French toast is just so incredibly easy, flavorful, and with that soggy, eggy, syrupy texture, you can't go wrong. This apple cinnamon brioche french toast casserole recipe wins each and every time. Plus, it's a great overnight option for breakfast, too!
Combining fresh fruit with a french toast casserole is not a novel idea, but it's an excellent option for a Sunday brunch, a meal prep for the busy week, or even to bring to a new mom or a friend to cheer them up!
Just like my pear french toast bake, tiramisu french toast, and my croissant french toast version, this recipe calls for simple ingredients and will satisfy anyone who indulges in it.
Jump to:
- Why this french toast casserole works
- What are the ingredients for this recipe?
- Swaps and Substitutions
- How do I make this recipe?
- Ways to vary this apple brioche french toast bake
- Tips for making the best brioche french toast casserole
- Storage and Freezer Information
- Hungry for More?
- Apple Cinnamon Brioche French Toast Casserole Recipe
Why this french toast casserole works
- This is a no frills, super easy recipe that is great for breakfast any day of the week.
- It can be prepped ahead of time and stored overnight to bake the next day.
- Virtually any type of bread works here if you are not a brioche fan, even gluten free!
What are the ingredients for this recipe?
- Brioche - Using a buttery brioche is just such a great vessel for soaking up and egg and milk mixture.
- Eggs - eggs are big part of making a french toast casserole as it helps with binding the ingredients, and gives it the french toast texture it needs.
- Milk - you can also use almond milk!
- Cinnamon - we're adding cinnamon to the egg mixture and to the apples
- Apples - the best kinds of apples for this are honeycrisp, rubyfrost, gala, empire, envy, or any other variety that has a sweet and tart crunch when bitten into.
- Butter - butter is used to sauté the apples and gives the entire dish a very buttery, creamy texture.
See the recipe card below for specific information about quantities.
Swaps and Substitutions
If you're looking for ways to create this recipe, but need to tailor to dietary needs to preferences, here are some of the ways this can be done:
- Bread: If you don't like brioche, you can swap for any type of bread including challah or a gluten-free bread of your choosing.
- Milk: Opt for almond, oat, or another type of milk that you're used to consuming.
- Sugar: You don't have to use the brown sugar if you'd prefer this recipe to be lower in sugar. However, you could use coconut sugar as the sugar adds flavor and helps the apples render down.
How do I make this recipe?
Step 1: Slice, then dice the apples into smaller diced pieces then add to a pan with melted butter on medium heat. Let the apples cook for a few minutes (3-4 minutes), then add in the brown sugar and cinnamon. Toss to combine and bring the flame to low. Continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes, then set aside.
Step 2: In a medium mixing bowl or in a large measuring cup, combine together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon using a whisk, then set aside.
Step 3: Dice the brioche into cubes and toss into an oven safe baking dish. Then, pour the egg mixture all over the brioche, making sure all of the bread has been soaked and covered with the egg.
Step 4: Top the brioche with the sautéed apples and bake at 375º for 20 minutes.
HINT: The french toast should be eggy and wet when it bakes, so be sure to cover all of the bread to make sure that the end result yields a moist and egg texture rather than drying out.
Ways to vary this apple brioche french toast bake
- Overnight: You can prepare this recipe as an overnight prep and bake in the oven the next day but preparing the bread beforehand, pouring the egg mixture onto the bread then covering with plastic wrap and setting in the fridge. I would not recommend sautéing the apples ahead of time as they won't be as fresh the next day. You will want to make the apples the morning of, which does not take very long, and add to the bread then bake the same day.
- Nuts: If you want some added crunch, you can add some candied walnuts, pecans, almonds into the batter and pour on top, or add to the top of the bread before it's baked.
- Chocolate: You can drizzle some hazelnut spread on top after it bakes or even some melted chocolate!
Tips for making the best brioche french toast casserole
- Using fresh bread is great, but you could also use a day old brioche. The bread will absorb the egg and milk mixture regardless, but older bread will hold up better.
- Do not use heavy cream! The heavy cream will not yield the same results that regular milk or even half and half would.
- When prepping the apples, be sure to dice them finely into small cubes so that they cook a little quicker and soften easier.
- Be sure to pour all of the egg mixture into the casserole and press the bread down into the mixture with a spatula. We don't want any dry bread cubes!
Storage and Freezer Information
To Store: Put any leftover brioche french toast casserole into an airtight container and place in the fridge. Consume within 3-4 days.
To Freeze: Wrap any leftover french toast in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month.
To Reheat: You can either use the microwave, or heat for 15 minutes in a 350º oven.
Hungry for More?
Check out these other incredible breakfast recipes, perfect for your weekly rotation!
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Apple Cinnamon Brioche French Toast Casserole Recipe
Equipment
- oven safe baking dish
- measuring cups and spoons
- whisk
- large frying pan
- cutting board
- mixing bowl or large measuring cup
Ingredients
For the Apples
- 2-3 large apples diced, then sliced
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
For the French Toast
- 4 large eggs
- 1 ½ cups milk or half and half
- 1 tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 loaf brioche bread cubed
Instructions
For the Apples:
- Slice, then dice the apples into smaller diced pieces then add to a pan with melted butter on medium heat. Let the apples cook for a few minutes (3-4 minutes), then add in the brown sugar and cinnamon.
- Toss to combine and bring the flame to low. Continue to cook for another 2-3 minutes, then set aside.
For the French Toast:
- In a medium mixing bowl or in a large measuring cup, combine together the eggs, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon using a whisk, then set aside.
- Dice the brioche into cubes and toss into an oven safe baking dish. Then, pour the egg mixture all over the brioche, making sure all of the bread has been soaked and covered with the egg.
- Top the brioche with the sautéed apples and bake at 375º for 20 minutes.
Heather Geisler says
This came out so good!!
Sharon F says
I can’t tell you how easy this was to prepare for breakfast tomorrow morning. The apples smell so good and I am happy that breakfast is ready to go while my grandkids open presents. Thank you!!
Elyse says
we have so many apples from apple picking that I did not want to make a pie. I saw this on Google and saved to make this morning. It's truly outstanding. The apples really are the best part of this french toast bake. We loved this recipe!
Gerri says
This french toast was out of this world!!! The recipe was so easy to follow and was not complicated. I love apples so this was great, and even better that I can prep overnight. We loved it!