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Overnight Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast Casserole with Cinnamon Streusel

Close-up of a moist slice of french toast casserole topped with cinnamon streusel and vanilla glaze.
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Prepare this make-ahead French toast casserole the night before your gathering. It bakes up soft, custardy, and rich, perfect for feeding a crowd at brunch or on a holiday morning.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 (13 to 16 ounce) loaf thick-cut bread (like Brioche or Challah), cut into 1-inch cubes
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened and cut into small cubes
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 6 large eggs
  • 2 cups whole milk
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted (for topping)
  • 1 cup packed light brown sugar (for topping)
  • 1/2 cup all-purpose flour (for topping)
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts (optional, for topping)

Instructions

  1. Lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish. Arrange half of the bread cubes evenly in the bottom of the dish. Dot the cream cheese cubes evenly over the bread layer. Top with the remaining bread cubes.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together the granulated sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, and vanilla extract until well combined. Pour the egg mixture slowly and evenly over the bread and cream cheese in the baking dish. Gently press down on the bread to help it absorb the custard.
  4. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap. Refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or preferably overnight. This step is key for the best custard soak.
  5. When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Remove the plastic wrap.
  6. Prepare the streusel topping: In a medium bowl, combine the melted butter, brown sugar, flour, and nuts (if using). Mix with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle the streusel evenly over the top of the casserole.
  7. Bake uncovered for 45 to 55 minutes, or until the casserole is set in the center and the topping is golden brown. If the topping browns too quickly, loosely cover it with foil for the last 10 minutes.
  8. Let the baked french toast casserole rest for 10 minutes before slicing and serving warm. Serve with maple syrup.

Notes

  • Using day-old or slightly stale bread helps the casserole maintain its structure and absorb the custard better.
  • For an extra rich flavor, substitute half of the whole milk with heavy cream in the custard mixture.
  • This recipe is excellent for feeding a crowd; scale up ingredients for two dishes if needed for a very large gathering.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://bringdish.com/french-toast-casserole-cream-cheese-streusel/