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    Home / Breakfast and Brunch Recipes / Challah French Toast Casserole

    Sep 8, 2021 · Last Updated: Sep 13, 2021

    Challah French Toast Casserole

    Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

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    Challah French toast casserole is a decadent recipe that's perfect for a weekend brunch. You prep this baked challah French toast the night before. So in the morning, brunch will be ready easily.

    Overnight Challah French Toast - in baking tray just out of the oven | The Worktop

    Challah French toast casserole is a decadent option for your next weekend brunch

    Forget about going out for brunch. This baked challah French toast is a restaurant-worthy indulgence that you are going to absolutely love. 

    Plus, as this recipe is for an overnight Challah French toast, relax in the morning. There's no need to even change out of pjs.

    I’m sharing my tips and tricks below for making this challah bread French toast casserole. It's really simple, and oh so delicious.

    Keep this recipe as your go-to French toast casserole

    I believe everyone needs at least one or two really good French toast casserole recipes up their sleeves as they’re: 

    • Perfect for brunch parties
    • Always a hit at holiday breakfasts 
    • Easy to whip up for overnight guests
    • Great for meal prep to reheat all week long
    • Consistently delicious
    Overnight French Toast Casserole with Challah - plated with maple syrup | The Worktop

    Challah bread French toast casserole is packed with flavor and warming spices 

    While I make this recipe all year long, I especially love this baked challah bread French toast in the colder months as it’s filled with warming spices: cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and vanilla.

    Freshly ground cardamom is worth the effort

    If you’re short on time, you can use store bought ground cardamom. However, I personally prefer using whole cardamom pods and grinding them myself with mortar and pestle.

    Cardamom just smells so nice when it’s being freshly ground. Plus, whole cardamom lasts twice as long, and I find that the flavor of fresh cardamom is much stronger. 

    To grind, start by breaking apart 5 pods and taking out the black seeds. Next, place the seeds in a mortar and pestle and grind until you have a fine powder. 

    I use this beautiful iconic mortar & pestle. It took me years before I finally splurged and bought myself one. But now that I have it, it's become one of my favorite kitchen pieces.

    If you love cardamom or grind extra, try this honey granola recipe. 

    I always use Ceylon Cinnamon

    Love cinnamon? Me too. This recipe was developed using Ceylon cinnamon, which is milder and sweeter in flavor. It's the kind I use most in my recipes. 

    You can use any type of cinnamon, but give Ceylon cinnamon a try if you haven't before. I think you'll really like it.

    Challah bread provides the perfect texture for French toast casserole

    It doesn’t get better than overnight French toast casserole with challah bread. 

    If you aren’t familiar with this type of bread, challah is a rich, thick, braided bread. And, as you can see in the picture below, it’s perfect for French toast as the thick slices are great at soaking up the rich, eggy custard without getting soggy and falling apart. 

    Overnight Challah French Toast - sliced with blueberries and whipped cream for brunch | The Worktop

    I also like how the crust makes beautiful patterns on top of the casserole.

    And unlike bread with thick crusts like sourdough or French bread, challah makes an excellent overnight French toast casserole thanks to its thinner crust.

    If you like challah french toast but don't have time to soak, make this easy Challah French Toast instead.

    Challah French Toast Casserole - just out of the oven in baking pan | The Worktop

    How to make Challah bread French toast casserole 

    With just a few tips and tricks, this baked challah French toast casserole is easy to make and comes out delicious every time. 

    Ingredients for overnight French toast casserole with challah bread

    You only need a few ingredients to make this decadent breakfast recipe: 

    • Challah bread
    • Eggs
    • Whole milk 
    • Light brown sugar
    • Vanilla extract
    • Butter
    • Granulated sugar
    • Cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, and sea salt 

    This recipe is easy to assemble the night before 

    There are just three easy steps: placing challah bread cubes in the bottom of a baking pan, whisking the egg custard mix, and then pouring it over the challah bread. Simple. 

    There are a lot of eggs in this challah French toast casserole, and my arm was a little sore from beating all of them together.

    Tip: I've found that using a big whisk can make the mixing go faster. This is a trusty 11-inch whisk that can handle mixing together 8 large eggs and 3 cups of milk quickly and easily.

    Drizzle and bake in the morning 

    One of my favorite parts of this French toast casserole is that you drizzle butter and cinnamon sugar on top before baking. It gives it a nice crust, as well as a rich buttery taste.

    While the beauty of an overnight casserole is being able to wake up, put it in the oven, and walk away, I like to check on it about half way through to make sure it isn’t browning too quickly. If it is, simply cover the top with foil or move it to a lower rack. 

    Tip: Make sure to let this challah French toast casserole rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This gives the bread more time to absorb all the liquid so that you’ll end up with slices that hold together when cut. 

    Challah French Toast Casserole - close up to show challah custard filling | The Worktop

    How to top your baked challah French toast

    Don’t forget to add a finishing touch! 

    I drizzle the entire casserole with maple syrup when it comes out of the oven. This gives it a nice shiny sheen when you serve it on the brunch table. 

    You can also add a pop of color by serving challah bread French toast casserole with a variety of fresh berries. 

    Baked Challah French Toast - single slice ready for brunch | The Worktop

    Looking for more french toast recipes? 

    There are so many ways to make French toast, depending on the flavors and textures that you’re in the mood for. 

    For example, this Baked Stuffed French Toast is filled with tangy cream cheese and raspberry jam for a truly indulgent breakfast. You can even use challah in place of the brioche.

    Here are some other French toast recipes to try: 

    • Brioche French Toast
    • Super Crispy French Toast
    • Raisin Bread French Toast
    • Baked Apple French Toast Casserole
    • Traditional Challah French Toast

    Overnight Challah French toast casserole is a restaurant-worthy dish to feed a crowd 

    Whether you make this baked challah French toast at your next brunch party or for yourself to enjoy all week long, I really hope this breakfast recipe makes it on your table soon. It’s definitely become one of my go-to recipes for feeding a crowd. 

    Any questions? Feel free to ask in the comments below. Happy breakfast eating!

    Challah French Toast Casserole Recipe - Close up to show custard texture | The Worktop

    Challah French Toast Casserole

    4.45 from 27 votes
    Print Recipe Save RecipeSaved!
    Serves: 6 large slices
    Prep: 10 mins
    Cook: 50 mins
    Challah French toast casserole is a decadent recipe that's perfect for a weekend brunch. You prep this baked challah French toast the night before. So in the morning, brunch will be ready easily.

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound challah bread - cubed into 1-inch pieces
    • 8 large eggs
    • 3 cups whole milk
    • ⅓ cup light brown sugar - lightly packed
    • 2 teaspoons quality vanilla extract
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
    • ⅛ teaspoon ground cardamom
    • ½ teaspoon sea salt

    For the topping (add before baking)

    • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter - melted
    • 3 tablespoons granulated sugar
    • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Lightly oil a 9x13 baking pan.
    • Arrange the challah bread pieces evenly across the baking pan. I like to arrange it so you can see a mixture of the glossy tops of the challah bread and the cut sides of the bread.
    • In a large bowl, beat together the eggs, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, cardamom and salt.
    • Gently pour the egg mixture over the challah bread pieces, covering all the pieces. The tops of some of the bread cubes might not be fully covered in the egg mixture immediately. But those bread cubes should be soaked through after you let the casserole sit for a bit.
    • Cover and refrigerate. Allow the French toast casserole to sit for at least 2 hours, but it can soak overnight.
    • When you are ready to bake it, preheat the oven to 350°F / 176°C. Make sure all the challah bread cubes have been soaked with the egg mixture. If any of the bread cubes are still not soaked, gently push them down a bit into the casserole.
    • In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and cinnamon. Pour the melted butter evenly across the surface of the French toast casserole. Evenly sprinkle the cinnamon sugar mixture across the top.
    • Bake in the oven for about 50-60 minutes. To check if the French toast casserole is done, you can insert a knife in the middle and see if the casserole is set. If the casserole is browning too quickly, place it in a lower rack in the oven, or cover it with aluminum foil.
    • Allow the casserole to sit for 5-10 minutes before serving.
    • To serve, I like to drizzle maple syrup across the entire casserole. Alternatively, you could also sprinkle powdered sugar across the top.
    Course: Breakfast, Brunch, Toasts and Sandwiches
    Cuisine: American
    Keyword: Challah French Toast Casserole
    Special Diet: Vegetarian
    Author: The Worktop
    Cal : 512kcal
    Note: Nutrition information is a rough estimate.
    Love this?I would appreciate a star review! Snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram using #theworktop and tagging me @theworktop.
    « Chicken Fajita Omelette
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    By Tina Jui
    Filed Under: Breads and Muffins, Breakfast and Brunch Recipes, Breakfast for a Crowd, Breakfast Recipes with Eggs, Brunch Recipes for Mother's Day, Christmas Morning Breakfast Recipes, Easter Breakfast Recipes, Fall Breakfast Recipes, Father's Day Brunch Recipes, Kid Friendly, Make Ahead, Oven, Quick and Easy Brunches, Thanksgiving Breakfast Recipes, Toasts and Sandwiches, Valentine's Day Brunch Recipes, Vegetarian, Winter Breakfast RecipesTags: casserole, cinnamon, french toast

    About Tina Jui

    A breakfast lover and food blogger. Tina develops everyday breakfast recipes on The Worktop, and writes about all things related to breakfast and brunch. Read more about Tina Jui or drop an email to say hi.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Roxanne says

      April 16, 2022 at 10:21 pm

      Can I use heavy cream rather than milk? Same amount?
      Thanks! Making it for Easter morning :)

      Reply
      • Tina Jui says

        April 17, 2022 at 5:18 am

        Hello! It should generally work, but I haven't specifically tested it with all heavy cream before. I would maybe mix in a bit of water so it's not too thick?

        Reply
    2. Bpomerance says

      March 24, 2022 at 3:31 am

      Have you been successful at freezing the unbaked casserole to serve later?

      Reply
      • Tina Jui says

        March 26, 2022 at 4:49 am

        Hello - I haven't tried freezing this casserole before. But if you wanted to try, I would suggest baking it first then freezing.

        Reply
    3. ANTOINETTE says

      January 29, 2022 at 9:05 pm

      What is the best way to re-heat servings

      Reply
      • Tina Jui says

        February 02, 2022 at 4:38 pm

        Hello! Sometimes I use the microwave for convenience, best I like it best reheated on the convection/bake setting of my toaster oven. Enjoy the recipe!

        Reply

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    Hi, I'm Tina and a lover of breakfast! The Worktop is where I share my everyday breakfast recipes. You can find lots of breakfasts and brunch ideas on my site. Many of the recipes are easy to make and healthy, but of course, you'll also find big brunch indulgences.

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