Get ready to make your mornings merry and bright with this Crockpot French Toast Casserole! It’s the ultimate hands-off breakfast or brunch option, perfect for leisurely Christmas mornings or lazy weekends when you want a delicious meal without any hassle.
Imagine waking up to the irresistible aroma of sweet brown sugar, warm cinnamon, and nutmeg filling your home. With this crockpot casserole, you can enjoy all the flavors of classic French toast without the need for flipping individual slices on the stove.
Simply assemble the ingredients in your slow cooker the night before, let it work its magic while you sleep, and wake up to a decadent breakfast that’s ready to be devoured. The result? A soft and fluffy French toast casserole that’s infused with all the warm and comforting flavors of the season.
Whether you’re hosting a holiday gathering or simply looking to treat your family to something special, this crockpot french toast casserole is sure to sweep everyone off their feet!
Table of Contents
- Why This Crockpot French Toast Casserole Will Knock Your Socks Off
- Ingredients You’ll Need
- What Kind of Bread is Best for Crockpot French Toast?
- How to Make a Handsoff Slow Cooker French Toast Recipe
- Fun Mix-Ins and Toppings
- Serving Suggestions
- How to Store and Reheat
- Common Questions About This Crockpot French Toast Casserole Recipe
- More Craveable French Toast Recipes
- Crockpot French Toast Casserole Recipe Recipe
Why This Crockpot French Toast Casserole Will Knock Your Socks Off
Saying we’re obsessed with French toast is an understatement. With recipes like our air fryer French toast, cinnamon roll French toast roll-ups, churro French toast, and so many more, we make some variation of this dish almost every weekend.
However, we don’t always have the time to stand hovering over the oven or stove. When that’s the case, we opt for this scrumptious crockpot French toast!
Infused with warm spices, sweet brown sugar, and lots of love, it’s the perfect breakfast or brunch for holidays like Christmas and Easter, lazy weekends, family gatherings, and every occasion in between. Not only is it delicious, but this slow cooker French toast is also:
- Made with less than ten simple ingredients.
- Created with minimal prep time.
- Easy to clean up.
- Great to prepare in advance.
- Perfect for feeding a crowd.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Believe it or not, you probably already have everything you need to make restaurant-worthy French toast at home! And if you don’t, all the ingredients are easy to locate at your local grocery store.
- Bread – We use country white bread, but any thick, crusty bread will do. For example, Brioche, Challah, Texas toast, or French bread all taste great. If needed, opt for gluten-free varieties.
- Large Eggs – These act as a binder, helping lock in moisture and create a crisp golden exterior.
- Milk – We recommend using whole milk for the best flavor, but 2% could also be used.
- Heavy Cream – This combines with the milk to treat a truly decadent French toast. If preferred, half and half will also work.
- Whole Milk Ricotta Cheese – This is our secret ingredient to creating an ultra-luxurious custard.
- Brown Sugar – This adds an irresistible sweetness while keeping the mixture moist. Plus, when sprinkled on top, it creates a beautiful caramelized coating.
- Spices – Ground cinnamon and nutmeg infuse this French toast with warm notes of fall-inspired flavor for a dish that’s ultra comforting.
- Butter – Use unsalted butter to coat the crockpot and prevent the ingredients from sticking or burning.
What Kind of Bread is Best for Crockpot French Toast?
Technically, any type of bread you have on hand can be used. However, you’ll have the best results with thick, fluffy pieces that can easily absorb the egg mixture.
Is It Better to Use Stale Bread?
Yes, day-old bread works best because it has lost some moisture and will be slightly dryer than a fresh loaf. As a result, it will absorb the cinnamon mixture really well and be loaded with flavor after it cooks.
How Do I Quickly Dry Bread for French Toast?
If you don’t have stale bread, don’t worry! It’s fairly simple to dry it out a bit yourself.
To do so, arrange the cubes in a single layer on a dry baking sheet. Then, bake them uncovered at 170 degrees Fahrenheit for 15-20 minutes or until they’re dry and just slightly crispy, stirring occasionally.
How to Make a Handsoff Slow Cooker French Toast Recipe
This slow-cooker French toast is the easiest recipe you’ll ever make! With a cook time of a few hours, we let the crockpot do all the heavy lifting so you can set it, forget it, and come back to a decadent breakfast waiting for you!
Go ahead and pour yourself a warm cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate while you wait, and treat yourself to a cozy, laid-back morning.
- Prepare. Before you begin, grease the inside of the slow cooker well to prevent the ingredients from sticking. Be sure to get the creases!
- Portion the Bread. Slice the bread into cubes or slices.
- Whisk the Wet Ingredients. In a large mixing bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, heavy cream, ricotta, vanilla, part of the sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well combined and smooth.
- Soak the Bread. Add the bread pieces to the bowl, and gently toss to coat them with the liquid. Set the bowl aside.
- Cook. Once the liquid has been absorbed by the bread, transfer the mixture to the prepared crockpot, spreading it out evenly. Cover, and cook on low.
Note: Cooking times may vary slightly based on your slow cooker model. So, check after one and a half hours to ensure the French toast is cooking evenly.
- Add the Topping. Once the French toast is cooked and the custard has set, sprinkle the remaining brown sugar on top, cover, and continue to cook until the sugar has melted and caramelized.
- Enjoy! Spoon your slow cooker French toast casserole onto plates, and dig in while it’s warm.
Large enough for a family!
Fun Mix-Ins and Toppings
We love to top our crockpot French toast off with fresh fruit like sliced bananas, blueberries, raspberries, or strawberries, whipped cream, and maple syrup. However, feel free to mix and match all your favorite toppings such as powdered sugar, extra spices, or chopped nuts.
Or, experiment by sprinkling different mix-ins in with the bread! Some fun options include:
- Chocolate Chips
- Diced Apples
- Chopped Nuts (walnuts, pecans, etc.)
- Raisins
- Cinnamon Chips
- Unsweetened Coconut Flakes
Serving Suggestions
This homemade crockpot French toast casserole can be enjoyed as a complete meal on its own. However, if you’re looking to turn it into a delightful breakfast or brunch spread, here are some delicious pairing options to consider:
- Fruit and Yogurt Parfaits
- Crinkle Phyllo Easy Spanakopita Recipe
- Easy Oven Baked Eggs
- Baked Scrambled Eggs
- Turkish Poached Eggs with Cottage Cheese
- Bacon
- Breakfast Sausage
- Smoked Salmon
How to Store and Reheat
We seriously doubt you’ll have any leftovers! But if you do, they keep well so you can enjoy them later in the week!
- To Store: Transfer your easy crockpot French toast casserole to an airtight container, and keep it stored in the fridge for up to three days.
- To Freeze: Allow your leftovers to cool completely. Then, transfer them to an airtight container, and keep them frozen for up to three months.
- To Reheat: Thaw your frozen French toast in the refrigerator overnight. Then, warm leftovers in the microwave, or a skillet over medium heat, or add them back to the crockpot on warm.
Common Questions About This Crockpot French Toast Casserole Recipe
The most common reasons for this easy French toast casserole recipe to turn out soggy are that too much liquid was used or the cook time was not long enough. You want the bread to be submerged but not completely swimming in the custard mixture. Then, go ahead and add a few more minutes, and your recipe should cook all the way through.
For this recipe, we coat the crockpot with butter to prevent oil and add a rich flavor. If preferred, cooking oil spray can also be used.
You want to allow about 15 minutes for the bread to soak in order for it to fully absorb the liquid.
Milk and eggs are the key ingredients for a rich custard that defines the very best French toast. The milk infuses the bread with moisture, making it soft, fluffy, and delicious while the eggs help lock in the liquid and create a crisp exterior.
Soaking the bread too long will cause your slow cooker French toast to become soggy. You want the bread to absorb the liquid but not begin to disintegrate.
More Craveable French Toast Recipes
If you enjoy this simple crockpot French toast casserole recipe, you won’t want to miss out on some more family-favorite French toast options that will tantalize your taste buds:!
- Pecan Pie French Toast
- Chocolate French Toast
- Nutella Stuffed Croissant French Toast
- Cannoli Baked French Toast
Crockpot French Toast Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- Unsalted butter for greasing the slow cooker
- 1 1/2 loaves country white bread
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 3/4 cup brown sugar + 1/4 cup for topping
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
Instructions
- Grease the inside of the slow cooker generously with butter to prevent sticking.Unsalted butter
- Cut the country white bread into cubes or slices, depending on preference.1 1/2 loaves country white bread
- In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, milk, heavy cream, ricotta cheese, vanilla extract, 3/4 cup of brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Whisk together until well blended.6 large eggs, 2 cups milk, 1 cup heavy cream, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 3/4 cup brown sugar + 1/4 cup for topping, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 cup whole milk ricotta cheese
- Add the cubed or sliced bread to the egg mixture. Gently toss, and stir to ensure all the bread pieces are coated with the mixture. Set the bowl aside to sit for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the bread to absorb the liquid.
- Transfer the soaked bread mixture into the buttered slow cooker, spreading it out evenly.
- Set the slow cooker to the “low” heat setting. Cover, and cook for approximately 2 hours. Cooking times may vary slightly based on the slow cooker model, so check after 1.5 hours to ensure the French toast is cooking evenly.
- Once the French toast is cooked and set, sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup of brown sugar over the top.
- Cover the slow cooker again, and let it sit for an additional 15-30 minutes. This will allow the brown sugar to melt and form a sweet, caramelized topping.
- After the sugar has melted, carefully spoon out the slow cooker French toast onto serving plates. Add toppings of choice such as fresh fruit, whipped cream, or maple syrup. Enjoy warm!
- Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
Equipment
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
I’d love to try this recipe, and have some gluten-free pannetone I’d like to use in place of the 1 and 1/2 loaves of country bread stated in the recipe.
Could you please give me an idea of the volume of bread needed?
Thank you!
You’ll want enough to soak up most of the liquid and to coat the bottom of the crockpot in a single layer! Hope that helps. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa