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Hi Bold Bakers!
Breakfast may just be the best meal of the day (not including dessert)! Don’t you just love a lazy weekend morning where you’re allowed to wake up as slowly as you want, when you can take your time enjoying your coffee, and the smell of something warm and cinnamon-y is baking in the oven?
The only downside is having to make breakfast when you just want to enjoy your morning. My Overnight French Toast recipe solves that problem!
My homemade Overnight French Toast makes your morning absolutely effortless because all of the work is done the night before. Let’s be honest — it isn’t that much work the night before, either! The bread spends all night soaking up all of the liquid and delicious flavor, and the next morning you have a sweet, custardy French Toast that has a beautiful crunch from nuts and the toasted tops.
The hardest part of this breakfast or brunch will be pouring the mimosas.
What Is Overnight French Toast?
Overnight French Toast is the perfect breakfast for both a big crowd or just a family meal. All of the work is done the night before. In the morning, instead of standing in over a hot pan cooking one slice at a time, you pop all of your French Toast into a baking dish and let your oven do the work.
It’s easy, custardy, crunchy, and covered in maple syrup.
What You Need To Make Overnight French Toast
How To Make Overnight French Toast
You know that feeling when you’ve cleaned before you leave for vacation and come home to a spotless house? This is kind of like a mini-version of that. Past-you does all the work so that future-you can relax and enjoy it! Does that make sense? Don’t worry, the recipe is easier to follow than that example (and don’t forget to get the full recipe with measurements, on the page down below)!
- First, butter your baking dish.
- Butter one side of your bread. Cut into large cubes, crust and all. Add to your baking dish
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, sugar, milk, cream, cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla extract, salt, and orange zest.
- Pour this liquid over the bread and press down gently on the bread, helping it to absorb the liquid.
- Cover and let the bread soak up all that delicious liquid overnight.
- The next morning, uncover your French Toast and toss with pecans (if you are using.)
- Put the baking dish into a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven and bake for about 50-60 minutes. The French Toast should look puffed, golden, and set in the center. If the top starts to over-brown before the center is set, tent it with aluminum foil to prevent burning.
- Serve the French Toast warm with maple syrup or fresh fruit and berries!
Gemma’s Pro Chef Tips For Making Overnight French Toast
- Make sure you use nice and thick bread slices. Since they will be soaking in the liquid for a long time, you want to make sure they have enough structure to hold up!
- This recipe easily doubles for a big crowd, but bake them in two small baking dishes instead of a larger one — this will ensure more even baking.
- You don’t have to use pecans! Use any nuts you have on hand. You can also make this recipe without nuts, but having them as a topping really does give it such a great texture!
- The French call French Toast “pain perdu,” which means wasted bread. What does that mean? Make sure you’re using dry bread! If you can’t wait for your bread to go stale, bake the slices of bread on wire racks for about 5 to 8 minutes at 300°F — or slice your bread and leave it out for a day before you pour on the liquid.
- If you want to avoid that “eggy” taste, use only the egg yolks of some or all of the eggs.
How Do I Store Overnight French Toast
Before baking, cover and store the Overnight French Toast in the refrigerator. After baking, store any leftovers for up to two days in the refrigerator. Rewarm your leftover French Toast in a 300°F (150°C) oven for 15 minutes before serving.
Make More Breakfast!
And don’t forget to buy my Bigger Bolder Baking Cookbook!
Full (and printable) recipe below!