Overnight French Toast Casserole

An easy to make breakfast for kids!

The first day of school is always a whirlwind of excitement, nerves, and — let's be honest —a bit of chaos. With three kids to get ready, I’ve found that starting the day with a hearty breakfast they will be excited to eat can make all the difference. This year, I decided to make a French toast casserole, a kiddo favorite! 

What makes this dish extra special is that it's made from the odds and ends of bread loaves that our family has been saving in the bread drawer. You know those ends that no one wants or last few slices that are too stale for sandwiches. Don’t toss them! Instead, we stash them away and by the end of the month, I’ve got enough to whip up something delicious. Not only does this minimize waste, but it also makes for an easy to make casserole with a mix of textures and flavors.

Ingredients:

• 12 ends of bread

• 6 eggs 

• 1 cup of milk 

• Cinnamon sugar (add what feels right) 

• Vanilla extract (same)

• Butter

The Night Before: The beauty of this French toast casserole is that most of the work happens the night before. After dinner, while the kids were winding down, I pulled out the bread stash, cut the slices into pieces and set aside. I then whisked together eggs, milk, vanilla, and the cinnamon sugar. 

I poured the custard over the bread chunks, making sure every piece was soaked, then covered the dish and popped it in the fridge. This overnight soak is key, as it allows the bread to absorb all the rich, eggy goodness, ensuring a soft and custardy interior with a slightly crisp top.

Morning Magic: The next morning, before the kids woke, I added butter chunks to the top of the casserole, covered it back up and slid it into the oven (I like to leave out for 30 minutes before baking) After 45 minutes in the oven on 350, the kitchen was filled with the warm, comforting smell of cinnamon and vanilla, gently coaxing the kids to the table. A quick drizzle of maple syrup and a side of yogurt and fresh fruit made this morning special, setting a positive tone for their first day of school! ENJOY!