Vegan French Toast Casserole is an easy-to-make morning breakfast! Pieces of French bread are covered in a homemade vegan custard, topped with a candied pecan crumble and baked to perfection! Enjoy this baked French toast right away or refrigerate it overnight and bake it the next morning. Holiday brunch will win over the whole family with this recipe!
Weekend mornings call for more than a simple slice of hummus avocado toast. And, around here I like to keep brunch fresh and fun for the family which means we’re constantly trying new recipes like blueberry breakfast cake.
A few weekends ago I was on the search for an indulgent morning sweet for the upcoming holidays.
This Vegan French Toast Casserole definitely nailed it!
The soft French-toast-like inside and the crispy sugary-crumble top had the family requesting this breakfast bake be added to the weekend morning rotation!
How to Make French Toast Casserole
Baked French toast is easy to make!
Unlike classic vegan French toast, there is no standing over the stovetop flipping each piece of bread. Instead, everything is dumped into a casserole dish and baked.
To Prepare the Custard
Start by preparing the custard so it has time to thicken up.
Measure the non-dairy milk in a large 4-cup glass measuring cup or medium bowl. Add remaining custard ingredients and whisk until everything is well combined. Set the mixture aside, and cube the bread.
Cube the Bread and Prep the Topping
To easily cube the bread loaf, cut it into 1-inch thick slices. From there, cut the slices into 1-inch cubes as pictured.
To prepare the sweet pecan topping, mix the flour and sugar in a small bowl. Use a fork or pastry cutter to cut in the oil until it’s well dispersed, then mix in the chopped pecans.
To Assemble
- Add the cubed bread to your greased baking dish.
- Give the custard one last whisk then slowly and evenly pour it over the bread as pictured above.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 10-15 minutes.
- Sprinkle the pecan crumble over the top and bake.
To bake the Casserole
Bake the French toast casserole at 350ºF for 40-50 minutes. Remove it from the oven and allow it to cool for 10-15 minutes before serving.
Top with powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup for a decadent morning treat!
What kind of bread can I use?
Any 1-pound loaf of bread will work for this French toast bake. You can use French bread, sourdough, ciabatta, Italian bread, etc.
I tested this recipe using French, Italian, and sourdough bread. My personal favorite was the sourdough. The slight tang of the bread perfectly balanced out the sweetness of the casserole.
Can this recipe be made ahead of time?
YES!
For an overnight French toast casserole, prep the custard and bread. Store them separately in the fridge.
The next morning, remove the bread and custard from the fridge. Prepare the topping and assemble the casserole.
Mix-ins and Serving Suggestions
For a simple breakfast, top the baked French toast with powdered sugar and maple syrup.
Or, use this recipe as a base to create your favorite flavored French toast casserole. Mix in fresh fruit, dried fruit, or nuts!
Try one of these:
- diced apple
- blueberries
- raspberries
- strawberries
- raisins
- dried cranberries
- extra pecans
- chopped walnuts
- chocolate chips
Tips for making vegan french toast casserole
- Overnight recipe: To keep the ingredients separate for an overnight bake, store the bread cubes in a resealable bag and the custard (minus the cornstarch) covered in the fridge. The next morning whisk the cornstarch into the custard and proceed with the remaining steps.
- Added fall flavors: For a seasonal taste to this recipe, swap out the cinnamon for pumpkin spice.
- Nut free: Omit the pecans for a nut-free version.
- Flaxseed: This recipe uses flaxseed for some added nutrition. If you don't have any, replace it with an extra ½ Tablespoon of cornstarch (3 Tablespoons total).
More Vegan Breakfast Favorites
We'd love to hear from you!
If you enjoyed this vegan recipe, please leave a 5-star rating in the recipe card and share your thoughts in the comments below.
Also, if you snap a photo, share it with us! We love to see your creations!! You can find us on Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.
See ya there!
Recipe
Vegan French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
Bread
- 1 lb loaf of french bread
Custard
- 2 ⅓ cups non-dairy milk
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar
- 2 ½ Tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 Tablespoons ground flax seed
- 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- ¼ teaspoon Himalayan pink salt
Pecan Topping (optional)
- ½ cup pecans,, chopped
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- ⅓ cup coconut sugar
- 2 Tablespoons coconut oil,, solid at room temperature (or vegan butter)
Instructions
- Whisk together the custard ingredients and set aside for 10 minutes to thicken.
- In the meantime, cube the bread. Cut the loaf into 1-inch slices then cut the slices into one-inch cubes.
- Add the cubed bread to an oiled 7x11-inch baking dish. Evenly pour the custard over the bread and set it aside for about 15 minutes. Tip: The bread and custard can be stirred to better coat the bread.
- Prep the pecan topping while the bread soaks. Mix the sugar and flour in a medium bowl. Use a fork or pastry cutter to cut in the oil, then mix in the chopped pecans.
- Sprinkle the pecan crumble across the top of the casserole.
- Bake uncovered at 350ºF for 40-50 minutes. Remove the casserole from the oven and allow it to cool for 10 minutes before serving.
- Dust with optional powdered sugar and serve with maple syrup.
ENJOY!
Notes
- To make this recipe ahead: First prepare the custard and bread. Then, store them separately in the fridge. The next morning, remove the bread and custard from the fridge. Prepare the topping and assemble the casserole.
- To make the casserole without ground flaxseed: Replace the flaxseed with an extra Tablespoon of cornstarch (for a total of 3 and ½ Tablespoons of cornstarch).
- For flaxseed meal, which isn't as fine as ground flaxseed, use 3 Tablespoons.
- If the custard is too thick to pour, slowly whisk in more non-dairy milk to thin it out.
- If the custard is too thin: Add another 2-4 teaspoons more flax seed. Set aside for another 5-10 minutes.
- You can use a 9x9-inch dish, but the custard is dispersed better in a bigger dish.
Nutrition
**Nutritional info is provided as an estimate based on the ingredients I used and for convenience and as a courtesy only.**
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LindyD
This was a great recipe. The only change I made was to add blackberry jam to the top in place of the crumble. I was feeding 8 bikers from MIT with varying food preferences and they all loved it.
Mary Ann O’Hara
If I make a 1.5-2x’s batch & add fresh berries or banana mixed in, How much of the berries or banana in order to still use a 9x13 pan will fit?
Marlena Luna
I think 1 to 1½ cups of berries or 1-2 bananas should work well for one and a half batches. You might need to use a little less for a double batch to prevent overflow.
Tamara
It came out so good! I made it for a brunch and it was so good that I made it again for my family the next weekend! This is for sure going into our regular weekend breakfast routine
Marlena Luna
I'm so glad you loved the recipe! Thank you for the wonderful review!!
Anonymous
Made this over the weekend and the family loved it! Thank you
Kerri
We had this for Christmas breakfast and it was a hit all around. I put it all together last night so I just had to take it out of the fridge and bake it. Perfect and easy for a holiday morning.
Marlena Luna
Thanks for sharing your wonderful feedback, Kerri!! I'm glad to hear everyone enjoyed the recipe!
Brian
Made this on a family beach trip and there were no leftovers! Everyone, vegans and non vegans, LOVED IT! It was easy to whip up so I’ll definitely be making again.
Marlena Luna
That's fantastic, Brian! I'm so glad the recipe was loved by everyone! Happy baking!
Kim C
I love this dish! I made it for my coworkers and it was a hit! I did half coconut milk with cashew milk and used an egg replacer powder since I was out of flax. The custard baked up absolutely perfect. I also zested the topping with orange rind. This is definitely a keeper, thank you!
Marlena Luna
Thank you for sharing your wonderful feedback, Kim!! I'm thrilled your substitutions were a success and the recipe was a hit!
Tracie
5 stars!!! Made this recipe for a large family breakfast while traveling and it was a hit! Easily feed 10 people and was so easy to put together! Only change I made was to add frozen blueberries before baking, delish! This one is a keeper!
Marlena Luna
Thank you for the awesome feedback, Tracie!! I'm so glad the recipe was a hit!
Jill
I wonder how many people accidently gave you a 4 star rating when they just wanted to read the reviews
Allison
Hey I think your prep time is wrong...this recipe takes way over 30 minutes to prep because of all the waiting for the custard to set and then let the bread soak with the custard. I thought this recipe would be ready in 1 hour but really it's like 1 hour 20 +. Just wanted to let you know.
Kayla
Hi! I tried making this recipe but it came out tasting very salty and not good. When I tried the custard before adding the cornstarch it tasted fine, but after was when the taste changed drastically. What do you recommend? Can I use less cornstarch, like a teaspoon?
Marlena Luna
Hi Kayla! Sure, you can try using less cornstarch (1/2 to 1 Tablespoon), but the custard may not thicken up as well.
Kayla
I realized I accidentally used baking soda instead.. oops! I am definitely going to try this recipe again using the correct ingredients and I’m sure it will be great. Sorry!
Marlena Luna
No worries, I had a feeling that could be the problem. Hopefully your next try will be a success! Enjoy Kayla!
Tiffany
This was delicious! You would never know it’s a vegan casserole. I’m making this at our next family Thanksgiving gathering. Thank you!
Marlena Luna
That's awesome, Tiffany! I'm so glad it was a hit!
Amanda
I have made this several times and each time it is great! I use all the bread heals that I save from sandwich loaves. I accidentally left the topping mixture in the food processor too long and made more of a cookie dough like paste, but it was amazing! Baked up nice and crunchy. I like this recipe because it helps me feed a bunch of kids and uses up my stash of bread heals. Thank you so much for posting this.
Marlena Luna
That's wonderful to hear!! What a great idea using the bread ends!
Vicki
Hello, this recipe looks perfect to bring to an Easter Brunch this Sunday. Would upping the recipe to 1 and 1/2 fit better in a 9x13 pan or just as is? I want to make sure there is enough but not overflowing as we have to travel an hour from home.
Thank you!!
Marlena Luna
Yes, increasing the recipe to 1 and 1/2 will fit better in a 9x13-inch dish. Enjoy! Happy Easter!
Vicki
Thank you same to you!!
Carolyn Tyler
I made this casserole a few months ago and it was Delicious. I don't eat a lot of bread but I had some Potato Buns that needed to be used in something so that's what I used and they worked great.I'm about to make it again. Thank you for a Delicious and easy recipe.
Marlena Luna
That's wonderful to hear!! I'm glad you enjoyed the recipe!
Sue
Want to make this for a potluck—how could I double it? I have a nice large baking dish (maybe 13-14” circumference). Would that work? Any other tips? Sorry and thank you! Looks delish!
Marlena Luna
Yes, a 9x13" dish or a round 13-14" dish will work for a double batch. Everything else should be fine to double. Enjoy!
Tiffany Blodget
What kind of milk did you use in your recipe, almond, coconut? Please advise and thank you!
Marlena Luna
I used unsweetened, plain almond milk.
Lidia Le Francois
Does the topping have to have more sugar? There's already sugar in the custard part. Can I reduce the sugar? Thank you.
Marlena Luna
For a less sweet casserole, reduce the sugar in the custard. For a less sweet topping, leave off the topping and add chopped nuts instead.
karen
Can I use a 9x13 pan?
Marlena Luna
Yes, a 9x13 pan will work. The difference will be the thickness of the casserole. Also, it may require less time to cook.
Kathy
Can you use chia seeds instead of flaxseeds to make this casserole?
Marlena Luna
Yes, chia seeds can be used as a substitution. Enjoy!
Tara D
Wow, this was delicious! I used a blend of full fat coconut milk and unsweetened soymilk for the custard and walnuts for the topping. The recipe makes the perfect amount of custard, and the crunchy caramelized topping was so good! I appreciated that it wasn't overly sweet. I served it with mixed berry sauce, cinnamon apples, vegan whipped topping, and maple syrup. Thank you for a wonderful recipe!
Marlena Luna
I'm so glad you enjoyed the recipe! :)
Alison
Marlena this looks fabulous! I am going to make this for Christmas morning, I have one question though. I see you say it can be made ahead of time overnight, so my question is, is there a specific reason you dont just pour it over the night before? Just curious because Ive made a few overnight french toast recipes and they all have you pour it and store it Thanks!
Marlena Luna
Sure you can do that.
lyndsay
This looks so good, and I’d love to make it for Christmas breakfast. Is it possible to use regular sugar instead of coconut sugar?
Marlena Luna
Absolutely! An equal amount of regular sugar can be used instead.
Elizabeth
This was delicious and so easy! I used Italian bread, and it was perfect. My casserole did come out the slightest bit soggy at the bottom, but my bread chunks were a bit large. I suggest making sure the chunks are 1"x1" or maybe using a larger dish to get maximum crunch surface.
Thanks so much for the recipe!
Marlena Luna
Another option is to add the bread cubes to a lidded bowl or sealable bag, then pour the custard in and give it a shake. (The key is to evenly cover each bread cube with the custard) Transfer the cubes to the baking dish leaving behind any extra liquid.
Kris
I made this tonight after long anticipating and was very sad that it turned out soggy too. I even cooked it a bit longer but that didn’t help. Flavor was good, just soggy.
Jessi
Hello,
First off I'm new to this site and I must say I will be coming back!
I want to make this french toast casserole and while I normally make my plant milks I haven't really felt like it as of lately but I do have canned coconut milk. Can it be used for this receipe or will it be too thick? Maybe I can add water to lighten it up? Also I've seen others use silken tofu. Have you ever tried?
Marlena Luna
Hi Jessi! Canned coconut milk is a good replacement. I have not tried silken tofu yet. Let us know how it turns out! :)