The Kitchen Duchess

A cozy make-ahead breakfast favourite that tastes like a bakery treat.

There are few things better than waking up to the smell of cinnamon and butter baking in the oven. This Cinnamon Streusel French Toast Casserole is one of those recipes that feels special without being fussy – perfect for slow weekends, holidays, or anytime you want breakfast to feel like a treat!

The best part? You can prep this the night before. In the morning, all that’s left to do is top it with the streusel topping and pop it in the oven.

Soft, custardy bread baked in a rich cinnamon-vanilla custard, topped with a buttery streusel that crisps up beautifully in the oven – this is comfort food at its best. Whether you’re hosting brunch, feeding a crowd, or just want a cozy weekend breakfast that feels a little extra, this casserole delivers big flavour with minimal effort.

What makes this recipe so special is the thick bread (like brioche or challah) that soaks up the rich, cinnamon-vanilla custard. And let’s not forget, the generous cinnamon streusel topping that bakes into a crisp, golden layer.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• Make-ahead friendly (hello – easy mornings).
• Soft and custardy inside, with a buttery crunchy streusel on top.
• Feeds a crowd with minimal effort.
• Freezer friendly…yes, you can freeze this after baked (see recipe notes section below)

Cinnamon Streusel French Toast Casserole

thekitchenduchess

Print Recipe

Prep Time 15 minutes mins

Cook Time 45 minutes mins

Total Time 1 hour hr

Course Breakfast

Cuisine American

Servings 6

Ingredients

  

French Toast Base

• 1 loaf thick sliced bread, cubed (Challah or brioche are best)
• 6 large eggs
• 1 cup milk
• ½ cup cream (5% or 10%)
• 1½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste (or vanilla extract)
• 2 tablespoons white sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Streusel Topping

• ¼ cup butter, melted
• ¼ cup brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons white sugar
• ½ teaspoon cinnamon
• ½ cup flour

Instructions

 

Instructions for Baking Same Day

• Preheat oven to 375℉.
• Generously grease a 9×13" baking dish with butter. Place the cubed bread into the dish in an even layer. Set aside.
  1 loaf thick sliced bread, cubed
• In a large mixing bowl or measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, vanilla bean paste, sugar, and cinnamon. Pour evenly over bread and gently press down to ensure all the bread soaks up the egg mixture. Set aside.
  6 large eggs, 1 cup milk, ½ cup cream, 1½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste, 2 tablespoons white sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• In a small mixing bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon with a fork until combined. Pour in melted butter and stir until chunks are formed.
  ¼ cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons white sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ cup flour, ¼ cup butter, melted
• Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the bread, Cover with foil. Bake for 25 minutes covered, then uncover and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes until golden brown.

Instructions for Make-Ahead

• Generously grease a 9×13" baking dish with butter. Place the cubed bread into the dish in an even layer. Set aside.
  1 loaf thick sliced bread, cubed
• In a large mixing bowl or measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, vanilla bean paste, sugar, and cinnamon. Pour evenly over bread and gently press down to ensure all the bread soaks up the egg mixture. Cover and place in the refrigerator overnight.
  6 large eggs, 1 cup milk, ½ cup cream, 1½ teaspoons vanilla bean paste, 2 tablespoons white sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 375℉. Remove bread mixture dish from fridge.
• In a small mixing bowl, stir together flour, brown sugar, white sugar, and cinnamon with a fork until combined. Pour in melted butter and stir until chunks are formed.
  ¼ cup brown sugar, 3 tablespoons white sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, ½ cup flour, ¼ cup butter, melted
• Sprinkle the streusel topping evenly over the bread, Cover with foil. Bake for 25 minutes covered, then uncover and continue baking for another 20-25 minutes until golden brown.
• Serve warm with powdered sugar, maple syrup, yogurt, whipped cream and/or fresh berries.

Notes

• Best to use day-old bread for a better texture, but fresh works too.
• If the top browns too quickly, you can cover it again with foil.

How to freeze:

1. Bake the casserole completely and let it cool fully. This helps prevent excess moisture and freezer burn. 
2. Once cooled, you have 2 options:
   1. Freeze the whole casserole – wrap the dish tightly in plastic wrap, then a layer of foil.
   2. Freeze individual portions – slice into servings, wrap each piece individually, and store in a freezer-safe container or zip lock bag. 
3. To reheat:
   1. Thawed – you can thaw the casserole overnight in the fridge and bake covered at 350F for 20-30 minutes until warmed through.
   2. Frozen – remove from freezer and let the dish come to room temperature before baking. Bake covered at 350F for 40-40 minutes. 
   3. Air Fryer – I like to reheat individual portions in the air fryer.  I remove them from the freeze and place in directly in the air fryer set to 320F for 15-20 minutes. 

Keyword breakfast, brunch, cinnamon

This Cinnamon Streusel French Toast Casserole proves that the best breakfast recipes don’t have to be complicated. It’s cozy, crowd-pleasing, and feels like something you’d order at your favourite café.