to bake it.
Step 3: Bake
Don’t forget to sprinkle Apple French Toast Casserole with that brown sugar crumble topping before baking.
Bake in the oven for 40-45 minutes at 350℉.
When done, sprinkle some powdered sugar on Apple French Toast Bake for that “snow top” look, and serve it with maple syrup because you know you love that maple syrup! 🙂
Tips and Tricks
A few things to note to ensure success when making Apple French Toast Bake!
- Soaking bread in egg mixture overnight or for a few hours help produce a moist flavorful french toast!
- Use dry, a-few-day-old bread so that egg mixture can soak into the bread more effectively.
- Remember to grease casserole dish before adding items to it to french toast from sticking to it
- Use Honey Crispy apples or other “baking-friendly” apples for this recipe.
- Slice the apples thinly so that it cooks well in the oven.
Storage and Reheat
Keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for a few days. Store maple syrup separately. When ready to serve, heat in microwave and serve with maple syrup.
You can also freeze it in an airtight container for up to 1 month. When ready to eat, bring it to a complete defrost before reheating in the microwave.
Leftover Apple French Toast Casserole is seriously the gift that keeps on giving. We make this for breakfast during the weekends, and then eat it throughout the week.
It’s just as lovely to wake up on weekdays and to heat up a warm, filling, delicious breakfast.
If you want to be extra: serve with some bacon or breakfast sausage on the side, accompanied by a warm (or iced) coffee.
Is that not the breakfast of dreams or what!
Enjoy the loveliness that is this Apple French Toast Casserole!
Frequently Asked Questions
You can if you are press for time. It’s not ideal but it’s still edible and tasty! We let it sit so that the dry bread can soak up the egg mixture.
Peel apple and slice into very thin slices. If you want it to be super soft, you can saute them in a skillet beforehand.
Absolutely!
DID YOU ENJOY THIS RECIPE? Please comment below and give us a 5-star rating! This will help others find this recipe on Google and Pinterest. We very much appreciate your help! 🤍
Other Breakfast Casserole Recipes
- Berry French Toast Casserole
- Ham and Cheese Croissant Casserole
- Easy Frittata Recipe
- Cheesy Bacon Potato Casserole
Other Breakfast Favorites
- Chocolate Chip Pancakes
- Bacon Spinach Cheddar Quiche
- Blueberry Lemon Ricotta Pancake
- Caramelized Banana French Toast
- Breakfast Tacos
- Savory Breakfast Bowl
- English Muffin Breakfast Sandwich
- Bread Pudding French Toast (by Rock Recipes!)
Apple French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 12-14 cups French bread cubed
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
- 1 apple thinly sliced
- cooking oil spray
- powdered sugar
- maple syrup
Streusel Topping
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
- 2 tbsp unsalted butter melted
Instructions
- Thinly slice apple. Cube French bread.
- Grease a 9″x13″ casserole with cooking oil.
- In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and brown sugar. Whisk egg mixture.
- Add 1/2 of the cubed French bread to casserole dish, add 1/2 of the sliced apples, then pour 1/2 of the egg mixture. Add the rest of the French bread, then add the rest of the sliced apples, then the rest of the egg mixture. Remember to spread cubed French bread and sliced apples out evenly.
- Wrap the casserole dish with saran wrap and refrigerate for four hours, or up to overnight.
- In another small bowl, combine all "stresuel" topping and mix well. Refrigerate topping as well for four hours, or up to overnight.
- Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Unwrap casserole dish. Stir stresuel topping with a spoon. Top casserole dish with the stresuel topping.
- Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the center is fully cooked.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
- Serve with maple syrup and enjoy!
Looks delicious & easy to make . Will try out your recipe.
That’s great!! I hope you enjoy it!
Can this apple french toast casserole stay unbaked in the refrigerator for 48 hours instead of 24 hours?
That should be fine!
We made this for Christmas! We had to use oat milk because of allergies and it was still delicious!! Thanks for the great recipe!
I’m so glad it went so well, Amy! Thanks for the feedback!