Description

This Gluten-Free French Toast Casserole is a delightful and easy overnight breakfast dish that transforms dry or slightly stale gluten-free bread into a rich, spiced, and custardy baked treat. Perfect for family gatherings or weekend brunch, it combines eggs, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, and vanilla into a comforting casserole that's naturally gluten-free and can be made dairy-free with your choice of milk and vegan butter.

Ingredients

Scale

Main Ingredients

1 (15 oz) loaf dry or slightly stale gluten-free bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 9-10 cups cubed bread)
5 large eggs
2 cups milk (regular or dairy-free, such as unsweetened almond milk)
1/3 cup pure maple syrup (or white sugar or brown sugar)
2 Tablespoons butter or vegan butter, melted
1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt

Optional Toppings

Pure maple syrup
Powdered sugar
Fresh berries
Sliced peaches
Toasted pecans
Sliced almonds

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Instructions

Prepare the bread: Cut the dry or slightly stale gluten-free bread into 1-inch cubes, aiming for about 9 to 10 cups of cubed bread. Stale bread helps absorb the custard without becoming soggy.
Mix custard: In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk (dairy or dairy-free), pure maple syrup, melted butter or vegan butter, vanilla extract, ground cinnamon, and salt until fully combined.
Combine bread and custard: Place the cubed bread into a greased casserole dish. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes, pressing gently to ensure bread soaks up the mixture. Cover the dish with plastic wrap or foil.
Refrigerate overnight: Place the covered casserole in the refrigerator for at least 6 hours or overnight to allow the bread to absorb the custard fully, resulting in a tender texture.
Bake the casserole: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius). Remove the cover from the casserole and bake uncovered for 45 minutes or until the custard is set, and the top is lightly golden.
Add toppings and serve: Let the casserole cool slightly before serving. Add optional toppings such as pure maple syrup, powdered sugar, fresh berries, sliced peaches, toasted pecans, or sliced almonds to enhance flavor and texture.

Notes

Ensure bread is dry or slightly stale to prevent sogginess; if fresh bread is all you have, cut it into cubes and toast in a 300°F oven for 10 minutes to dry it out.
For dairy-free option, substitute milk with almond, soy, or oat milk and use vegan butter.
Maple syrup adds natural sweetness and depth of flavor; adjust sweetness by varying syrup amount or substituting with sugar.
Customize toppings to your preference for added texture and flavor.
Cover tightly when refrigerating to avoid absorbing other fridge odors.

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1/8 recipe
Calories: 289 kcal
Sugar: 12 g
Sodium: 429.4 mg
Fat: 9.4 g
Saturated Fat: 2.8 g
Unsaturated Fat: 6.0 g
Trans Fat: 0 g
Carbohydrates: 40.1 g
Fiber: 2.2 g
Protein: 8.1 g
Cholesterol: 142.6 mg