Brioche French Toast Casserole

Use brioche to make French toast casserole for a special treat. Brioche bread is very fluffy and rich, so it absorbs the milk and eggs very well but still keeps its distinct flavor. The cinnamon strusel on top falls into the crevices of the bread, making every bite sweet and crunchy.

Syrup pouring over a slice of Brioche French Toast Casserole on a plate with a fork
Prep Time:
15 mins
Cook Time:
35 mins
Stand Time:
10 mins
Total Time:
1 hr
Servings:
12

Here’s a recipe that’s great for a family. Crowd around the table and enjoy this brioche French toast casserole. A wheelbarrow may be needed to carry you away from the dining table, but if your family is like mine, French toast has always been a weekend tradition.

Our recipe tester Renu Dhar said it right: “It's what delicious mornings should be made of,” and it’s not hard to understand why. This brioche French toast recipe is an easy-to-fix indulgent breakfast that comes in casserole form. What’s not to love?

This recipe uses all the classic ingredients of French toast: brioche bread, eggs, heavy cream, milk, cinnamon, butter, and brown sugar—plus a few more to boost the flavor of the casserole. 

After you gather all your ingredients, make your crumble and set aside. Toss your brioche bread with the wet ingredients and add to a 9x13-inch baking dish. Top with granulated sugar and the brown sugar crumble. Then, bake for about 35 to 40 minutes, or until the casserole is set and the French toast is a nice golden brown.

Test Kitchen Tips

Renu Dhar and recipe developer Amanda Holstein offer their best advice on cooking this recipe. Read below for tips and tricks on how to make the best brioche French toast casserole.

  • To cut down on prep time, the egg and milk mixture can be made ahead of time and used when you need it. The cinnamon crumble can also be made ahead of time and stored at room temperature for about 2 days until ready to use.
  • Everyone knows that slightly stale brioche bread makes the best French toast. It soaks up all the sweetness and cinnamon milk mixture. If you forget to put your loaf of bread out to create the stale texture you want, “put it in the oven on a sheet tray at 175 degrees F and let cook for about 20 minutes, or until dried out.”
  • If you don’t have the crowd or the appetite to finish this casserole in one sitting, simply cover the casserole tightly with aluminum foil and store in the fridge until you want more. To reheat, set your oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) and add your casserole dish—still covered in aluminum foil—to the oven until fully heated through.
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Ingredients

Original recipe (1X) yields 12 servings

  • 1/2 cup packed light brown sugar

  • 1/2 cup all purpose flour

  • 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted

  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided

  • cooking spray

  • 2 cups whole milk

  • 1 cup heavy whipping cream

  • 6 large eggs

  • 2 tablespoons pure maple syrup, plus more for serving

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract

  • 1 (16-oz.) day-old brioche loaf, cut into 1-inch cubes

  • 2 teaspoons granulated sugar

Directions

  1. Gather all ingredients. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).

    Brioche French Toast Casserole ingredients on a counter

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  2. Stir together brown sugar, flour, melted butter, salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the cinnamon in a medium bowl until crumbly; set aside.

    Brown sugar, flour, melted butter, salt, and cinnamon in a glass bowl with a spoon

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  3. Lightly coat a 9-x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Whisk together milk, heavy cream, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla, and remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon in a large bowl until fully combined. Toss cubed brioche in milk mixture until all pieces are moistened. (Milk mixture will not be completely absorbed.

    Hands mixing brioche bread cubes with milk mixture in a glass bowl

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  4. Transfer mixture to prepared baking dish, and sprinkle evenly with granulated sugar.

    Uncooked Brioche French Toast Casserole in a baking dish

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  5. Sprinkle brown sugar mixture evenly over top of bread mixture. Let casserole stand 10 minutes at room temperature.

    Brioche French Toast Casserole in a baking dish with brown sugar mixture on top

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

  6. Bake in preheated oven until casserole is set and bread is golden brown and puffy, 35 to 40 minutes. Remove from oven, and serve immediately with additional maple syrup.

    Brioche French Toast Casserole in a baking dish

    Dotdash Meredith Food Studios

Nutrition Facts (per serving)

356 Calories
21g Fat
33g Carbs
9g Protein
Nutrition Facts
Servings Per Recipe 12
Calories 356
% Daily Value *
Total Fat 21g 27%
Saturated Fat 12g 61%
Cholesterol 178mg 59%
Sodium 230mg 10%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 1g 3%
Total Sugars 16g
Protein 9g 17%
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 102mg 8%
Iron 2mg 10%
Potassium 174mg 4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

** Nutrient information is not available for all ingredients. Amount is based on available nutrient data.

(-) Information is not currently available for this nutrient. If you are following a medically restrictive diet, please consult your doctor or registered dietitian before preparing this recipe for personal consumption.