Cast Iron French Toast Casserole-Easy Breakfast Idea
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Looking for an easy breakfast recipe idea? Look no further that this simple Cast Iron French Toast Casserole Recipe. A delicious combination of soft bread in a creamy custard with cinnamon and nutmeg. Top with fresh berries, maple or caramel syrup and a dusting of powdered sugar for a special breakfast at home the whole fam will love.
Baked French Toast Casserole
One of my favorite easy breakfasts baked in a cast iron pan is this cottage cheese tortilla egg bake, loaded with savory veggies and cooking in a crisp tortilla shell. While I enjoy a savory breakfast, I thought it was time to add a little sweetness to the morning.
I took my classic French toast recipe and made it into this hearty, sweet cast iron baked French toast casserole. Baking this in a cast iron skillet gives it a delicious crunch all around the outside of this sweet breakfast casserole.
Reasons to Love This Recipe
Cast Iron French Toast Casserole is the ultimate breakfast comfort food! Here are some reasons to love it:
- Crispy Edges & Soft Center-Cooking in a cast iron skillet creates the best texture—crispy, golden-brown edges with a soft, custardy center.
- One-Pan Wonder-No need for multiple dishes—bake, and serve all in the same skillet, making cleanup a breeze!
- Retains & Distributes Heat Evenly-Cast iron holds heat better than regular baking dishes, ensuring your casserole bakes evenly every time.
- Perfect for Quick or Make-Ahead Breakfast-Prep it the night before, let it soak, and bake it fresh in the morning—great for holidays or brunch gatherings!
- Versatile & Customizable-Add cinnamon, nutmeg, berries, nuts, or even a drizzle of caramel—endless flavor possibilities!
- Feeds a Crowd-A single skillet serves a lot of people, making it a great choice for family breakfasts or brunch with some friends.
- Rustic & Beautiful Presentation-Serve it straight from the skillet for that warm, classic farmhouse-style look.
Recommended Equipment
- 12 inch cast iron skillet– this is the cast iron skillet I use daily in my kitchen. It is very affordable, great quality, and will last a long time.
- Measuring Cups– using the 4 cups measuring cup to mix the liquids makes this recipe super easy with minimal cleanup.
- Mixing Bowls– it’s nice to have a few different sized mixing bowls around for combining and mixing all the ingredients.
Why I Recommend Baking in a Cast Iron Skillet
Cast iron skillets are so great to bake in, they just create the perfect pizookie, cake or even breakfast. Cast iron is not only for a perfectly cooked steak or hamburger, they truly are so perfect for baking whatever you want.
Cast iron is known for its even heat distribution, helping to make the perfect crunchy outer crust all over the outside of this French toast casserole.
And let’s not forget, the beautiful non-stick surface that releases the casserole with ease and makes cleanup a breeze. My favorite part!
What You’ll Need for This Recipe
- French Bread-The base of the casserole! French bread is sturdy and slightly chewy, perfect for soaking up the rich custard without turning soggy. Using day-old, a little bit stale bread helps it hold its shape while baking.
- Butter-Adds richness and helps create a golden, crispy crust along the outside.
- Brown Sugar-Brings a deep, caramel-like texture and helps create a slightly crispy, sweet topping when baked.
- Cinnamon-A must have spice for French toast! It gives the casserole a cozy, warm flavor with a touch of natural sweetness.
- Nutmeg-A warm, delicious spice that compliments the cinnamon in this dish.
- Salt-Balances out the sweetness and brings out the flavors of the other ingredients. Even a small amount of salt makes a big difference in taste!
- Eggs-The binding agent in this recipe! Eggs create a custard that holds everything together and gives the casserole its soft, creamy texture.
- Milk-The liquid base for the custard. Milk softens the bread and helps distribute all the flavors evenly. Any milk can be used, but please note that whole milk or a mix or skim and heavy cream will make this recipe creamier.
How to Make Cast Iron French Toast Casserole
Melt the Butter and add Spices
- in a small mixing bowl, combine the brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt.
- place the cast iron skillet over medium heat and melt the butter. Sprinkle half of the brown sugar spice mixture over the melted butter and stir to combine. spread across the bottom and sides of the pan.
Prepare the Bread
- slice the French bread into equal sized pieces. Start by slicing the bread into two halves, then slice each half into four equal pieces lengthwise. Lastly, slice across into about one inch pieces.
Make the Egg Mixture
- in a large mixing cup or bowl, whisk together the milk, eggs and remaining spice mixture until the sugar is combined and the eggs are broken up.
Prepare the Casserole
- place the sliced bread pieces into the cast iron skillet. You can stuff it in as tight as you can. I like to have it in one layer as much as possible.
Bake
- bake the French Toast Casserole in a 350º F oven for 30-35 minutes. The casserole is done when the custard has firmed up, it does not jiggle when you shake the pan, and the bread is brown and crisp.
- If you can wait, allow the casserole to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
Can I Make This in a 13×9-inch Pan?
If you don’t own a 12 inch cast iron skillet, make plans to pick one up, and in the meantime, you can still enjoy this breakfast casserole recipe. Just like my recipe for this Strawberry French Toast Bake, this recipe can easily be baked in a baking dish.
To make this recipe in a baking pan, melt the butter and add the spice mixture in a small sauce pan. Spread the butter mixture in the bottom and sides of the pan.
Then make the recipe the same according to the recipe at the bottom of this post.
Can I Make This Breakfast Casserole Ahead?
This breakfast casserole is best made and baked the same day. It is never a good idea to leave foods in a cast iron skillet.
Fortunately, this recipe is really easy to put together and only takes 30 minutes to bake, so it can be ready in a jif!
Storage and Leftovers
If you have any leftovers of this French toast breakfast casserole, store in an airtight container for 1-2 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or air fryer until heated through.
How to Serve French Toast Casserole
This French Toast Casserole with its caramel-cinnamon-buttery bottom is delicious on its own. However, if you are serving this for a special breakfast or just want to take it up a notch try adding some fresh fruit, syrup, caramel sauce, or powdered sugar.
If You Love This Breakfast Recipe, Try These:
Cast Iron French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread sliced into 1 inch pieces
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 4 eggs
- 2 1/2 cups milk
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350º F and grease a 12 inch cast iron skillet if needed.
- Melt the 4 tablespoons butter in a cast iron skillet over medium heat.
- Combine the 1/2 cup brown sugar , 2 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Sprinkle half of the spice mixture on bottom of pan over the melted butter and stir until blended. Spread it over the bottom and sides of the pan.
- Slice the 1 loaf French bread into 1 inch pieces by slicing the bread into two halves, then slice each half into 4 lengthwise pieces, then slice across the top into similar sized pieces. Place into the cast iron skillet.
- Whisk together the 4 eggs, 2 1/2 cups milk and remaining brown sugar mixture. Pour over bread mixture making sure it all gets covered and soaks up the liquid.
- Bake for 30-35 minutes until the custard is firm and the bread is golden and crisp.
Video
Notes
- Nutrition facts are just an estimate of the ingredients listed.
- Store any leftover French toast casserole in an air tight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days.
