I’m so excited I saw this recipe. Looks like you solved the ‘soggy bread’ issue we have with this type of casserole. I have one in my fridge for dinner tonight that I just threw together before seeing this post. It is not too far off of this except for the genius butter trick. I may drizzle some on top or spray with coconut oil and see what happens. Lol. Next time I’ll try this, and I have the book, so I’ll try the one in there also. I always seem to have stale bread after spaghetti night, and haven’t found anything he totally approves of yet.
Jessica Fisher
Hope it passed the test!
lisa s
It did! I sprayed it with coconut oil just cuz it seemed easier, and it turned out delightful. Perfect crunch on the outside. I love being able to recycle leftovers into new dishes that everyone likes to eat. Thank you for all the great ideas!
SC
Made this for my daughter & her family after baby #3. Did it as a freeze ahead meal. Realized later that I accidentally buttered both sides of the bread. Oops 🙂
Anyway, she said it was a huge hit with the family, so it’s a keeper recipe. Could see this do well for holiday meals as well.
Thank you!
Barbara
This is the best recipe! It has become a fast favorite at our house. We use french bread from the deli at the grocery store. We often add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the top before baking. Yum! I have been reading your blog for years and so appreciated you!
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Made this recipe this morning for my company and it was a hit. Very tasty! Made it exactly as written, using brioche bread. I liked that it could be made in the morning and didn’t have to be refrigerated overnight as I was short on time last evening. I liked the consistency as well. Thanks so much for sharing Jessica!
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time to comment, Lynn.
Candy
I am Going to try this with Trader Joe’s sliced French brioche it’s thick it should work and i am freezing for a week will let you know
Jessica Fisher
Sounds great!
Jenni Lane
This is good but if you use another kind of bread you should probably toast it first or it will be still tasty but mushy ?
Jessica Fisher
Yes, regular sandwich bread will not work. It needs to be thickly sliced for sure.
Alisha
I made these the other day, cut my bread an inch thick because an inch and a half seemed really thick. Used homemade gluten free bread and it worked out perfect! I have several of your other recipes printed out and waiting to be altered gluten free as well.
Jessica Fisher
Good to know that you enjoyed it with gf bread. We really don’t like mushy french toast, so the thickness helps that. 😉
Crystal
Since it’s just me that I would be making it for, has anyone baked it, then packaged it up individually and froze it? That would work for me.
Jessica Fisher
I don’t think I have done that, but you could definitely try it. You could also scale the recipe to make a smaller batch.
Jaime
So easy and absolutely delicious! I topped mine with some maple syrup, a dollop of crème fraiche, and some strawberries. Yummy!
Jessica Fisher
Sounds great!
Jodi
How does this reheat? we won’t eat it all at once and i don’t want to waste it! thanks.
Jessica Fisher
I actually prefer to eat the leftovers cold, but yes, you could reheat in the toaster oven.
Marie
This was just the Casserole dish I was looking for. IL have one question, if I make it on Saturday morning and don’t freeze it, will it be OK for Sunday morning? I wasn’t sure how long it could sit in the fridge before heating it.
Thanks,
Jessica Fisher
I’ve done it overnight, but not longer than that. I think it should be fine, but I’m not 100% sure.
Nicole
Just served this to a bunch of relatives visiting from overseas. Not only did they clean the pan down to the scrapings, but the house smelled delicious for hours! It was so easy to make too. I love easy wins! Thanks 🙂
Jessica Fisher
Yay! I love easy wins, too.
Nia Hanna
I make a version of baked french toast too. I got my recipe while watching the TODAY show several years ago. I used store-bought sourdough the first time around. But since discovering Five Minute Bread I like to use that especially when there’s leftover bread to be used up.
Ellen
I’ve tried the make ahead french toast recipe with ginger and almonds. It was delicious and enjoyed by the family (although I did leave a plain section for the picky one). I froze one and it didn’t last but one night in the freezer after we enjoyed the first pan. Definitely want to make 2 pans of this too. I also tried it with some frozen blueberries over the top which we liked a bit more than the dried fruit combination. Thanks for the recipe! We’ve enjoyed it.
Jessica Fisher
I’ll have to try it with blueberries. Did you use the ginger still?
Ellen
I did, because I liked the bite of the ginger. The kids weren’t loving ginger, so next round it will be on 1/2.
Leslie
Is any maple syrup supposed to be mixed in with the eggs? Wondering if that step is missing.
Janel Piersma
Good catch! Yes, the 2 tablespoons of maple syrup are supposed to be mixed in to the egg mixture. We’ve updated the directions. Thanks!
cherie
You know, I’m so glad that I have you to do my recipe tweaking for me! I have always shied away from french toast casseroles for that exact reason – now this hasn’t made my life torture or anything LOL – but it is a convenient dish and this is a great solution – the ciabatta is also a sturdy bread so that’s another good idea! Love TJ’s ciabatta – just delicious and better than mine!
Jessica Fisher
My pleasure. 🙂
Stephanie M.
This looks so delicious, Jessica. I will definitely be giving it a try. We love French toast and this looks like a wonderful variation from the regular egg soaked white bread that I usually use. Also, just thought I’d tell you that today, for the first time, I made your Italian sandwich rolls. It took me two tries. The first time, the dough just refused to rise, at all. My yeast was good and I followed the directions exactly. So figuring that it might be the flour, I ran out and bought a new bag. Although the one I had wasn’t old at all. Since I bake so often, flour never gets a chance to get old. Anyway, that dough starting rising immediately. I divided the dough into 16 pieces and molded them into thin, short rolls, as directed, but they baked up a little smaller than hot dog buns. I also put two slits in each roll with a razor and sprayed them three times with a water sprayer as I’ve always done when I make French Bread during the baking process. In any event, as small as they were, they were absolutely delicious and we ate them as dinner rolls with butter. I froze the rest and when they’re gone, I’ll be making more, maybe round next time. Unfortunately, they are entirely too small for sandwiches. I guess I rolled them a little too small. But thanks for posting this wonderful recipe and I look forward to making them for many years to come. 🙂 Practice makes perfect!
lisa s
I’m so excited I saw this recipe. Looks like you solved the ‘soggy bread’ issue we have with this type of casserole. I have one in my fridge for dinner tonight that I just threw together before seeing this post. It is not too far off of this except for the genius butter trick. I may drizzle some on top or spray with coconut oil and see what happens. Lol. Next time I’ll try this, and I have the book, so I’ll try the one in there also. I always seem to have stale bread after spaghetti night, and haven’t found anything he totally approves of yet.
Jessica Fisher
Hope it passed the test!
lisa s
It did! I sprayed it with coconut oil just cuz it seemed easier, and it turned out delightful. Perfect crunch on the outside. I love being able to recycle leftovers into new dishes that everyone likes to eat. Thank you for all the great ideas!
SC
Made this for my daughter & her family after baby #3. Did it as a freeze ahead meal. Realized later that I accidentally buttered both sides of the bread. Oops 🙂
Anyway, she said it was a huge hit with the family, so it’s a keeper recipe. Could see this do well for holiday meals as well.
Thank you!
Barbara
This is the best recipe! It has become a fast favorite at our house. We use french bread from the deli at the grocery store. We often add a sprinkle of cinnamon to the top before baking. Yum! I have been reading your blog for years and so appreciated you!
Lynn from NC Outer Banks
Made this recipe this morning for my company and it was a hit. Very tasty! Made it exactly as written, using brioche bread. I liked that it could be made in the morning and didn’t have to be refrigerated overnight as I was short on time last evening. I liked the consistency as well. Thanks so much for sharing Jessica!
Jessica Fisher
Yay! So glad you enjoyed it. Thanks for taking the time to comment, Lynn.
Candy
I am Going to try this with Trader Joe’s sliced French brioche it’s thick it should work and i am freezing for a week will let you know
Jessica Fisher
Sounds great!
Jenni Lane
This is good but if you use another kind of bread you should probably toast it first or it will be still tasty but mushy ?
Jessica Fisher
Yes, regular sandwich bread will not work. It needs to be thickly sliced for sure.
Alisha
I made these the other day, cut my bread an inch thick because an inch and a half seemed really thick. Used homemade gluten free bread and it worked out perfect! I have several of your other recipes printed out and waiting to be altered gluten free as well.
Jessica Fisher
Good to know that you enjoyed it with gf bread. We really don’t like mushy french toast, so the thickness helps that. 😉
Crystal
Since it’s just me that I would be making it for, has anyone baked it, then packaged it up individually and froze it? That would work for me.
Jessica Fisher
I don’t think I have done that, but you could definitely try it. You could also scale the recipe to make a smaller batch.
Jaime
So easy and absolutely delicious! I topped mine with some maple syrup, a dollop of crème fraiche, and some strawberries. Yummy!
Jessica Fisher
Sounds great!
Jodi
How does this reheat? we won’t eat it all at once and i don’t want to waste it! thanks.
Jessica Fisher
I actually prefer to eat the leftovers cold, but yes, you could reheat in the toaster oven.
Marie
This was just the Casserole dish I was looking for. IL have one question, if I make it on Saturday morning and don’t freeze it, will it be OK for Sunday morning? I wasn’t sure how long it could sit in the fridge before heating it.
Thanks,
Jessica Fisher
I’ve done it overnight, but not longer than that. I think it should be fine, but I’m not 100% sure.
Nicole
Just served this to a bunch of relatives visiting from overseas. Not only did they clean the pan down to the scrapings, but the house smelled delicious for hours! It was so easy to make too. I love easy wins! Thanks 🙂
Jessica Fisher
Yay! I love easy wins, too.
Nia Hanna
I make a version of baked french toast too. I got my recipe while watching the TODAY show several years ago. I used store-bought sourdough the first time around. But since discovering Five Minute Bread I like to use that especially when there’s leftover bread to be used up.
Ellen
I’ve tried the make ahead french toast recipe with ginger and almonds. It was delicious and enjoyed by the family (although I did leave a plain section for the picky one). I froze one and it didn’t last but one night in the freezer after we enjoyed the first pan. Definitely want to make 2 pans of this too. I also tried it with some frozen blueberries over the top which we liked a bit more than the dried fruit combination. Thanks for the recipe! We’ve enjoyed it.
Jessica Fisher
I’ll have to try it with blueberries. Did you use the ginger still?
Ellen
I did, because I liked the bite of the ginger. The kids weren’t loving ginger, so next round it will be on 1/2.
Leslie
Is any maple syrup supposed to be mixed in with the eggs? Wondering if that step is missing.
Janel Piersma
Good catch! Yes, the 2 tablespoons of maple syrup are supposed to be mixed in to the egg mixture. We’ve updated the directions. Thanks!
cherie
You know, I’m so glad that I have you to do my recipe tweaking for me! I have always shied away from french toast casseroles for that exact reason – now this hasn’t made my life torture or anything LOL – but it is a convenient dish and this is a great solution – the ciabatta is also a sturdy bread so that’s another good idea! Love TJ’s ciabatta – just delicious and better than mine!
Jessica Fisher
My pleasure. 🙂
Stephanie M.
This looks so delicious, Jessica. I will definitely be giving it a try. We love French toast and this looks like a wonderful variation from the regular egg soaked white bread that I usually use. Also, just thought I’d tell you that today, for the first time, I made your Italian sandwich rolls. It took me two tries. The first time, the dough just refused to rise, at all. My yeast was good and I followed the directions exactly. So figuring that it might be the flour, I ran out and bought a new bag. Although the one I had wasn’t old at all. Since I bake so often, flour never gets a chance to get old. Anyway, that dough starting rising immediately. I divided the dough into 16 pieces and molded them into thin, short rolls, as directed, but they baked up a little smaller than hot dog buns. I also put two slits in each roll with a razor and sprayed them three times with a water sprayer as I’ve always done when I make French Bread during the baking process. In any event, as small as they were, they were absolutely delicious and we ate them as dinner rolls with butter. I froze the rest and when they’re gone, I’ll be making more, maybe round next time. Unfortunately, they are entirely too small for sandwiches. I guess I rolled them a little too small. But thanks for posting this wonderful recipe and I look forward to making them for many years to come. 🙂 Practice makes perfect!
Jessica Fisher
Thanks for the feedback, Stephanie!