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Baked Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe

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★★★★★

4.7 from 123 reviews

This Baked Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole is a decadent and comforting breakfast dish perfect for leisurely mornings or special occasions. Featuring cubes of rich French bread layered with a smooth, sweetened cream cheese mixture and soaked in a cinnamon-infused custard, it’s topped with a buttery brown sugar crumb topping and baked to golden perfection. Served warm and ideal with maple syrup or a dusting of confectioners’ sugar, this casserole offers a delightful blend of creamy, sweet, and tender textures in every bite.

Ingredients

Scale

For the French Toast Casserole

  • 1 (12-14 ounce) loaf French bread, brioche, or challah
  • 8 ounces (226g) full-fat brick cream cheese, softened to room temperature
  • 2 Tablespoons (15g) confectioners’ sugar
  • 3 teaspoons (15ml) pure vanilla extract, divided
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 and 1/4 cups (540ml) whole milk
  • 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

For the Crumb Topping

  • 2/3 cup (133g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup (69g) packed light brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup (41g) all-purpose flour (spooned & leveled)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 6 Tablespoons (85g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Optional Toppings

  • Maple syrup
  • Confectioners’ sugar

Instructions

  1. Prepare the Baking Dish and Bread: Grease a 9×13-inch baking pan or any 3-4 quart oven-safe dish with nonstick spray. Slice the bread and cut it into 1-inch cubes. Spread half of these bread cubes evenly into the prepared baking pan.
  2. Make the Cream Cheese Mixture: Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment, beat the softened cream cheese on medium-high speed until completely smooth. Mix in the confectioners’ sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract until fully combined. Spoon random dollops of this cream cheese mixture over the bread in the baking pan.
  3. Layer Remaining Bread: Add the remaining bread cubes over the cream cheese layer, ensuring some cream cheese remains exposed on top for an attractive look. Set the pan aside.
  4. Prepare Custard Mixture: In a bowl, whisk together eggs, whole milk, ground cinnamon, both portions of brown sugar, and the remaining vanilla extract until smooth and no sugar lumps remain. Pour this custard evenly over the layered bread and cream cheese.
  5. Soak Overnight: Cover the baking pan tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 3-4 hours, ideally overnight (up to 24 hours) to allow the bread to soak up the custard fully.
  6. Preheat the Oven and Prepare Crumb Topping: Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C). In a medium bowl, whisk together the light brown sugar, all-purpose flour, and ground cinnamon. Cut in the cold, cubed butter using a pastry blender or two forks until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs.
  7. Add Crumb Topping and Bake: Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and sprinkle the crumb topping evenly over the soaked bread. Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes until the top is golden brown. For a softer texture, 45 minutes is ideal.
  8. Serve and Store: Serve the casserole warm, optionally drizzled with maple syrup or dusted with confectioners’ sugar. Cover leftovers tightly and refrigerate for 2-3 days.

Notes

  • Using a sturdy bread like French bread, brioche, or challah helps the bread cubes hold their shape and soak up the custard well.
  • Do not skip the confectioners’ sugar in the cream cheese mixture as it adds necessary sweetness and texture.
  • For best results, soak the casserole overnight to allow full flavor development and custard absorption.
  • Cold butter is essential for creating a crumbly, flaky topping.
  • Adjust baking time slightly depending on your oven and preferred texture (shorter for softer custard, longer for firmer).
  • Reheat leftovers gently to avoid drying out.
  • Maple syrup and confectioners’ sugar provide perfect finishing touches but are optional.

Keywords: baked french toast casserole, cream cheese french toast, brunch recipes, make-ahead breakfast, cinnamon french toast, sweet breakfast casserole

Find it online: https://thefoodrecipe.com/baked-cream-cheese-french-toast-casserole-recipe/