This Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole combines tender apple slices, a rich egg custard and a buttery streusel topping. It’s comforting, easy to prepare ahead, and a favorite for breakfast or brunch.
Assemble the casserole the night before so the bread soaks up maximum flavor. Refrigerate overnight and bake in the morning for a warm, comforting dish your family will ask for again and again.
- What Kind of Bread?
- Which Apples are Best?
- Recipe
Ingredients
Most of these ingredients are pantry staples. Measure ingredients accurately for best results.
- Bread
- Milk
- Eggs
- Apples
- Brown sugar
- Flour
- Butter
- Cinnamon
- Granulated sugar
- Vanilla
What Kind of Bread to Use?
Use day-old bread rather than fresh-baked loaf—slightly stale bread soaks up the custard without becoming mushy. I used a homemade white sandwich loaf that I refrigerated to make slicing and cubing easier. You’ll need about 12 ounces of bread, roughly 5 cups when cut into bite-sized cubes.
French bread, baguette, or a hearty sandwich loaf work well. Cinnamon bread is also excellent and even works if it contains raisins.
Which Apples are Best?
Choose apples you enjoy eating; Gala and Fuji are good options because they soften nicely when baked. I left the peel on and sliced the apples thinly to keep some color and texture. If you prefer, peel and cube them instead—the recipe is forgiving.
What’s the Difference Between French Toast Casserole and Bread Pudding?
They’re very similar. “French toast casserole” is a popular name for a custard-soaked bread bake — much like bread pudding. Differences are subtle and usually come down to proportions or finishing touches. Either way, the result is delicious.
How to Serve
This casserole is rich and flavorful on its own. Serve it warm, optionally with real maple syrup or a dusting of powdered sugar. A little syrup goes a long way; feel free to add both syrup and powdered sugar if you want an extra-sweet presentation.
Recipe
Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole
Equipment
- 9 x 13″ baking dish (about 2 to 2½ quart)
Ingredients
- 12 ounces white bread, day old, cut into bite-sized cubes (about 5 cups when cubed)
- 3 medium apples, cored and thinly sliced (leave peel on if desired)
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/3 cup granulated sugar
- 2 1/2 cups milk
- 6 large eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- Baking spray (like Pam)
Topping
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup butter (1/2 stick), unsalted, softened
Instructions
- This casserole is meant to refrigerate overnight, so plan ahead.
- Cut the bread into bite-sized cubes and place in a large bowl.
- Core and thinly slice the apples. Place them in a medium bowl. (Or peel and cube if preferred.)
- Toss the apples with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/3 cup granulated sugar until combined.
- Add the apple mixture to the bread cubes and toss to combine.
- Spray a 9 x 13″ baking dish with cooking spray and spread the bread-apple mixture evenly in the dish.
- In the now-empty medium bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and vanilla until well mixed. Pour evenly over the bread and apples.
- Cover with foil or plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight, or for at least 2 hours and up to 12 hours.
- The next morning, remove from the refrigerator and prepare the topping while the oven preheats.
- Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Make the topping by combining brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, salt and softened butter with a pastry cutter, fork or your fingers until crumbly. Sprinkle the topping evenly over the casserole. You may not need all of it.
- Bake uncovered for 45–55 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean and the top is golden.
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Important: For the most accurate dry-ingredient measurements, use a kitchen scale. If you don’t have one, stir the flour lightly and use the spoon-and-level method so you don’t pack the flour and risk a dry result.
Notes
Serve with real maple syrup and a dusting of powdered sugar if desired.
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet. All amounts are estimates. Please calculate nutritional values yourself if you have specific dietary needs. 24Bite®, Kim Guzman and Christian Guzman are not responsible for individual variations or reactions.
© 2019-2026 Kim Guzman and Christian Guzman. All rights reserved.
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