Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole

Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole is an easy and delicious baked French toast recipe with dollops of cream cheese added. It uses a custard mixture of egg, milk, brown sugar and vanilla, and can be assembled ahead overnight to bake in the oven the next day.

This is a winning casserole dish for serving a large-quantity breakfast or brunch. It’s one of my favorite simple recipes for the holidays and entertaining a big group of people.

Baked French Toast with Cream Cheese

After the sensational Berry French Toast Casserole and Apple French Toast Casserole recipes, I wanted to deliver another version of french toast bake. This time, we are incorporating it with cream cheese dollops which makes this French toast casserole richer, creamier and heartier. All the good things. 🙂

While French toast is traditionally made on a skillet, French toast casserole is instead soaked in that custard mixture and then baked in the oven.

The beautifully thing about French toast casserole is that it’s a low-touch dish to make. Simply let the bread sit in the custard mixture, then bake it in the oven until the edges are golden brown and the bread mixture is set. No need to stand by the stove cooking one piece of bread after another.

Those dollops of cream cheese in between every bite gives it some richness, tanginess and creaminess.

And then obviously, French toast in any form, where traditional, French toast casserole or Cream cheese French toast casserole is simply not complete without smothering it maple syrup.

In a way, cream cheese French toast casserole is kinda like a stuffed French toast. Instead of sandwich cream cheese between two slices of bread, we are simply dropping balls of sweetened cream cheese onto the casserole.

You can even make this cream cheese French toast casserole the night before, set it in the fridge overnight, and wake up and put it into the oven.

Speaking from experience, let me just say…it is pretty awesome to wake up to this yummy cream cheese French toast bake on weekend mornings. 🙂

Ingredients

Here are the ingredients you will need to make cream cheese French toast casserole:

• cream cheese – leave cream cheese out an hour or two before hand so it will be softened and easier to mix. We’ll be mixing up a sweetened cream cheese filling to distribute little dollops all over this cream cheese French toast casserole. Trust me when I say this will be the magic pill that will turn this casserole dish into the BEST French toast casserole dish.
• bread – you can use French bread, challah, white bread, wheat bread. Dryer, stale bread usually works best because it will soak up the egg mixture more effectively.
• milk – any type of milk works – 2%, 1% or whole. Non-dairy milk such as almond milk or oat milk works great as well.
• vanilla extract – use pure vanilla extract for best flavor. This is used for both the egg mixture and the cream cheese mixture
• ground cinnamon – for a touch of that warm cinnamon flavor in the egg custard mixture.
• brown sugar – used in the egg mixture for a touch of sweetness
• cream cheese – make sure to leave it out in room temperature so it’s softened and easier to mix up
• powdered sugar – used to sweeten the cream cheese mixture

How to make cream cheese french toast casserole

This dreamy cream cheese filled baked French toast is a fairly simple make-ahead breakfast recipe; with most of the work being done the night before, and the pan is popped in the oven to bake the next day.

In a large greased 9’x13′ casserole dish, lay large cube of French loaf or any bread as the base layer.

Next, in a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, brown sugar and vanilla extract.

In a smaller mixing bowl, bring together softened cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla extract to create the cream cheese filling.

Pour egg mixture all over the cubed French loaf in the casserole dish.

Distribute these dolloped sweetened cream cheese filling over the top of the casserole.

Cover cream cheese filled French toast casserole with saran wrap, then let it sit for 4 hours or up to overnight.

Bake for 40-45 minutes, or until the custard is set.

Sprinkle with powdered sugar (optional, for a little bit more sweetness) and serve with maple syrup.

So rich, creamy, luscious and so decadently delicious. I love a classic French toast bake, but let me tell you, this cream cheese version really does take it to the next level with that dollop of sweetened cream cheese filling baked in there. So good.

This cream cheese baked French toast casserole will make for a festive and delicious breakfast or brunch for the holidays and special occasions – Valentine’s Day, Christmas, Easter, Mother’s Day, Baby Shower, Bridesmaid’s Brunch, you name it!

Storage and Reheating

Cream cheese French toast casserole is best served fresh. Any leftovers can be refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 5 days.

To reheat, cover baking dish in aluminum foil, and reheat in the oven in at 350°F until warmed through (15-25 minutes).

If reheating smaller portions, you can reheat it the microwave. It actually reheats really well in the microwave, although the tops will love the crunchiness (but honestly I don’t mind, especially after drizzling them in maple syrup).

Variations and Substitutions

There are so many ways to jazz up this cream cheese French toast bake recipe:

• Use a different bread: brioche bread, challah bread, sourdough, croissant etc.
• Add fruit filling in between the layers: blueberries, strawberries, banana slices, or apple slices between the bread cubes bring an extra sweetness to this baked French toast casserole.
• Add nuts for a crunch: almonds and pecans are great adds to the top of the casserole right before baking

Frequently Asked Questions

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