Overnight French Toast Recipe (2024)

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You can simplify breakfast and still have something warm and delicious ready in the morning with this recipe for Overnight French Toast. Serve Johnsonville’s Fully Cooked Breakfast Sausage on the side for a complete, easy meal that everyone will love.

The holidays are just about over, Chris will be back in the office after New Year’s, and Emma will be back in school soon… but not quite yet. Which means I still have the whole family home in the mornings, and our rushing-out-the-door weekday breakfast routine just isn’t going to cut it. And sorry, but NO– I am not slaving away over a hot breakfast every morning for the rest of break (because Christmas just might have done me in for good this time).

So I went digging through the archives and found some of my favorite old breakfast recipes that are quick and easy or that I can prepare the night before. This homemade peanut butter granola is always a winner. And doctored up pancake mix usually goes over pretty well too. But the blue ribbon recipe for our favorite post-holiday breakfast easily goes to this Overnight French Toast!

Check out all of my breakfast recipes here!

Overnight French Toast Recipe (1)
Overnight French Toast Recipe (2)

Ingredients Needed for Overnight French Toast

  • milk
  • cream or half and half
  • eggs
  • vanilla and cinnamon
  • French baguette
  • brown sugar
  • butter

Recipe Overview

The night before, slice the baguette (I used one and a half; each of my baguettes was 7 ounces) and layer the slices in a dish.

Mix together the milk and eggs, and pour it over the bread. You’ll cover the dish and let all of that soak overnight. By morning, the liquid should be completely absorbed.

Now, this part is optional (but it’s SO GOOD)… my baked French toast is a little different from others you may have tried before. Because mine is baked incaramel sauce. This is a dessert blog, after all! ????If you skip this step, the French toast will still be delicious with syrup in the morning. But if you’ll give me 5 extra minutes, I can transform it from delicious tolife changing.

Still with me? Good. Now, all you have to do is put some brown sugar, butter, and a little bit of corn syrup in a bowl the night before (just because we’re prepping in advance here to cut down on your work in the morning). Cover it up, and just leave it on the counter. The next morning, while the oven is preheating, microwave the brown sugar, butter, and corn syrup for about 45 seconds. Mix it up and spread it over the (unbaked) French toast.

Pop it in the oven for 40 minutes. And voila! This is the BEST French toast you’ve ever eaten in your life.I promise. Add a little fruit and some Johnsonville Fully Cooked Breakfast Sausage (it’s better than bacon!) to the side for a blue-ribbon, award-winning breakfast that you barely had to touch to make this morning.

Overnight French Toast Recipe (3)

Overnight French Toast FAQ

Does overnight french toast get soggy?

No, overnight french toast does not get soggy.

How long can overnight french toast stay in the fridge?

You can leave overnight french toast in the fridge for up to two days.

What are some overnight french toast variations?

Some overnight french toast variations include using different breads or adding ingredients like cinnamon, fruit slices, cocoa powder, etc. You can add toppings to overnight french toast such as maple syrup, powdered sugar, cream cheese, peanut butter, fruit compote or a dusting of cocoa powder.

Will overnight french toast brown when I put it under the broiler?

Yes, overnight french toast will brown when you put it under the broiler.

Will overnight french toast freeze well?

Yes, overnight french toast freezes well for up to a month. To freeze, simply store it in airtight freezer bags, preferably in single serving sizes. You can then take out as much overnight french toast as you need and thaw overnight in the fridge before cooking.

How long can overnight french toast sit out on a counter?

Overnight french toast should only be left out on the counter for 1 hour before putting it back in the fridge.

More Quick & Easy Breakfast Recipes

Jump-start your post-holiday mornings with Johnsonville Fully Cooked Breakfast Sausage (heat it up on the skillet or in the microwave ????????) on the side of any of these Quick & Easy Breakfast recipes I know you and your family will love.

  • Baked Oatmeal(make ahead)
  • Dark Chocolate and Almond Overnight Oats (make ahead)
  • Homemade Pancake Mix (make ahead)
  • Cinnamon Oatmeal Blender Pancakes(quick & easy)
  • Mini No-Rise Cinnamon Rolls(quick & easy)
Overnight French Toast Recipe (4)
Overnight French Toast Recipe (5)
Overnight French Toast Recipe (6)
Overnight French Toast Recipe (7)

Overnight French Toast

Yield: 8

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 40 minutes

Total Time: 55 minutes

This French toast is the softest, fluffiest, most buttery delicious French toast you've ever eaten (thanks to a special secret ingredient)! It's an ooey, gooey, breakfast nirvana.

Ingredients

  • approximately 14-20 ounces baguette bread, sliced
  • 4 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 3/4 cupcream or half-and-half
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

Optional Caramel Sauce

  • 3/4 cup butter
  • 1 and 1/3 cup brown sugar
  • 3 tablespoons light corn syrup

Instructions

The night before...

  1. Lightly grease a 9x13 baking dish. Evenly layer the slices of bread in the dish.
  2. Whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, vanilla, and ground cinnamon. Pour mixture over the bread slices, ensuring that every piece gets moistened. Cover and chill overnight.
  3. Optional: place the butter, brown sugar, and corn syrup in a bowl. Cover and set aside until morning.

In the morning...

  1. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.
  2. Optional: Microwave the butter, sugar, and corn syrup for about 45 seconds (or until butter is melted). Mix together and spread over the (unbaked) French toast.
  3. Bake uncovered for 40 minutes.
  4. Let rest for about 10 minutes before serving warm!
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Overnight French Toast Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Should French toast be soaked overnight? ›

French toast will always signify a slow Sunday's morning where an indulgent breakfast is calling to be enjoyed. The way to achieve this is to make your egg mixture the night before and leave the bread slices to soak up the batter overnight. I place them snugly into a shallow dish and pour the mixture all over.

Should I leave bread out overnight for French toast? ›

Ideally, the bread should be slightly stale. A drier bread will soak up all the custard. Bread can be left out with the wrapper open the day before cooking. If you find yourself in a pinch, dry your bread slices in a 275°F oven for 10 minutes before soaking them in the custard.

Should French toast have more eggs or milk? ›

Whatever you decide on, the ratio of liquid to egg will still be about ¼ cup liquid to one egg, and one egg per two slices of bread. So, if you want to make four slices of French toast, you would need four slices of bread, two eggs, and ½ cup milk. How's that for an easy recipe?

What happens if you soak French toast too long? ›

The first is using fresh bread, which soaks up too much of the egg mixture and doesn't cook through, remaining eggy and soggy in the middle. Leaving the bread in the egg mixture for too long is another route to soggy French toast.

Why is French toast unhealthy? ›

French Toast is a delicious breakfast entree that is loved by many. With this in mind, french toast can be very calorie dense with high amounts of added sugar and fat. But, it can be tweaked to reduce the sugar and fat content while adding some fiber to your breakfast - yay!

Can you make French toast ahead of time and reheat? ›

Freezer and Make-Ahead Tips

Freeze cooked French Toast Casserole for up to three months. Remove it from the freezer the day before you want to serve it and let thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Cover the pan with foil, then reheat at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until warmed through.

What kind of bread is best for French toast? ›

Look for bread that is labeled “hearty,” “thick-cut,” or “Texas toast.” Thin slices are more likely to collapse when soaked. You can also opt for a pullman loaf and slice the bread yourself to your desired thickness. Sliced wheat bread also makes good French toast, but might require a little extra soaking time.

What's the difference between eggy bread and French toast? ›

What's the difference between French toast and eggy bread? In general, French Toast tends to be sweet and eggy bread is more savoury. With French toast, you might have cinnamon, syrup and berries, whereas eggy bread is more likely to be paired with bacon or a fried egg. However, French toast can also be savoury.

What is the most common mistake in making French toast? ›

1. Not choosing the right bread. The heart and soul of French toast really is the bread — use something sub-par and the final result is going to be sub-par. The best bread is spongy and sturdy so that it will be able to soak up the custard without completely falling apart.

How to tell if French toast is done? ›

Griddle or bake it

This allows you to sear the French toast without burning it, while ensuring it's fully cooked in the center. "You know when your French toast is done when the center is set and doesn't have a runny consistency once cut," Oliveira says.

What is the best pan for French toast? ›

Your perfect companion for making French toast is a non-stick frying pan. CRISTEL® has an exceptional selection of non-stick frying pans with removable handles that are great for both pan-frying and also oven-cooking.

Should French toast be wet in the middle? ›

The ideal French toast is browned and crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside. It is not dry and it is not soggy.

How do you keep French bread soft overnight? ›

Use reusable wrap like Bee's Wrap

This is one of my favorite ways to wrap up longer loaves (like demi-baguettes), and the wrap works extremely well at keeping loaves soft but not too soft. Simply place your bread in the wrap and cover it tightly.

How do you keep French toast from sinking? ›

Dry Bread Is Your Friend

The original point of French toast or pain perdu was to use up leftover bread. It was, in essence, no longer “lost bread,” but found in its new purpose. The bread should be dried out, without any doubt. Dry bread helps the eggs soak in without the entire piece collapsing.

How do you keep toast crispy overnight? ›

Rather than leave the slices flat on a countertop or work space, though, consider propping the slices up at an angle to prevent the steam from softening your freshly toasted bread. Proper air circulation around the bread will allow it to stay crisp and dry.

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