Description
This Overnight Baked Banana French Toast Casserole is a delicious and comforting breakfast dish perfect for lazy mornings or special occasions. Made with sourdough or French bread soaked overnight in a rich mixture of eggs, milk, cream, and sugars, it’s studded with ripe bananas and topped with a buttery, sweet streusel. Baked to golden perfection, this casserole is soft, flavorful, and easy to prepare ahead of time.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb sourdough or French bread, cut into chunks
- 6–7 medium ripe bananas, chopped
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
- 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1/4 cup light brown sugar
Streusel Topping
- 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
- 3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 1/2 cup salted butter
Instructions
- Prepare the casserole dish: Grease a 9×13 inch casserole dish thoroughly to ensure the casserole does not stick during baking.
- Combine bread and bananas: In a large bowl, combine the chunks of sourdough or French bread with the chopped ripe bananas, evenly distributing the banana pieces.
- Mix the custard: In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, white sugar, light brown sugar, vanilla extract, and cinnamon until well combined to create a smooth custard mixture.
- Soak the bread and bananas: Pour the custard mixture over the bread and banana pieces, stirring gently to make sure every chunk is well coated with the custard.
- Refrigerate overnight: Transfer the custard-soaked bread and bananas to the prepared casserole dish, cover it tightly, and refrigerate overnight to allow the bread to absorb the custard fully.
- Preheat oven and begin baking: The next morning, preheat your oven to 350°F (176°C). Place the casserole in the oven and bake for about 30 minutes.
- Prepare and add streusel topping: While the casserole bakes, combine the all-purpose flour, brown sugar, and salted butter in a bowl. Crumble this streusel topping over the casserole during the last five to ten minutes of baking, then continue baking until the topping is golden brown and crumbly.
- Serve warm: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool slightly. Serve warm with maple syrup or your choice of additional toppings such as fresh fruit or whipped cream.
Notes
- Use day-old or slightly stale bread for best texture as it soaks up the custard better.
- Ripe, soft bananas add natural sweetness and moisture; avoid overly brown or mushy bananas.
- The overnight soak is essential for a soft and custardy interior.
- You can make the streusel topping dairy-free by substituting the butter with a plant-based alternative.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute bread and flour with gluten-free alternatives.
- Reheat leftovers in the oven or microwave for a quick breakfast.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: banana French toast casserole, overnight French toast, baked French toast, breakfast casserole, banana breakfast bake, streusel topping French toast
