Easy Overnight Cinnamon French Toast Bake
A comforting and easy overnight cinnamon French toast bake that delivers a custardy center and a crispy, caramelized cinnamon topping. Perfect for busy mornings, holiday brunches, or potlucks.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Total Time: 6 hours 55 minutes to overnight (including soaking time)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
- 8 cups sturdy bread cubes (about 10 slices) – brioche, challah, or day-old French bread recommended
- 6 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 cups whole milk (or almond/oat milk for dairy-free)
- ½ cup heavy cream (optional for extra creaminess)
- 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- ½ cup granulated sugar (or half granulated and half brown sugar)
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- ¼ cup brown sugar for topping
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Cube about 10 slices of sturdy bread into roughly 1-inch cubes. If bread is fresh, toast lightly for 5 minutes at 350°F to dry it out.
- In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and fragrant (about 3 minutes).
- Place bread cubes in a 9×13 inch baking dish. Pour custard mixture evenly over bread and gently press down to soak all pieces.
- Cover dish tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight.
- Remove dish from fridge. Drizzle melted butter over the top and sprinkle brown sugar evenly across the surface.
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Bake uncovered for 45 to 50 minutes until top is golden brown and custard is set but slightly jiggly in center.
- Let rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving.
Notes
[‘Use day-old or lightly toasted bread to prevent sogginess.’, ‘Room temperature eggs and milk help custard soak evenly.’, ‘If top browns too fast, tent loosely with foil halfway through baking.’, ‘Add chopped nuts or fruit before baking for texture and flavor variations.’, ‘Can be made gluten-free with gluten-free bread and dairy-free with plant milk and vegan butter.’, ‘Reheat leftovers in a 300°F oven for 10-15 minutes to maintain crispness.’]
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 1/8 of the dis
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15
- Fat: 14
- Carbohydrates: 38
- Protein: 9
Keywords: overnight French toast bake, cinnamon French toast, easy breakfast, brunch recipe, custardy French toast, holiday breakfast