This Cranberry Orange Baked French Toast Casserole is an overnight breakfast casserole that is filled with fresh cranberries and fresh orange. It is perfect for holiday mornings.
Overnight breakfast casseroles are the best! You can also try this Overnight French Toast Casserole for something more traditional, or this Baked French Toast Casserole with Apples and Raisins.
Can you tell that I’m a little bit obsessed with cranberry and orange this year? 🙂
I’m at it again, but this time I’m bringing you breakfast. I know my kids go straight for their stockings every Christmas morning. We can’t survive on that candy in our stockings, so we need a proper breakfast. But who wants to slave away on Christmas morning, especially if you’ve just spent hours opening presents?
This Cranberry Orange Baked French Toast Casserole is your answer. Not only does it take virtually zero effort on the day you are going to bake it, but it’s pretty darn delicious as well. You might we worried about how much work it takes to put the whole baked French toast together the night before, but don’t worry, you should be done in 15 minutes flat. And the cranberry and orange flavors just scream holiday to me.
Ingredients
Make sure to scroll down to the recipe card for the full ingredients and amounts.
- Butter: I will typically use unsalted butter because that is what I keep on hand. But if you have salted butter, it will work for this recipe.
- Sugar: You want to use brown sugar for this recipe.
- Cranberries: I love that this recipe uses fresh cranberries, which tend to be abundant this time of year. You could also make it using frozen cranberries.
- Bread: A loaf of plain white bread works great. You can also get fancy and use French bread, or even challah or brioche. And bread that is a little dried out is best.
- Milk: Any milk or milk alternative should work well here.
- Eggs: I use large eggs.
- Orange Zest: The orange zest gives lots of orange flavor. I like to use a zester. Just make sure you only get the orange zest, and not the white underneath, because it will be bitter.
- Vanilla: The vanilla adds great flavor.
- Cinnamon: I love the little warmth that the cinnamon brings.
- Orange Extract: If you want to add lots of great orange flavor, you can add in some orange extract. This is only optional, though – you still get some great orange flavor from the orange zest.
Tips and Tricks
If you don’t want to wait overnight, you can make this a couple hours in advance and then just bake it the same day.
This casserole is a great way to use up bread that is a few days old. The older bread holds onto the custard better.
You can leave the orange zest out to keep it simply a cranberry French toast casserole.
Store any leftovers in a covered container in the refrigerator.
More Cranberry Orange Recipes
Cranberry Orange Bread
Cranberry Orange Cookies
Cranberry Orange Cheesecake
Cranberry Orange Cupcakes
Cranberry Orange Scones
Cranberry Orange Baked French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup butter melted
- 1 cup light brown sugar
- 1 cup fresh cranberries divided
- 1 1 lb loaf white bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups milk
- 6 eggs lightly beaten
- 1 tablespoon orange zest
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon orange extract optional
- powdered sugar for serving
Instructions
- Pour the melted butter evenly into the bottom of a 9x13-inch baking dish. Sprinkle the brown sugar evenly over the top. Sprinkle 1/2 cup of the cranberries over the top of the brown sugar. Add the cubed bread to the baking dish. Sprinkle the remaining cranberries over the top.
- In a large bowl, combine the milk, eggs, orange zest, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and orange extract (if using), and beat lightly to combine. Pour the mixture evenly over the top of the bread in the baking dish. Press the bread down into the liquid mixture if needed to make sure all of the bread is soaked. Cover the dish with foil and refrigerate overnight, at least 8 hours.
- Bring the dish out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat the oven to 375ºF. Bake the casserole, still covered, for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking until the top is browned and a tester inserted in the center comes out clean another 15-20 minutes.
- Let the casserole sit for 10 minutes before serving. Serve topped with powdered sugar.
Natalie Taylor says
I made this recipe for Christmas Day breakfast and it was fabulous! I used Italian bread and followed the recipe as written. Mine came out looking exactly like the author’s photograph. No revision of any kind is necessary. Make this with confidence–it’s both beautiful and delicious.
Deborah says
I’m so glad it was loved and that my recipe was able to be a part of your Christmas. I feel honored! xoxo
Crina says
Just made – and it turned out delicious! I didn’t use orange extract as I couldn’t find any, and also used half a loaf instead of a full one (adjusted ingredients a bit too). The bread is incredibly moist in the center and crispy on top. It also gave my home a wonderful Orange / cranberry aroma! Will definitely make again soon. So simple yet delicious! Thank you for the wonderful recipe!
Deborah says
Thank you!! I’m so glad you loved it!
Crina says
I’m about to bake mine – just left it overnight! Will let you know how it turned out! 🙂
Carolann says
I plan on making this for Christmas morning. I see many comments, but has any reviewer actually made or eaten the casserole and might be able to offer any advice or hints? Thanks.
Joanne says
I love that this is prepared ahead so all you have to do the morning of is pop it in the oven! So Christmas perfect.
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles says
What a gorgeous pan of breakfast to wake up to. Love this!
Peabody (Culinary Concoctions by Peabody) says
Perfect for Christmas morning. I love orange and cranberry.
Carole from Carole's Chatter says
Oooh, I do hope you’ll swing by to Food on Friday to add this to the eggy recipe collection! Cheers from Carole from Carole’s Chatter
Chels R. says
This looks absolutely perfect!!!! It’s a perfect flavor combo for this time of year.
Christina @ The Beautiful Balance says
This looks insanelyyyyyy delicious! One of my favorite flavor combos is cranberry and orange so naturally I’m all about this recipe. YUM! Pinned 🙂
Anna @ Crunchy Creamy Sweet says
I would love this for our Christmas morning! French toast casserole is always a huge hit here! Pinned!
Liz says
Thank you for the nice recipe.
Sharana @ Living The Sweet Life Blog says
Yuummm!! I love the pop of colour with the cranberries 🙂
naomi says
I’m always up for French toast, but in a casserole for Christmas morning — yes, please.
Dorothy @ Crazy for Crust says
Oh my gosh this is the prettiest french toast EVER. Love the orange and cranberry. It’s perfect for Christmas morning!
Anne-Marie @ This Mama Cooks! On a Diet says
Cranberry and orange are one of my favorite flavor combinations. So smart to make this on Christmas Eve to have Christmas morning!