Searching for an easy and delicious brunch or breakfast recipe? This Overnight French Toast is the perfect easy make ahead recipe, and is always a hit!
I’ve made a version of this amazingly decadent french toast recipe for so many different gatherings–and shared it with so many of my friends over the years–that I honestly can’t believe I haven’t posted it here until now. It is absolutely delicious yet super simple to make and practically fool-proof.
Best of all, it can be prepared the night before so that all you have to do is crumble on the streusel topping, pop it in the oven, and heat the syrup. It is my number one go-to recipe for any big breakfast or brunch, and we will for sure be adding this one to our Easter Brunch menu this year!
Overnight French Toast with Warm Maple Butter Syrup
Here is what you need:
Overnight French Toast
1 loaf day-old french bread, cut into 1/2″ slices Cooking spray or softened butter 5 eggs 1 1/2 cups half & half 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/4 teaspoon salt pinch nutmeg 2 teaspoons vanilla Streusel Topping 6 tablespoons butter, softened 1/2 cup packed brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon 1 1/2 tbsp flour 3/4 cups chopped pecans (optional–my family doesn’t like it with nuts!) Warm Maple Butter Syrup 2 tablespoons butter 1/2 cup real maple syrup
Step 1: Lay out the slices of bread to dry out for a few hours. Grease casserole dish with cooking spray or butter; arrange bread slices in layers in dish.
Step 2: Beat eggs with wire whisk; add in half & half, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, & vanilla. Whisk well until brown sugar is dissolved.
Step 3: Pour egg mixture over bread slices so that all slices are moist and well coated. Cover the dish with saran wrap, making sure the saran wrap touches the wet slices. Push down on saran wrap to further soak bread slices. Place dish in refrigerator overnight.
Step 4: The following morning, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make the streusel topping by combining softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, & nuts. Sprinkle over french toast. Bake for approximately 35-40 minutes until bread is puffy and top is golden brown.
Step 5: While french toast is baking, make the maple butter syrup by heating butter and syrup in a small saucepan over low heat until butter is melted and syrup is warm. Remove french toast from oven; drizzle serve over individual plates of french toast. Serve immediately.

Overnight French Toast with Warm Maple Butter Syrup
Quite possibly the perfect brunch recipe!
Ingredients
- 1 loaf day-old french bread cut into 1/2″ slices
- Cooking spray or softened butter
- 5 eggs
- 1 1/2 cups half & half
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- pinch nutmeg
- 2 teaspoons vanilla
- Streusel Topping
- 6 tablespoons butter softened
- 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1 1/2 tbsp flour
- 3/4 cups chopped pecans optional–my family doesn’t like it with nuts!
- Warm Maple Butter Syrup
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup real maple syrup
Instructions
- Lay out the slices of bread to dry out for a few hours. Grease casserole dish with cooking spray or butter; arrange bread slices in layers in dish.
- Beat eggs with wire whisk; add in half & half, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, salt, & vanilla. Whisk well until brown sugar is dissolved.
- Pour egg mixture over bread slices so that all slices are moist and well coated. Cover the dish with saran wrap, making sure the saran wrap touches the wet slices. Push down on saran wrap to further soak bread slices. Place dish in refrigerator overnight.
- The following morning, preheat oven to 375 degrees. Make the streusel topping by combining softened butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, flour, & nuts. Sprinkle over french toast. Bake for approximately 35-40 minutes until bread is puffy and top is golden brown.
While french toast is baking, make the maple butter syrup by heating butter and syrup in a small saucepan over low heat until butter is melted and syrup is warm.
Remove french toast from oven; drizzle serve over individual plates of french toast. Serve immediately. Serves 6; for larger crowds, simply double the recipe!
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Hey Ruth!
Could whole milk be substituted for the 1/2 & 1/2? I would think it would be OK, but would love to know if you’ve tried it that way first.
Alyce I used whole milk and it was delicious! I did have to add in about 3 more eggs and extra milk plus spices because when I poured it out based on the measurements, I had dry slices. I did however use a larger pan than Ruth did. I used a 9 by 13 so next time I may try with my oval deep dish casserole.
I just had to report back to let you know that this was a HUGE hit at my house. Thank you so very much for sharing the recipe…am going to share again on facebook! 🙂
What a great idea to use the mini bread slices! My Aunt Becky makes a similar overnight recipe (which I love and often make) but I never thought to use the smaller bread slices. Thanks, Ruth!
I should not have read this at 12:51pm when I have yet to eat lunch as I am now drooling. I will absolutely try this Saturday morning. thank you
Let me know how you like it Diana! 🙂