An easy make ahead French toast Casserole, this Baked French Toast Casserole with Apples and Raisins is filled with cinnamon raisin bread, chunks of apples, raisins, and the perfect amount of cinnamon. Make it the night before for an easy breakfast in the morning.
Apples for breakfast are the best! Some other favorites are this German Apple Pancake and these Apple Pancakes with Caramel Apple Syrup.
Baked French Toast Casserole with Apples and Raisins
We have a yearly tradition of having German Scones for Christmas breakfast, but every year, I always say that I’m going to bake up a French Toast Casserole as well, because I love them! I do love those scones, too, but maybe I just need both! Not only do I love the ease of making a French Toast Casserole the night before, but I just really love how they taste!
This Baked French Toast Casserole with Apples and Raisins has been here on the blog since 2010, and majorly needed a facelift, so I thought it would be a perfect time to bring it back, seeing that Christmas is only a week away. This really is such a great Christmas breakfast idea. There are so many different baked French toast casserole recipes out there (I even have a few more listed below) but I love that this one is a little bit different.
Ingredient Notes
This easy overnight casserole is pretty self explanatory. But here is a little bit of information to make this casserole easy to make:
- The recipe calls for 3 apples. I like to use a mix of sweet and tart/sour. So I’ll usually use one Gala and 2 granny smith apples.
- Cinnamon raisin bread can usually be found on the bread aisle where the rest of the bread is, or occasionally a grocery store will have it in the bakery section.
- If you have raisin haters, you can definitely leave the raisins out. You might want to choose just a cinnamon swirl bread instead of the cinnamon raisin bread, as well.
How to make a baked French toast casserole
Breakfast doesn’t get much easier!
The night before:
- Start by prepping all of your ingredients – peeling and chopping the apples, cutting the bread into cubes, and melting the butter.
- Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon, then mix in the butter, apples and raisins. Pour this mixture into the bottom of a 9×13-inch baking dish that has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray.
- Layer the bread cubes on top of the apple mixture.
- In a bowl, combine the whisked eggs, milk, vanilla and cinnamon. Pour this custard over the bread, and use a spatula (or your hands) to press the bread down, making sure it’s all soaked in the custard mixture.
- Cover with foil and place in the refrigerator overnight.
In the morning:
- Remove the casserole from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat the oven.
- Bake the casserole, still covered with the foil, for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and continue to bake for another 15-20 minutes.
- Sprinkle with powdered sugar, if desired!
How long do you bake a French Toast Casserole?
Since all ovens are different, sometimes it’s hard to know how long to bake a French Toast Casserole. I like to keep mine a little bit softer, so I bake this one with the foil still on the casserole for the first 30 minutes, then remove the foil to let it continue to bake until it is finished. When it’s finished, it should be bubbling on the edges, and the bread should be toasted on top. You can stick a tester in the center to test for doneness, as well. It won’t come out dry, since you have the apple and sugar on the bottom, but it shouldn’t have any of the custard mixture on the tester.
Christmas Breakfast Ideas
Ham and Cheese Breakfast Casserole Recipe
Gingerbread Waffle Recipe with Lemon Sauce
Overnight French Toast Casserole
Cranberry Cinnamon Rolls
Salted Caramel Slow Cooker Monkey Bread
Eggnog Croissant Bread Pudding with Caramel Eggnog Syrup
Tools used to make this Baked French Toast Casserole
- You can use a basic 9×13-inch baking dish, but I usually like to a baking dish that is a little nicer for holiday mornings.
- The apples need to be peeled – this is my favorite peeler.
Baked French Toast Casserole with Apples and Raisins
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 3 apples peeled, cored and cut into a large dice*
- 1/2 cup raisins
- 1 pound loaf cinnamon raisin bread cut into cubes
- 6 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- In a large bowl, mix the brown sugar and cinnamon. Mix in the butter, apples and raisins. Pour the mixture into the prepared baking dish. Pour the bread over the apple layer.
- Whisk the eggs with the milk, vanilla and cinnamon. Pour the custard over the top of the bread. Using a spatula (or if you don’t mind getting a little messy, you can use your hands), push the bread down to make sure it is all soaked by the custard mixture.
- Cover the dish with foil and refrigerate overnight, or 8 hours.
- Remove the pan from the refrigerator 30 minutes before you are ready to bake the casserole. Preheat the oven to 375ºF.
- Bake the casserole for 30 minutes, covered, then remove the foil and bake for an additional 15 to 20 minutes.
- If desired, sprinkle the casserole with powdered sugar before serving.
Nancy McCool says
I am making this for Christmas morning, how long can i make it in advance? 2 days?
Deborah says
I have only ever tried making it 1 day in advance. 2 days should work, though!
Katherine says
Love this recipe! I’ve used all types of bread, standard cinnamon raisin bread, sprouted wheat cinnamon raisin bread and brioche bread (brioche is the best). I’m thinking any fruit would be good in this!! I’ve also used all types of milk, almond, goat, cow and cream. Thank you for the recipe!!