Recipe

Overnight Baked French Toast

November 4, 2022

I love a good frugal hack, and this Overnight Baked French Toast is just that! I have tried lots of versions of this recipe and this is what I came up with for my family.

Frugal French Toast

I really love French Toast. If we go have brunch, that’s my go-to order. French Toast with a fried egg on the side. Just in case you ever want to bring me brunch 🙂 Of course, Brioche fancy pants French toast is my favorite, but this not a Brioche French Toast. This is the “using up day old bread, crusty sourdough, ends of the loaf, extra hamburger or hotdog buns” French toast. Frugal! But really tastes so decadent.

I keep a bag in the freezer to store these bread extras… and I am not kidding about the hamburger/hot dog buns! If we have a lot of these leftover after a cookout, I will absolutely use them for this recipe. It really doesn’t matter because you will be tearing up all the bread scraps and extras to make this recipe. It really uses up those pieces that would other ways be tossed or left to mold, and I love that!

Overnight

You will do most of the work the night before for this bakedFrench toast . I actually do every single part of assembly, even getting my butter sugar topping together the night before, so I can just wake up, throw that on the top, and bake.

This is not the prettiest recipe, so don’t mind the “cute” photos, but it is perfect for feeding a crowd! I remember having a version of this at a D-Now weekend when I was in college and it is perfect for that type of thing. Think church camp, think girls weekend. It is so good and really has a rich taste that make it seem like you slaved over it. But no dipping bread one by one to get that French toast goodness.

Common Questions for Overnight Baked French Toast

Can I use more eggs?

Yes, I have used up to 8 eggs for this recipe. I prefer 6 eggs because I think it makes it have a better texture. Before we had chickens, I didn’t make this a ton because I usually used a recipe that called for 8 eggs and that felt like so many! I make it with 6 eggs now and I prefer it like that.

Does it have to sit overnight or can I bake sooner?

I think it’s better overnight, but you can put it in the fridge for no less than 1 hour and then bake. The bread needs some time to soak up ingredients.

Instructions for Overnight Baked French Toast

Grease bottom of a 9×13 baking pan.
Gather all the bread you will be using and rip them into tubes Fill the bottom of the baking dish.
Mix milk, half and half eggs, sugar and vanilla up and pour over the top of the bread cubes, main sure to pour evenly.
Cover the pan with foil and store in the refrigerator overnight.
For the topping, cut butter into cubes. Add flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. Store in a ziplock bag in the refrigerator until mornign.
When you’re ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees.
Remove the French toast bake from the refrigerator and sprinkle the topping evenly over the top of it. Make sure butter is evenly dispersed.
Bake with foil removed for 45 min to 1 hour, depending on your oven and how crispy you like the top.
Serve with warmed syrup and fruit if you would like!