Apple French Toast Casserole
Fall-flavored apple French toast casserole is a delicious way to serve your brunch crowd something special. Coming together in under 1 hour, you can even assemble it ahead of time and bake when ready!
This casserole is made with a layer of thick-cut toast soaked in a cinnamon vanilla egg mixture and topped with a layer of apple pie filling. More egg mixture is poured on top and then it gets baked until golden brown.
Once baked, slice the casserole into individual servings and served with cinnamon glaze (or cinnamon whipped cream!). It is the easiest way to make a lot of French toast at once! The warm apple pie filling adds so much gooey deliciousness. Try it with an apple cider mimosa for a special occasion!
Be sure to try my Tres Leches French Toast Casserole, too!
About this recipe
This French toast casserole is the ultimate holiday brunch recipe. It’s where French toast meets apple pie in one delicious baked breakfast casserole. Serve a slice drizzled with a cinnamon glaze and with one bite, you’re in absolute heaven. The best part is, it’s so easy to make with minimal time and effort!
It has all of the warm and cozy flavors of fall and is the perfect family-style shareable dish for any special occasion. Serve it for a special breakfast for your kids and their friends after a sleepover or for a quick and easy dessert for last-minute company. One bite of this warm and decadent dish and your guests may never leave the table!
What you need
- Texas Toast Bread – Texas toast is preferred because it’s nice and thick, perfect for absorbing all of the egg mixture without getting soggy. Other breads such as challah or brioche will work as well.
- Whole Milk – Using whole milk add richness, and give the French toast a creamier consistency.
- Eggs – As with any French toast, you need the eggs as the base of the mixture that coats the bread.
- Vanilla & Cinnamon – Without the flavor of this dynamic duo, you’d be coating your bread with just egg and milk! This ramps up the flavor of the French toast.
- Apple Pie Filling – Just one can of this filling will suffice. You can find canned apple pie filling at most big box grocery stores. Homemade fried apples are even better!.
- Glaze – A delicious and easy glaze is made with powdered sugar, milk, and cinnamon.
How to make it
Cut each piece of bread into 9 even squares and place them in a 9 x 13 baking dish that you’ve sprayed with nonstick cooking spray (or rubbed with butter).
Mix together the milk, eggs, vanilla and cinnamon.
Pour half of the egg mixture over the bread. Reserve the other half.
Evenly distribute the apple pie filling over the egg soaked bread across in a layer. Do not mix.
Pour the remaining egg mixture over the entire casserole, and bake in a preheated oven for 40 minutes.
Once golden brown and cooked through, remove the casserole from the oven to cool down.
Prepare the glaze and drizzle evenly over top the casserole. Best enjoyed immediately!
FAQs
It could be that your bread isn’t thick or stale enough to absorb the liquid. Over time, this particular casserole tends to get soggy anyway, the longer it sits with the apple pie filling, which is why it is best served immediately.
So many things! If you’re having it on its own, enjoy it with a hot cup of coffee or tea, pumpkin spiced hot chocolate, a caramel iced coffee, or a mimosa. If it’s part of a larger brunch menu consider serving it with sheet pan breakfast hash and slices of candied bacon for a special occasion brunch.
Braeburn, Gala, Pink Lady and Honeycrisp are all great choices. Each is sweet enough and becomes nice and soft when cooked down. If you plan on making fried apple filling, these are great choices. Granny Smith apples also hold their shape well although they are more tart.
How to make this casserole your own
- Omit the glaze. Instead, try a dusting of powdered sugar and a bit of maple syrup or homemade pancake syrup. Top the apple pie filling with crunchy toasted nuts like pecans or walnuts.
- Use fresh apples: Skip the apple pie filling and use fresh apples instead. Keep it healthy and top with a dollop of yogurt, or keep it sweet and top with a streusel or a crumble topping, and a drizzle of caramel sauce.
- Make it dessert: Top with whipped cream, cinnamon whipped cream, or a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
- Use a different kind of bread: Gluten-free, sourdough, crusty Italian or French bread, or brioche bread. For slices of bread that have a softer crumb, be sure to wait until it’s slightly stale.
Make Ahead Ideas
One of the best things about this dish is that it’s perfect for preparing in advance. No one wants to spend more time in the kitchen than they have to when good company is around. Assemble the entire casserole, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and store it in the fridge overnight. Bake just before serving. Make sure to let the casserole dish come to room temperature before popping in a hot oven.
Storage Suggestions
Keep any leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
Reheating Tips
It will get slight soggy over time, so the best way to get it slightly crispy again is to use the oven to warm it through (350ºF for 15-20 minutes, depending on how much is left). Otherwise, just use the microwave!
Get the Recipe: Apple French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
For casserole:
- 10 slices Texas Toast Bread
- 2 cups whole milk
- 8 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 can (20 oz.) apple pie filling
For the Glaze:
- 1 ½ cups powdered sugar
- 3 tablespoons milk
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350ºF and prepare a 9×13 baking dish by spraying with non-stick cooking spray or rubbing with butter.
- Cut each piece of bread into 9 even squares and place in the prepared baking dish.
- In a large bowl, mix together milk, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon.
- Pour half the mixture over the bread and reserve the other half.
- Evenly distribute the apple pie filling over the egg soaked bread. Do not mix.
- Pour remaining egg mixture over the entire casserole.
- Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes or until golden brown and cooked through. Remove from the oven to cool.
- While the casserole is baking, prepare the glaze by mixing the confectioners sugar, milk and cinnamon in a small bowl until smooth.
- Drizzle the glaze evenly over the casserole and serve warm.
Notes
- To Make Ahead: Assemble the entire casserole, cover tightly with plastic wrap, and store it in the fridge overnight. Let the casserole dish come to room temperature before popping in a hot oven. Remove plastic wrap and bake as directed (may need to add a few minutes to bake time since it’s cold).
- Storage: Keep leftovers in the fridge for up to 2 days.
- To Reheat:It will get slight soggy over time, so the best way to get it slightly crispy again is to use the oven to warm it through (350ºF for 15-20 minutes, depending on how much is left). You can also microwave in 30-45 second intervals until heated through.