Sourdough Baked French Toast

Sourdough baked french toast recipe is one of those perfect weekend breakfasts. It's the best way to wake up, paired with a cup of coffee and sweet, fresh berries with creamy Greek yogurt. It's sure to become a family favorite recipe for special occasions, Christmas morning, or really any day!

I love pairing it with a healthy breakfast frittata to add some protein and veggies for a well-rounded breakfast or brunch!

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If you have leftover sourdough bread, this easy French toast casserole should be first on your list as a great way to use it. It's tough to find a good recipe that uses stale bread, but this is the perfect way to use it and limit food waste!

Jump to:

• Equipment
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Variations & Substitutions
• Storing, Make Ahead & Reheating, & Serving
• Recipe FAQ
• Other Brunch Recipes You Should Try
• Sourdough Baked French Toast

Equipment

• Large baking sheet - I like to cut thick slices of sourdough bread into small, bite-sized cubes and spread into a single layer on a large baking sheet. This allows them to dry out and get a little stale before mixing with the custardy egg mixture and soaking overnight.
• 9x13" baking dish - this is what I like to bake the French toast in because it's the perfect size!
• Large bowl - mixing the creamy egg mixture in a large is perfect before pouring over the day-old bread. A medium bowl should work too!
• Liquid measuring cup - since there are a few liquid ingredients in this recipe, you'll need a good liquid measuring cup!

Ingredients

Full ingredients, measurements, and instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

For the Sourdough French Toast

• Cubed bread - I love using homemade sourdough bread we order from a friend (we have an obsession and order loaves of sourdough bread at a time because it's so good!). For the best results, I'll cube the bread and let it become a little stale. This soaks up the creamy milk mixture the best! While this is a sourdough French toast bake, any kind of bread will work: French bread, whole wheat bread, brioche, cinnamon raisin bread, gluten-free, or even texas toast style bread!
• Low-fat milk - most French toast recipes call for heavy cream, which can be high in saturated fat so I like to use low-fat cow's milk!
• Kefir - this adds a creaminess but also some natural probiotics for gut health! It's similar to buttermilk but a tad healthier.
• Eggs & egg whites - these help give the baked French toast some texture as well as protein.
• Almond or vanilla extract - just to add more flavor to this delicious French toast casserole! Almond extract compliments the almonds so well but vanilla extract is just as tasty.
• Spices - ground cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves add a warm flavor to this French toast. This also gives the added bonus of a great air freshener in your kitchen first thing in the morning 🙂

For the Strawberry Topping

• Strawberries - a good source of vitamin C and fiber (LINK), strawberries are a great topping for this breakfast casserole! You can use any fruit here.
• Chia seeds - these help to gel the topping together, plus they're a good source of fiber and healthy fats!
• Juice - I love using orange or apple juice to add some liquid but also a hint of sweetness. I recommend using a 100% fruit juice as they have no added sugars!

Instructions

For the Sourdough French Toast

For the Strawberry Topping

Variations & Substitutions

• Add a tablespoon of fresh orange zest to give a slight orange flavor!
• To give a cinnamon apple flavor, dice up 2-3 granny smith apples and mix with 2 Tablespoons of brown sugar. Swirl the apple mixture into the casserole before baking.
• Any milk should work in lieu of low-fat: almond, soy, oat, etc.! If you want it extra creamy, I would use whole milk or coconut milk.
• If you're short on time and can't let the bread sit out to get stale, you can cut the loaf into bite-sized pieces and toast in the oven at 400 degrees for 3-5 minutes!

Storing, Make Ahead & Reheating, & Serving

Storing

Store this sourdough baked French toast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. You can also freeze it for up to 1 month! If freezing, I would wait to make the strawberry topping until right before you eat it.

Make Ahead & Reheating

• This is one of my favorite recipes to meal prep for the next morning or week, making it a great breakfast option when you have a busy week coming up! However, I would suggest waiting to add the strawberry topping until right before you eat it.
• If you want to make this sourdough French toast casserole ahead of time to enjoy the next day, I recommend warming it up in the oven for 20-30 minutes. When you reheat any leftover French toast, you just want the center to be warm!

Serving

• My personal favorite way of serving this overnight French toast, and a way your whole family will love, is by dusting with powdered sugar and drizzling with mixed berry chia jam. Or pairing with fresh fruit like strawberries or blueberries and a drizzle of pure maple syrup.
• For an indulgent breakfast, top the French toast casserole with a scoop of vanilla ice cream or frozen yogurt!

Recipe FAQ

Other Brunch Recipes You Should Try

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