Brioche French Toast Casserole is an easy baked breakfast made with buttery brioche bread soaked in a sweet cinnamon and vanilla custard, then topped with a brown sugar butter crumble. It bakes until golden on top and soft and custardy in the center for all the flavor of French toast without standing over the stove.
This is a great breakfast when you’re feeding family or having guests over for brunch. Everything goes into one baking dish, and you can even assemble it ahead of time so there’s less to do in the morning. 🍓🍞
Why I Love This Casserole
Ingredients
About the Ingredients
- Brioche Bread: One loaf of brioche gives this casserole its rich, buttery flavor and soft texture. Cut the bread into bite-sized cubes so it can soak up the custard evenly. Homemade brioche works beautifully, too.
- Eggs: Six large eggs create the custard that holds the casserole together and gives the center its soft French toast texture.
- Half & Half: Two cups of half & half make the custard rich and creamy without being as heavy as using all heavy cream.
- Granulated Sugar: A half cup sweetens the custard and balances the richness of the eggs and brioche.
- Vanilla Extract: Vanilla adds that classic warm flavor you expect in French toast.
- Ground Cinnamon: Cinnamon gives the custard a warm, cozy flavor that pairs perfectly with the brioche and brown sugar topping.
- Salt: A small amount of salt balances the sweetness and brings out the vanilla and cinnamon flavors.
- Brown Sugar: Brown sugar is used for the sweet crumble topping and adds a deeper, slightly caramel-like flavor.
- Butter: Use cold butter cut into small pieces for the topping. Keeping it cold helps create a crumbly texture as the casserole bakes.
- For Serving: Maple syrup, powdered sugar, and fresh berries are optional but make great toppings. You can set them out separately and let everyone dress up their own serving. 🍓🍞✨
Be sure to check out the full recipe and ingredient list below
How to Make Brioche French Toast Casserole
Prepare the Bread: Add the cubed brioche to a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
Add the Custard: Whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt. Pour over the brioche and let it soak for 15–20 minutes.
Add the Topping: Combine the brown sugar and cold butter until crumbly, then sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
Bake: Bake at 350°F for 45–50 minutes, until golden brown and the custard is set. Let cool slightly, then serve with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and fresh berries.
Tips I Found Helpful
- Use slightly stale brioche – It absorbs the custard without becoming too soggy.
- Let it soak – Give the bread 15–20 minutes to absorb the egg mixture before baking.
- Keep the butter cold – Cold butter gives the brown sugar topping a better crumbly texture.
- Let it rest – Wait about 10 minutes after baking before slicing.
Questions Readers Ask Most
Breakfast Casseroles I Love
Brioche French Toast Casserole
This Brioche French Toast Casserole is an easy baked breakfast made with buttery brioche soaked in a sweet cinnamon-vanilla custard and topped with a brown sugar crumble.
Ingredients
- 1 loaf of brioche bread, sliced into cubes
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups half & half
- 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 cup of brown sugar
- 1/2 cup of cold butter, cut into small pieces
- Maple syrup, powdered sugar, and fresh berries for serving
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) and grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter.
- Place the brioche bread cubes evenly in the greased baking dish.
- In a mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, half & half, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until well combined.
- Pour the egg mixture over the brioche bread cubes, ensuring that all the bread is soaked in the mixture. Let it sit for about 15-20 minutes to allow the bread to absorb the liquid.
- In another bowl, combine the brown sugar and cold butter pieces using a fork or pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
- Sprinkle the brown sugar and butter mixture over the top of the soaked brioche bread in the baking dish.
- Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the custard is set.
- Once baked, remove from the oven and let it cool slightly before serving.
- Serve the brioche French toast casserole warm, drizzled with maple syrup, a dusting of powdered sugar, and topped with fresh berries. Enjoy!
Notes
Slightly day-old brioche works especially well because it absorbs the custard without becoming too soft. Pour the egg mixture slowly over the bread so all the pieces are evenly coated. Keep the butter cold when preparing the brown sugar crumble topping. If the casserole begins browning too quickly, loosely cover it with foil. Let it rest for 5–10 minutes after baking before serving.
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
8Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 542Total Fat: 29gSaturated Fat: 17gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 10gCholesterol: 246mgSodium: 411mgCarbohydrates: 63gFiber: 1gSugar: 47gProtein: 10g
