How to make the best Crock Pot French toast casserole with any kind of bread and a brown sugar cinnamon topping. Lather it in maple syrup, and top it off with fresh apples or blueberries for the ultimate make-ahead breakfast or brunch bake that will have everybody coming back for seconds!
I’ve always loved French toast casserole because it’s a great way to use up stale bread. You can add all kinds of fresh fruit to switch it up, like this cinnamon apple French toast casserole. But I really like this French toast casserole in the Crock Pot because it’s so much easier to make ahead and keep warm if you’re expecting company or making it for any kind of large gathering, like a potluck!
Slow cooker French toast is so moist and so full of flavor. The cinnamon brown sugar topping adds a sweeter touch that even my pickiest kid loves. Make it ahead and warm it up for an easy breakfast as needed throughout the school week, or prep everything ahead and slow cook it overnight for a lazy weekend brunch!
Ingredients & Substitutions Notes
- Sandwich Bread – I usually just use stale, leftover sandwich bread. Additionally, you can use brioche bread, challah bread, or really any kind of French bread. Either way, be sure to use stale bread, as fresh bread makes soggy French toast. If all you have is fresh bread, just let it set out on the counter for a couple hours or overnight so that it can dry out a little bit.
- Chopped Pecans – I love the extra “crunch” that chopped pecans or chopped walnuts can add to this French toast bake. If you don’t like the nuts, feel free to leave them out altogether!
- Whole Milk – You can use whole milk, 2% milk or skim milk– We usually use fresh whole milk from our Guernsey cows.
- Maple Syrup – If you can afford it, I highly recommend 100% pure maple syrup for the best flavor, but table syrup is also good.
- Vanilla Extract – Lately I’ve really been enjoying this Mexican vanilla in all of my baking…
- Spices – I always add a dash of ground cinnamon and nutmeg for a little extra kick. You might also think about adding cloves, allspice, ginger, or even a little lemon zest as well!
- Salted Butter – I prefer salted butter, but unsalted butter will also work if that’s all you have on hand. Just be sure to add about 1/4 teaspoon of extra salt per 1/2 cup of butter to make up for the lack of salt in unsalted butter.
- Light Brown Sugar – You’ll need light brown sugar for the brown sugar cinnamon topping.
How to Make Crock Pot French Toast Casserole
Be sure to grease your slow cooker with cooking spray beforehand. I also like to prep the topping beforehand, so it’s ready to go. Just mix the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a small bowl (a pastry blender works best for this), and set it aside for now.
- Start by cubing the bread into small 1-inch cubes with a large chef’s knife, and then layer it with the pecans in your slow cooker.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Pour the egg mixture over the bread and pecans in the Crock Pot, and give it all a gentle toss. Make sure all the bread is good and soaked.
- Crumble the cinnamon brown sugar topping over the entire casserole. It’s a really moist mixture, so it’s more like clumps of cinnamon brown sugar.
Place the lid on your slow cooker, and cook on high for 2 to 2 1/2 hours… Or you can cook it on low for 3 to 4 hours. To make sure it’s done, I use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature and make sure it’s up to the proper temp for eggs.
You can slice it and serve it with powdered sugar and/or maple syrup. Keep the rest of your casserole warm, using the “Keep Warm” setting on your slow cooker, if applicable.
Expert Tips and Recipe FAQ’s
Yes, you can. Just substitute in your favorite gluten-free bread in place of the regular sandwich bread included in the ingredients. Depending on the bread you use, it may be a bit more crumbly, but it’s just as delicious. You can even slice or crumble in gluten-free hot cross buns for a little extra flavor.
Yes, you can easily make dairy free French toast casserole. First, you’ll need to swap out the milk for a dairy free milk alternative, like almond milk, cashew milk or oat milk. Then swap out the salted butter for something like these dairy free plant butter sticks. As long as your other ingredients are dairy free, that should be all that’s needed!
Stored in an airtight container, leftover French toast casserole should last up to 3-4 days in the refrigerator before it starts to go bad.
You can freeze French toast casserole either before or after cooking. Either way, you’ll have to wait and add the topping after it’s cooked. Any leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Just be sure to pull it out of the freezer and let it thaw out in the refrigerator overnight before cooking or reheating as normal.
To reheat a pre-cooked casserole that was previously frozen, cover with aluminum foil and re-heat in a 350ºF oven for about 30 minutes, or ’til warmed through. Alternatively, you can reheat it in the microwave in 30-second intervals until it’s heated through.
More Easy Breakfast Recipes
- French Toast Sticks
- Strawberry Waffles
- DIY Pancake Mix
- Homemade Biscuit Mix
- Blueberry Coffee Cake Recipe
- Homemade Everything Bagels
- Banana Nutella Muffins, Zucchini Muffins, Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins, Pumpkin Muffins and Mixed Berry Muffins
If you try this recipe, why not leave a star rating in the recipe card right below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page? I always appreciate your feedback. You can also follow me on Pinterest, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram. And subscribe to my email list too!
Crock Pot French Toast Casserole
Equipment
- Meat Thermometer optional
Ingredients
- 24 ounces sandwich bread*
- 1 cup chopped pecans*
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/4 cup maple syrup*
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Topping:
- 4 tablespoons salted butter sliced
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Before getting started, grease your slow cooker with non-stick cooking spray.
- Using a large chef's knife, cube the bread into small 1-inch cubes, and layer it with the pecans in your slow cooker.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, real maple syrup, vanilla extract, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Pour the egg mixture over the bread and pecans in the Crock Pot, and give it all a gentle toss. Make sure all the bread is good and soaked.
- Using a pastry blender, crumble the butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon together in a small bowl.
- Crumble the cinnamon brown sugar topping over the entire casserole. It’s a really moist mixture, so it’s more like clumps of cinnamon brown sugar.
- Place the lid on your slow cooker, and cook on high for 2 to 2 1/2 hours… Or you can cook it on low for 3 to 4 hours.
- To make sure it's done, I use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature and make sure it's up to the proper temp, 165ºF, for eggs.
- You can slice it and serve it with powdered sugar and/or maple syrup. Keep the rest of your casserole warm, using the “Keep Warm” setting on your slow cooker, if applicable.
If I double the recipe, do I cook it for the same amount of time, or do I need to double the cooking time?
Thank you!
Courtney
Due to the extra volume in the CrockPot, the ingredients will take a little bit longer to warm up, so you may add an extra 30-45 minutes of total cooking time. Keep an eye on it!
Thank you!
You’re welcome, Courtney!
It’s a “must have” recipie! Had this first at a baby shower and I knew I had to have the recipe to add to my “best loved” home recipe selection for my “go to”
I made it the next day and it’s so easy to make!
I meant to give this a well deserved 5star rating!
Thank You so much, Donna!
Hey Donna, if making double the amount of what the recipe calls for, would you recommend cooking for twice the amount of time, or do you think still cooking it for 2.5 or maybe 3 hours would work?
Made this for Easter it is the new favorite! Delish & easy used regular sliced bread and came out perfect
That’s awesome, Chelsea! I’m so glad you liked it.
If I wanted to cook this in the oven, how long and at what temperature?
Denise, I actually have a recipe for French toast casserole in the oven. Search “Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe,” and it should come up. I hope this helps!
Made this a couple of weeks ago. Hubby LOVED it and so did I. Making again this morning but doubled the batch. I thought there was a note on doubling it here but now I don’ see it. I hope it turns out ok.
Thank You, Kelly! I’m so glad that you liked it.
Did the double batch work out?
With doubling the recipe, did you cook it for the same amount of time in the crockpot? I want to double this for a Christmas Eve breakfast we are doing at my brother’s house (my nephews can EAT, lol!) but I want to make sure I cook it for the correct amount of time.
Thank you!
Courtney
Is this recipe supposed to have soggy bread? Cooked on high for 2.5 hours and the bread is so soggy and tasteless.
It’s not normally soggy. What kind of bread did you use, and how much liquid ingredients did you use?
What’s the point of printing this recipe when the DO NOT SELKKL MY PERSONAL INFORMAITON blocks out the measurements for the ingredients?!?