For a delicious make-ahead breakfast, try this French toast casserole with fresh milled flour. Each bite is filled with fruit, jam and covered in a rich custard mixture, making it a decant yet nutritious breakfast dish.
Every weekend, I have great intentions of making some large, from scratch breakfast. Waffles, English muffins, German pancake, hash browns — served with the works. However, with the garden in full swing and a toddler at my feet, sometimes my intentions are met with reality and I don’t get to make that big dream breakfast I had in mind.
Until now.
Make ahead French toast casserole is just what this busy mama needs. After I clean up dinner Friday night, I prepare breakfast for the next morning. I grab a loaf of bread, chop it into cubes, toss it into a large baking dish, add some berries, drizzle some jam and cover it with a cinnamon vanilla custard mixture. Breakfast goes into the fridge and awaits to be baked the following morning.
Come Saturday, breakfast is practically done. Into the oven the casserole goes and within 35 minutes breakfast is served! While the French toast casserole with fresh milled bread is baking, I can whip up some scrambled eggs and take some time for a devotional. It’s the best and easiest breakfast dish.
Fellow reader, if you’re looking for a nutritious and filling breakfast that won’t take long to make, you’ve come to the right place.
Why You Will Love This Recipe
Easy Make Ahead Breakfast Idea – This from scratch French toast casserole recipe saves a boat load of time. I like to whip it up Friday evening and first thing on Saturday, I pop it into the oven. Simple and quick. And ready when my family wakes up hungry for breakfast.
Nutritious – This easy French toast casserole recipe is made with fresh milled flour, plus fresh fruit, natural sweeteners and healthy fats. You can feel good about feeding this healthy, yet decadent breakfast to your kids and spouse.
Hearty and Filling – Not only does this dish fill several bellies, it is also wholesome and hearty, ensuring no one leaves the table hungry.
What is the Best Bread for French Toast Casserole?
Thick-sliced bread such as challah, brioche, sandwich bread with fresh milled flour, French bread or even sourdough bread are all good choices for making overnight French toast casserole.
Don’t forget that if you have a loaf of fresh milled bread that didn’t go quite as planned, you can use that for this recipe! Don’t toss it! All your hard work can still be fruitful. Simply slice the bread into cubes and toss it into a bowl to make this delicious breakfast dish.
Tips
- Thoroughly cover the casserole in the liquid mixture to ensure there are no dry pieces of bread when the overnight French toast casserole with fresh milled bread sits in the fridge for 8-12 hours.
- Use your leftover fresh milled bread for this recipe!
- Stale bread will also work.
- Use any kind of berries for this recipe. I love blueberries but fresh strawberries or raspberries would be tasty.
Tools You May Need
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Mixing bowls
Bread knife
9 x 13-inch baking dish
Ingredients
Milk – whole milk is the healthiest choice and also gives the French toast recipe a rich, custard-like flavor.
Honey or agave
Eggs – this French toast casserole with fresh milled bread calls for lots of eggs to give the casserole plenty of moisture as well as protein!
Jam – Use your favorite! Raspberry, strawberry, blueberry or blackberry are all great choices.
Cinnamon
Vanilla extract
Lemon zest
Fresh or frozen berries – I find blueberries work very well in this recipe and of course, I always have some on hand in our freezer but raspberries or blackberries would be delicious too.
Butter
Homemade bread with fresh milled four – Most leftover bread works well for this recipe. However, for a softer, more flavorful casserole, use a sandwich bread, leftover challah, or any enriched bread. It is best if the loaf is a day or two old.
Simple French Toast Casserole with Fresh Milled Bread
Rich and lightly sweetened with fresh milled bread, berries, jam and cinnamon and baked to perfection, this healthy French toast casserole with fresh milled flour is one you’ll want to try!
Serves: 6-8 servings
Ingredients
2 cups milk
1/3 cup honey or agave nectar
8 eggs
5 tablespoons jam, warmed
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon lemon or orange zest
1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen berries, divided
1/2 cup butter, melted
1 loaf day-old fresh milled bread, cubed
Directions
Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. In a mixing bowl, whisk together milk, agave (or honey), eggs, vanilla, lemon zest and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, mix together jam and 1 cup of berries.
Sprinkle half of the cubed bread pieces into a baking dish. Spoon fruit mixture overtop, then sprinkle with remaining pieces of bread. Pour egg mixture over the bread, cover tightly with plastic wrap and sit in the fridge overnight.
The next day, preheat oven to 350° F. Drizzle with butter and top with remaining berries. Bake for 35 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown. Serve warm. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge.
FAQ
Why Does French Toast Casserole Have to Sit Overnight?
For the best overnight French toast casserole, it is best to let it sit overnight in the fridge. This helps the bread to soak up the delicious flavors and custard mixture, ensuring a moist casserole. A bonus about letting it soak overnight, is it means you’ll have a hassle-free morning. Pop the casserole into the oven and breakfast is ready in about a half hour.
How Long Does French Toast Casserole Last in the Fridge?
When stored in the refrigerator, this French toast casserole with fruit lasts for 3-4 days. Reheat before serving.
Free Wheat Conversion Chart Printable
Easily convert a cup of wheat berries to fresh ground flour with this free printable chart. Click on the image above or on this link right here to instantly download and print. Great for hanging up on your fridge or attaching to the inside of a cabinet!
More Breakfast Ideas With Fresh Milled Flour
Pancakes With Soft White Wheat
French Toast Casserole With Fresh Milled Bread
For a delicious make-ahead breakfast, try this French toast casserole with fresh milled flour. Each bite is filled with fruit, jam and covered in a rich custard mixture, making it a decant yet nutritious breakfast dish.
Ingredients
- 2 cups milk
- 1/3 cup honey or agave nectar
- 8 eggs
- 5 tablespoons jam, warmed
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon lemon or orange zest
- 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen berries, divided
- 1/2 cup butter, melted
- 1 loaf day-old fresh milled bread, cubed
Instructions
- Grease a 9 x 13-inch baking dish. In a mixing bowl, whisk together milk, agave (or honey), eggs, vanilla, lemon zest and cinnamon. In a separate bowl, mix together jam and 1 cup of berries.
- Sprinkle half of the cubed bread pieces into a baking dish. Spoon fruit mixture overtop, then sprinkle with remaining pieces of bread. Pour egg mixture over the bread, cover tightly with plastic wrap and sit in the fridge overnight.
- The next day, preheat oven to 350° F. Drizzle with butter and top with remaining berries. Bake for 35 minutes or until cooked through and golden brown. Serve warm. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge.
Notes
- Thoroughly cover the casserole in the liquid mixture to ensure there are no dry pieces of bread when the overnight French toast casserole with fresh milled bread sits in the fridge for 8-12 hours.
- Use your leftover fresh milled bread for this recipe!
- Stale bread will also work.
- Use any kind of berries for this recipe. I love blueberries but fresh strawberries or raspberries would be tasty.
