Apple French Toast Casserole
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Gooey cinnamon apples baked into this apple French toast casserole is the sweetest way to start the day for breakfast! Perfect for a cozy fall breakfast or any time you want to enjoy warm, gooey apples, this flavor takes regular French toast casserole and makes it extra special!
Table of Contents
Why We Love Apple French Toast Casserole
- Warm Cinnamon Apples For Breakfast – We really love a good gooey warm cinnamon apple all year. This recipe gives you a great reason to enjoy sweet apples with your breakfast. This recipe is great when fresh apples are in season in the fall.
- Decadent French Toast – This apple French toast casserole makes a gooey warm cinnamon apple French toast that just tastes cozy like an apple pie or an apple crumble with a sweet streusel topping. You’ll love every gooey cinnamon apple bite in this baked French toast casserole.
- Prep Ahead – I love a breakfast I can make ahead of time. This casserole is a great way to feed the whole table, and you can make it before you need it. It’s also great to bring to a potluck anytime you’re treating a crowd to an amazing breakfast or brunch! I can’t wait for you to make this recipe for your family!
Ingredients For Apple French Toast Casserole Recipe
Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions below in the recipe card.
Ingredients For The French Toast Bake
- French bread brioche or challah bread are also great but you can use any sturdy bread, cut into 1-inch cubes. You want a stale loaf or to toast the bread so it’s dry, see the notes at the bottom of the page. Grab a day old loaf from the grocery store at a discount!
- apples peeled, cored, and cubed into about 1 inch pieces
- brown sugar
- butter melted
- eggs
- milk – I like 2% or whole milk best for a creamier custard
- heavy cream
- white sugar
- vanilla extract
- ground cinnamon
- ground nutmeg
- salt
Ingredients For Crumble Topping
- flour all-purpose
- brown sugar
- white sugar
- cinnamon ground
- salt
- butter salted, cold and cut into small cubes
How To Make Baked Apple French Toast Casserole
Prepping The French Toast Breakfast Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with spray cooking oil.
- Cut the loaf of bread into 1-2 inch cubed pieces. Spread bread cubes in the pan.
- Cut the apples into small 1 inch cubes. In a medium bowl add melted butter, brown sugar and cubed apples. Add the apples and the butter mixture together until the apples are fully coated. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the cubed bread in the baking dish.
- In a large bowl, add eggs, milk, heavy cream, white sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, Whisk together with a whisk until well combined into a thick custard mixture.
- Pour the egg custard mixture over the bread and apples in the baking dish. Gently push down any pieces of bread that aren’t fully coated in the custard mixture.
- Cover and refrigerate the casserole in the egg mixture for at least 30 minutes, or let it sit overnight covered in the refrigerator.
Making The Streusel Crumble Topping
- Just before you are ready to bake, make the crumble topping. In a medium-sized bowl, add flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
- Add the cold cubed butter to the cinnamon sugar mixture in a medium bowl. With the back of a fork or a pastry cutter, work the butter into the cinnamon sugar mixture. The mixture resembles thick crumbs when ready. Sprinkle the crumble topping over the top of the casserole right before baking, then cover the pan with aluminum foil.
Baking The French Toast Casserole
- Bake the casserole for 55-60 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is set. I like to cover with foil and bake to help protect the top from overcooking. Once gooey, warm and the egg custard is fully set, remove the casserole from the oven. Serve and enjoy drizzled with maple syrup or your favorite toppings.
Variation Ideas
Top With Whipped Cream – Skip the powdered sugar and add a big dollop of whipped cream on top!
Try Caramel On Top – A drizzle of caramel sauce goes perfect with the sweet cinnamon sugar in this apple French toast casserole,
Top With Chopped Nuts – We like chopped walnuts or pecans on top of this French toast, they add a great amount of crunch! You can bake the nuts into the casserole, or sprinkle them on top just before serving.
Try Adding Raisins – I will forever stand on the hill that cinnamon raisin rolls are better than just plain cinnamon rolls, but I know not everyone feels the same. Raisins added to this warm gooey apple cinnamon French toast will have the same effect, it’s going to be delicious. With raisins, it’s best to mix them in so they hydrate a little with the butter. Sprinkling raisins on top can sometimes leave them too dried out.
Add Ice Cream For Dessert – Have breakfast as dessert and try a scoop of vanilla or cinnamon ice cream on top of this warm apple French toast casserole. Delicious!
How Long Will This Apple French Toast Bake Last?
Expect this French toast casserole will last for about 3-4 days when stored in a covered container in the refrigerator. Leftovers can be baked again to warm up right in the same pan. It’s usually easiest to microwave each person’s portion on their plate when enjoying the next day.
Apple French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
For The French Toast Bake
- 1 loaf French bread brioche or challah bread are also great but you can use any sturdy bread, cut into 1-inch cubes. See notes, you want a stale or toasted bread.
- 2 medium apples peeled, cored, and cubed into about 1 inch pieces
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 4 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup white sugar
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
For The Crumble Topping
- 1/4 cup flour all-purpose
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons white sugar
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon ground
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup butter cold and cut into small cubes
Instructions
Making The French Toast Casserole
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 9×13 baking dish with spray cooking oil.
- Cube bread into 1-2 inch pieces. Spread bread cubes in the pan.
- Cut the apples into small 1 inch cubes. In a medium bowl add melted butter, brown sugar and cubed apples. Mix together the apples and the butter mixture until the apples are fully coated. Spread the apple mixture evenly over the cubed bread in the baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, add eggs, milk, heavy cream, white sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt, With a whisk mix together until well combined into a custard mixture..
- Pour the egg custard mixture evenly over the bread and apples in the baking dish. Gently push down any pieces of bread that aren't fully coated in the custard mixture.
- Cover and refrigerate the casserole for at least 30 minutes, or overnight.
Making The Crumble Topping
- Just before baking, make the crumble topping. In a medium-sized bowl, add flour, brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and a pinch of salt.
- Add the cold cubed butter to the cinnamon sugar mixture in a medium bowl. With the back of a fork or a pastry cutter, work the butter into the cinnamon sugar mixture. The mixture resembles thick crumbs when ready. Sprinkle the crumble topping over the French toast right before baking, then cover the pan with aluminum foil.
Baking The French Toast Casserole
- Bake the casserole for 45-55 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the center is set. Once set, remove the casserole from the oven. Serve and enjoy drizzled with maple syrup or your favorite toppings.
Notes
Nutrition
Did You Make This?
I would love to see it! Share your thoughts with me in the comments below!
