Description

Overnight Baked Banana French Toast Casserole is a comforting and versatile breakfast dish featuring sourdough or French bread soaked overnight in a rich custard with bananas, then baked to golden perfection with a crunchy cinnamon streusel topping. Perfect for a cozy morning or brunch, it combines creamy, sweet, and spiced flavors with a delightful texture.

Ingredients

Scale

Bread Base

1 lb loaf sourdough or French bread, cut into chunks

Egg Mixture

8 large eggs
2 cups (480ml) milk (whole or 2%)
1/2 cup (120ml) heavy whipping cream
1/2 cup (104g) sugar
1/4 cup (36g) light brown sugar, unpacked
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Bananas

6–7 medium sized bananas, chopped

Streusel Topping

3/4 cup (98g) all-purpose flour
3/4 cup (169g) firmly packed brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup (112g) salted butter, cut into pieces

Instructions

Grease the Dish: Thoroughly grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish to prevent the casserole from sticking during baking.
Prepare the Bread: Place the sourdough or French bread chunks in a large bowl and set aside while preparing the egg mixture.
Whisk Together Ingredients: In a separate large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, white sugar, brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon until well combined.
Combine Mixtures: Pour the egg mixture over the bread chunks in the bowl. Add the chopped bananas and gently stir to coat all bread pieces evenly with the custard.
Assemble the Casserole: Transfer the bread and custard mixture to the prepared casserole dish. Spread it out evenly. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to allow the bread to soak.
Preheat Oven: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C).
Bake: Bake the casserole uncovered for about 35-40 minutes, or until the top is lightly golden and the custard is mostly set.
Make Streusel Topping: While the casserole bakes, combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon for the streusel in a bowl. Add the cold salted butter pieces and mash with your fingers or a pastry cutter until the mixture is crumbly.
Add Streusel Topping: Remove the casserole from the oven when it looks nearly done and evenly crumble the streusel topping over the surface.
Final Bake: Return the casserole to the oven and bake for an additional 5 minutes, or until the streusel topping is melted, golden, and crisp.
Serve Warm: Serve the banana French toast casserole warm with maple syrup, fresh fruit, whipped cream, or your favorite toppings. Enjoy!

Notes

Use stale or day-old bread to absorb the custard better and avoid sogginess.
Choose ripe bananas for maximum sweetness and flavor.
Cover casserole tightly and refrigerate overnight for best texture and flavor melding.
Check doneness with a toothpick and monitor baking time closely to prevent over- or under-baking.
Do not skip the streusel topping; it adds delightful crunch and sweetness.
Serve the casserole warm for the best taste experience.
Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days or frozen for up to 2 months.
Reheat in oven, microwave, or skillet as preferred.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Category: Breakfast Casserole
Method: Baking
Cuisine: American

Keywords: banana french toast casserole, baked french toast, overnight casserole, breakfast casserole, banana breakfast bake, streusel topping french toast