This easy Crockpot French Toast Casserole recipe never disappoints. Filled with the same warming flavors of the classic stovetop slices, this easy-to-make morning meal requires far less effort than frying and flipping individual pieces!
Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole Recipe
Our Crock Pot French Toast Casserole takes a loaf of bread, cuts it into cubes, soaks them in a sweetly spiced milk mixture, and covers them with butter and brown sugar.
Simply set it and forget it, and what do you get? (I’m glad you asked!) This French toast crock pot recipe makes a multi-serving meal with a soft and tender middle and crispy caramelized edges, all cooked together without doing any of the work!
Crockpot French Toast Casserole Ingredients
- Brioche bread: I like using brioche bread for the base of this casserole because of its soft, fluffy texture, but French bread and challah bread cubes also work and hold up well when soaked in the milk mixture. You can even make this a gluten free French toast recipe by using GF bread.
- Eggs: These act as a binder and source of moisture for the casserole.
- Whole milk: Whole milk will provide the richest result, although you can use 2% milk or skim milk if you prefer. You can also try heavy cream for a more custard like flavor.
- Vanilla extract: I prefer pure vanilla extract rather than artificial vanilla extract, but either will work.
- Ground cinnamon & ground nutmeg
- Salt: Just a pinch will do!
- Light brown sugar: Brown sugar melts with the butter to create caramelized bits on top.
- Unsalted butter
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How to Make Crockpot French Toast Casserole
- Add Cubes To The Slow Cooker: Place bread cubes into the bottom of a greased slow cooker insert.
- Make The Milk Mixture: Mix together the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Pour the mixture over the bread and press down to submerge the cubes into liquid.
- Chill: Cover and chill for 1 hour to overnight to allow the bread to soak up the juices.
- Top The French Toast: Sprinkle brown sugar over the bread and top with butter cubes.
- Cook The Casserole: Cover and cook on high for 1-2 hours, or low for 2-4 hours, until the bread egg mixture is fully cooked.
- Serve: Serve immediately and enjoy!
How To Make French Toast Casserole In The oven or Instant Pot
You can easily make your French toast casserole in the oven, just like my pumpkin french toast and overnight French toast casserole recipes. Simply follow the steps according to the recipe directions, but assemble the bread base in a baking dish instead of a ceramic crock pot. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 45-50 minutes.
Check out my Instant Pot French Toast recipe when you’re in a hurry and don’t have time to wait overnight.
Serving Suggestions
A French toast casserole is the perfect make-ahead dish for a lazy morning meal, holiday brunch, or easy weekday breakfast.
Serve it straight from the crockpot with a drizzle of maple syrup, a fruit compote, banana slices, fresh berries, a dusting of powdered sugar, Greek yogurt, ice cream, or a dollop of homemade whipped cream.
For more tasty twists on the traditional french toast slice, why not serve your french toast finger-food style. My french toast muffins, churro french toast, and french toast roll-ups are fun a fun way to feed a crowd.
Tips & Variations
- Make-Ahead The Mixture: Feel free to leave bread and egg mixture in a covered mixing bowl when chilling in the fridge. Then transfer it to the crockpot when you’re ready to cook. You can also cover and place the slow cooker insert in the refrigerator if you prefer. Make sure to let it come to room temperature before placing it in the slow cooker so it doesn’t crack when cooking.
- The best base is day-old or stale bread. Stale bread has lost some moisture, which allows it to soak up more of the flavorful spice and milk mixture.
- Make With Mix-Ins: You can add extra spices or mix-ins to your french toast casserole, such as chocolate chips, diced apples, raisins, or chopped nuts.
- Make With Other Milks: Instead of using dairy milk, you can use your favorite milk alternative. Try experimenting with oat milk, coconut milk, almond milk, or soy milk and use your favorite dairy free butter for the topping. Dairy free french toast is just as delicious!
Proper Storage
- To Store: Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or frozen for up to 3 months.
- To Freeze: You can freeze the leftover French toast casserole for up to 3 months. Allow the casserole to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating and serving.
- To Reheat: Reheat pieces in the microwave or oven until warm.
Common Questions
If your French toast turns out too soggy, there may have been excess liquid that didn’t soak into the bread base. Make sure to use day-old bread because stale bread absorbs liquid better. It’s also possible that you didn’t cook the casserole long enough or at a high enough temperature. If this happens, leave it in for a bit longer and it will continue to cook in the center.
Giving your bread a quick bake in a 150-200ºF oven will help remove the moisture. Cut your loaf into evenly sized cubes and bake for 15 to 20 minutes.
Other Easy Brunch Recipes
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Crockpot French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 16 ounces loaf sliced brioche bread cut into 1-2” cubes (day old works best!)
- 6 eggs beaten
- 2¼ cups whole milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- pinch of salt
- ½ cup light brown sugar
- ¼ cup unsalted butter cut into cubes
Instructions
- Add cubed bread to the bottom of a greased 5 quart or larger slow cooker insert.16 ounces loaf sliced brioche bread
- Mix together the eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Pour over the bread and press bread down to submerge into liquid.6 eggs, 2¼ cups whole milk, 1 teaspoon vanilla extract, 1½ teaspoons ground cinnamon, ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg, pinch of salt
- Cover and place the slow cooker insert into the refrigerator to chill for 1 hour to allow the bread to soak up the juices. You can also leave it covered overnight.*
- Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly across the top of the bread and dot with the butter cubes across the top.½ cup light brown sugar, ¼ cup unsalted butter
- Cover the slow cooker and cook on high for 1-2 hours, or low for 2-4 hours, until the bread egg mixture is fully cooked.
- Serve immediately with maple syrup, fruit compote or powdered sugar, enjoy!
Jenn’s Notes
- To Store: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days or freeze for up to 3 months.
- To Freeze: You can freeze the leftover french toast casserole for up to 3 months. Allow the casserole to thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating and serving.
- To Reheat: Reheat pieces in the microwave or oven until warm.
- Make-Ahead The Mixture: Feel free to leave bread and egg mixture in a covered mixing bowl when chilling in the fridge. Then transfer it to the crockpot when you’re ready to cook. You can also cover and place the slow cooker insert in the refrigerator if you prefer. Make sure to let it come to room temperature before placing it in the slow cooker so it doesn’t crack when cooking.
- The best base is day-old or stale bread. Stale bread has lost some moisture, which allows it to soak up more of the flavorful spice and milk mixture.
- Make With Mix-Ins: You can add extra spices or mix-ins to your french toast casserole, such as chocolate chips, diced apples, raisins, or chopped nuts.
- Make With Other Milks: Instead of using dairy milk, you can use your favorite milk alternative. Try experimenting with oat milk, coconut milk, almond milk, or soy milk and use your favorite dairy free butter for the topping. Dairy free french toast is just as delicious!
