Irresistible Overnight Apple Baked French Toast: Your Ultimate Make-Ahead Breakfast
Imagine waking up to the comforting aroma of warm apples, cinnamon, and freshly baked bread, all without rushing through your morning routine. This easy Overnight Apple Baked French Toast offers exactly that – a perfect, stress-free make-ahead breakfast that tastes like a special occasion treat. Featuring slices of bread generously soaked in a rich, cinnamon-spiced custard, layered with tender apples, and crowned with a delightful streusel topping, it bakes to golden perfection with minimal effort on your part.
Whether you’re hosting guests for a holiday brunch, celebrating a special family moment, or simply craving a delicious and hearty breakfast on a busy morning, this baked French toast casserole is your go-to recipe. Prepare it the night before, pop it in the oven in the morning, and enjoy a decadent meal that will impress everyone at the table.
Why You’ll Absolutely Love This Apple Baked French Toast Casserole
There’s something incredibly satisfying about starting the day with a delicious and wholesome breakfast. Just like making your bed or choosing a thoughtful outfit, a good breakfast sets a positive tone for the entire day. It provides the energy and mental clarity needed to tackle tasks and feel ready for whatever comes your way. That’s why I’m a firm believer in making breakfast both enjoyable and accessible, and this overnight French toast casserole truly excels on both fronts.
The beauty of this recipe lies in its incredible convenience. The vast majority of the preparation happens the night before. You assemble the bread and apples, drench them in a flavorful custard, and let them soak overnight in the refrigerator. This crucial overnight rest allows the bread to absorb all the wonderful eggy, spiced goodness, resulting in an incredibly moist and flavorful French toast that isn’t soggy. In the morning, all that’s left to do is quickly prepare the buttery streusel topping, sprinkle it over the casserole, and slide it into the oven. Within an hour, your kitchen will be filled with irresistible aromas, and your family will be enjoying a spectacular breakfast with minimal morning fuss.
Beyond its make-ahead convenience, this Apple Baked French Toast is also a showstopper in terms of taste and presentation. The sweet, tender apples perfectly complement the warm spices of cinnamon, clove, and ginger, creating a harmonious blend of fall and winter flavors that are comforting and inviting. The crunchy streusel topping adds a delightful texture contrast, making each bite a symphony of soft bread, fruity apples, and a crisp, sweet crumble. It’s elegant enough for a holiday brunch, a birthday celebration, or any special gathering where you want to serve something impressive yet effortless. Imagine waking your family or guests to the sweet, spiced scents wafting from the oven – it’s a memory-making breakfast that everyone will cherish.
More Delicious Apple Recipes To Try
- Caramel Apple Cheesecake Bars
- Caramel Apple Pecan Cake
- Apple Crumb Cake
- Easy Apple Butter Apple Crisp
Key Ingredients for Your Overnight Apple Baked French Toast
One of the best things about this Overnight Apple Baked French Toast recipe is that it uses many ingredients you likely already have in your pantry, making it incredibly simple to whip up at a moment’s notice. While the recipe card below provides precise measurements, here’s a look at the essential components and some considerations for each:
- Bread: A sturdy loaf of plain whole wheat or multi-grain French bread is ideal. Day-old bread works best as it absorbs the custard without becoming overly soggy. Challah or brioche are also excellent choices for a richer flavor and texture. Avoid thinly sliced sandwich bread, as it won’t hold up well during the overnight soak and baking process.
- Apples: Opt for firm, slightly tart apples that hold their shape well when baked. Varieties like Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, or Gala are perfect. Their slight acidity balances the sweetness of the custard and streusel. Peel and slice them about 1/4-inch thick for even cooking.
- Eggs: The foundation of our rich custard. Twelve large eggs provide the necessary structure and richness.
- Half and Half: This is key to preventing a soggy French toast. Unlike milk, half and half provides a higher fat content, resulting in a creamy, custardy texture rather than a watery one. You can use whole milk for a lighter version, but half and half truly makes a difference in richness.
- Honey: Adds a natural sweetness and a lovely depth of flavor to the custard. Maple syrup is a fantastic alternative if you prefer its distinct taste.
- Vanilla Extract: Essential for enhancing the overall sweetness and adding a warm, aromatic note. Use a good quality pure vanilla extract for the best flavor.
- Warm Spices: A comforting blend of cinnamon, ground clove, and ground ginger creates the signature cozy flavor profile of this apple French toast. These spices perfectly complement the apples and the sweetness of the custard. Feel free to adjust the quantities to your taste or add a pinch of nutmeg for extra warmth.
Topping Ingredients for that Perfect Streusel Crunch
The streusel topping is what truly elevates this dish, providing a delightful crunchy contrast to the soft, custardy bread and apples. It’s easy to make and adds an extra layer of flavor and texture that makes this breakfast casserole feel truly special.
- Old Fashioned Oats: These provide a hearty, chewy texture to the streusel. Quick oats can be used in a pinch, but old-fashioned oats offer better structure and bite.
- Cinnamon: More cinnamon in the topping reinforces the warm spice theme and pairs beautifully with the apples.
- Cold Butter: Cut into small pieces, cold butter is crucial for achieving that crumbly, streusel texture. It helps create pockets of steam during baking, resulting in a lighter, crispier topping.
- Brown Sugar: Adds a rich, molasses-like sweetness and helps create clusters in the streusel. Light or dark brown sugar will work equally well.
How to Prepare This Delicious Baked French Toast Casserole
Making this Overnight Apple Baked French Toast is incredibly straightforward, especially since most of the work is done the night before. Follow these simple steps for a truly rewarding breakfast experience.
Step 1: Prep the Pan and Layer the Goodness
Start by lightly greasing a 9×13-inch baking pan. This step is important to ensure your French toast doesn’t stick and comes out easily for serving. Once your pan is prepped, arrange the sliced bread and apples in alternating layers. You can make neat rows or simply scatter them for a more rustic look. The goal is to distribute the bread and apples relatively evenly across the pan so that every slice gets a good soak and every bite has a delightful mix of flavors. Set your layered pan aside while you prepare the custard.
Step 2: Whisk the Rich Custard and Refrigerate
In a large mixing bowl, combine all the custard ingredients: the eggs, half and half, honey, vanilla extract, cinnamon, ground clove, and ground ginger. Whisk them thoroughly until everything is well combined and the mixture is smooth. This ensures that the flavors are evenly distributed throughout the custard. Once your custard is ready, pour it evenly over the bread and apples in the baking pan, making sure every piece of bread is saturated. Cover the pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight. This extended soaking time is crucial for developing deep flavors and achieving that perfect custardy texture without being soggy.
Note: While I highly recommend the overnight soak for the best results, you can technically bake your French toast immediately after pouring the custard if you’re short on time. However, the flavors truly meld and the bread becomes wonderfully tender after resting in the fridge.
Step 3: Allow to Rest Before Baking
On baking day, remove your French toast casserole from the refrigerator approximately 30 minutes before you plan to bake it. Allowing it to rest at room temperature slightly helps the casserole bake more evenly and prevents a drastic temperature shock that can sometimes lead to uneven cooking.
Step 4: Prepare Topping and Bake to Perfection
While the casserole rests, prepare your streusel topping. In a small bowl, combine the old-fashioned oats, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Add the cold butter, cut into small pieces, and use your fingertips, a pastry blender, or two forks to “cut” the butter into the dry ingredients. Continue until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Once the topping is ready, sprinkle it evenly over the top of the soaked bread and apples. Bake the casserole in a preheated oven at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Start by baking it covered with foil for 30 minutes. The foil helps steam the casserole, ensuring the bread and apples cook through and remain moist. After 30 minutes, remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and a knife inserted into the center comes out clean. This indicates that the custard is fully set. Serve warm and enjoy!
Expert Tips for the Best Baked French Toast
- Choose the Right Bread: As mentioned, day-old, stale bread is your best friend here. Fresh bread can become too mushy. If you only have fresh bread, you can slice it and leave it out uncovered for a few hours or lightly toast it in the oven for 10-15 minutes to dry it out slightly.
- Don’t Skimp on the Soak: The overnight soak is not just for convenience; it’s essential for flavor and texture. It allows the bread to fully absorb the custard, creating a rich, uniform consistency.
- Even Apple Slices: Ensure your apple slices are uniform in thickness (about 1/4 inch) so they cook evenly and become tender at the same rate as the bread.
- Cold Butter for Streusel: Always use cold butter for the streusel topping. This creates a crumbly texture and prevents the topping from melting into a greasy layer during baking.
- Test for Doneness: The “knife inserted in the center comes out clean” test is crucial. This ensures the custard is fully set and not undercooked in the middle, preventing a watery or raw center.
- Serving Suggestions: While this dish is fantastic on its own, a drizzle of warm maple syrup, a dollop of whipped cream, or a sprinkle of powdered sugar makes it even more indulgent.
Frequently Asked Questions About Overnight Apple Baked French Toast
Leftover Apple Baked French Toast should be stored in an airtight container or a freezer-safe bag in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, you can use the stovetop on low heat, the microwave, or pop individual servings back into a preheated oven until thoroughly warmed through. For best results, cover with foil when reheating in the oven to prevent drying out.
The main secret to avoiding soggy baked French toast lies in two key factors: using slightly stale or day-old bread, and using a rich dairy base like half and half instead of thinner milk. Stale bread is more absorbent, allowing it to soak up the custard without becoming mushy. Half and half, with its higher fat content, creates a thick, creamy custard that sets beautifully during baking, resulting in a perfectly moist but not wet texture. It truly ensures the custard is custardy rather than overly liquidy.
In my opinion, absolutely yes! While you can bake this recipe immediately, allowing it to soak in the refrigerator overnight yields significantly better results. The extended soaking time allows the bread to fully absorb the rich custard, intensifying the flavors and ensuring every bite is moist and flavorful. The spices have more time to meld with the apples and the custard, creating a deeper, more harmonious taste. It also makes your morning so much easier, turning a special breakfast into a truly stress-free experience.
Yes, this Overnight Apple Baked French Toast freezes wonderfully! Once baked and completely cooled, you can slice it into individual portions and wrap each slice tightly in plastic wrap, then place them in a freezer-safe bag or container. It will keep in the freezer for up to 1-2 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then warm in the oven or microwave until hot.
For baked French toast, you want apples that are firm and hold their shape well during baking, rather than turning to mush. Good options include Honeycrisp, Granny Smith, Fuji, Gala, and Braeburn. Granny Smith apples offer a nice tartness that balances the sweetness of the dish. A mix of sweet and tart apples can also create a more complex flavor profile.
More Delicious French Toast Recipes You’ll Love
- Triple Berry French Toast Casserole
- Raspberry Cheesecake Stuffed French Toast
- Strawberry and Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast
- Cinnamon Sugar French Toast Sticks
DID YOU KNOW….
rating and sharing recipes is one of the best ways you can support your favorite food bloggers? If you make this recipe, I would love if you clicked the stars when commenting below to leave a rating and/or sharing a photo on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!
Overnight Apple Baked French Toast
Ingredients
- 1 loaf plain whole wheat or multi grain french bread, cut into 1/2″ slices
- 2 large apples sliced 1/4″ thick
- 12 eggs
- 2 cups 1/2 & 1/2
- 1/3 cup honey
- 1 tablespoon vanilla
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground clove
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- Topping
- 3/4 cup old fashioned oats
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions
-
Lightly grease a 9×13 baking pan. Alternate sliced bread and apples in greased baking pan and set aside.
-
In a large bowl combine the eggs, 1/2 & 1/2, honey, vanilla, cinnamon, clove and ginger. Pour over bread and apples. Cover and refrigerate overnight. Or you may bake immediately.
-
If removing from the refrigerator do so 30 minutes prior to baking.
-
To make the topping combine ingredients in a small bowl and cut in the butter until well combined. Sprinkle over the top of the bread and apples. Bake at 350 degrees F covered for 30 minutes and uncovered for 30 minutes or until knife inserted in center comes out clean.
Notes