Cinnamon Overnight French Toast Bake – Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast
Cinnamon Overnight French Toast Bake – A cozy, make-ahead breakfast that’s perfect for busy mornings. After making this many times, I discovered the trick to golden, crispy edges and a warm, custardy center. The cinnamon sugar topping creates a crispy, crunchy layer that’s irresistible. Keep reading for my best tips or jump to the recipe card. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Smoked Beef French Toast Roll-Ups and Honey Peach Cream Cheese Cupcakes.
Why This Cinnamon Overnight French Toast Bake – Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast Is Pure Comfort
- Golden, crispy edges with a warm, custardy center
- Perfect for busy mornings with minimal prep the night before
- Irresistible cinnamon sugar topping
- Cozy and comforting, like a warm hug on a cold morning
What You'll Need for Cinnamon Overnight French Toast Bake – Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 loaf day-old bread
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Optional: Powdered sugar, for dusting
- Optional: Maple syrup, for serving
- Optional: Fresh berries, for serving
📝 Ingredient Notes
- Bread: Day-old bread works best for this recipe. It absorbs the custard mixture better than fresh bread.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Non-stick skillet — Ensures even cooking and prevents sticking → See on Amazon
- Mixing bowl set — Makes prep work easier and more efficient → See on Amazon
How to Make Cinnamon Overnight French Toast Bake – Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast
- Prepare the bread: Tear the bread into bite-sized pieces and place them in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Make the custard mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Pour the mixture over the bread, ensuring all pieces are coated. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Prepare the topping: In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the bread.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the French toast bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center is set. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Cinnamon Overnight French Toast Bake – Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast
- Pro tip: For an even crispier topping, sprinkle some chopped nuts or streusel topping over the cinnamon sugar mixture before baking.
- Common mistake and fix: If the center is not set, bake for an additional 5-10 minutes. If the top is browning too quickly, cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil.
- Pro tip: For a lighter version, substitute the heavy cream with an equal amount of milk.
- Pro tip: To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free bread and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
Storing & Reheating Cinnamon Overnight French Toast Bake – Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make-ahead tip: This recipe can be made ahead of time and refrigerated overnight.
Freezing Cinnamon Overnight French Toast Bake – Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast
Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes. Microwave: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 30-45 seconds.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: For a fun twist, try adding some chopped fruit, like apples or berries, to the custard mixture before refrigerating.
- Best substitution: If you don't have heavy cream, you can substitute it with an equal amount of milk or half-and-half.
- Make-ahead: This recipe is perfect for meal prepping. Assemble the French toast bake the night before, and bake in the morning.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the French toast bake is browning too quickly, cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil. If the center is not set, bake for an additional 5-10 minutes.
Want to level up this recipe?
High-quality baking dish — Even heat distribution for perfectly baked French toast → Check price on Amazon
Cinnamon Overnight French Toast Bake – Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 loaf day-old bread
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Seasonings
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Optional Toppings
- Powdered sugar, for dusting
- Maple syrup, for serving
- Fresh berries, for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the bread: Tear the bread into bite-sized pieces and place them in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish.
- Make the custard mixture: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon. Pour the mixture over the bread, ensuring all pieces are coated. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Prepare the topping: In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, melted butter, and cinnamon. Sprinkle the mixture evenly over the bread.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Bake the French toast bake for 45-50 minutes, or until the edges are golden and the center is set. Let it cool for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- Chef tip: For a fun twist, try adding some chopped fruit, like apples or berries, to the custard mixture before refrigerating.
- Best substitution: If you don't have heavy cream, you can substitute it with an equal amount of milk or half-and-half.
- Make-ahead: This recipe is perfect for meal prepping. Assemble the French toast bake the night before, and bake in the morning.
- Scaling: This recipe can be easily doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the French toast bake is browning too quickly, cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil. If the center is not set, bake for an additional 5-10 minutes.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Freezer: Freeze individual portions for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in a preheated 350°F (175°C) oven for 10-15 minutes.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat individual portions in the microwave for 30-45 seconds.
- Make ahead: This recipe can be made ahead of time and refrigerated overnight.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 320
- Protein: 12g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 31g
- Fiber: 1g
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 350mg
- Cholesterol: 210mg
- Sat. Fat: 10g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Cinnamon Overnight French Toast Bake – Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast FAQs
Yes, this recipe is perfect for making ahead. Assemble the French toast bake the night before, and bake in the morning.
If your French toast bake is dry, it's likely that it was overbaked. To prevent this, keep an eye on the baking time and make sure to let the French toast bake cool for a few minutes before serving.
Yes, you can freeze individual portions of this French toast bake for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
While you can't make this exact recipe in the air fryer, you can try making individual French toast sticks or slices in the air fryer for a healthier alternative.
The best way to reheat this French toast bake is in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 10-15 minutes. You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave for 30-45 seconds, but the texture may not be as crispy.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Cinnamon Overnight French Toast Bake – Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
