Easy Baked French Toast Casserole - Make Ahead or Bake Now Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you keep French toast casserole from getting soggy? ›

If you find yourself with a soggy casserole, for whatever reason, try baking it a bit longer until it firms up some. What's the best bread to use for baked French toast? A loaf of crusty sourdough or French bread makes the best bread for French bread.

Freezer and Make-Ahead Tips

Freeze cooked French Toast Casserole for up to three months. Remove it from the freezer the day before you want to serve it and let thaw in the refrigerator overnight. Cover the pan with foil, then reheat at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes or until warmed through.

If you pre-cook your ingredients before adding them to the casserole dish, it may be best to freeze it before baking. Then, when you're ready to eat the meal, you can allow the casserole to defrost in the fridge overnight and bake it in the morning.

Incorrect oven temperature - Casseroles that are baked at an oven temperature that is too low may not cook evenly, resulting in a soggy top and a firm or crunchy bottom. Too much liquid - Casseroles that have too much liquid may not be able to absorb all of the moisture, leading to a soggy top.

There are a few potential reasons why your overnight French toast may be soggy. One possible culprit is that you did not use dense enough bread, which allowed the custard mixture to soak in too much.

You can make it ahead and freeze! Arrange your cooked French toast on a single layer on a baking sheet. Freeze for about 30 minutes. Transfer to freezer safe bags or containers.

Once it has cooled down, wrap it in aluminum foil and put it in the freezer if you don't intend to use it within a few days. You have leftover French Toast?

Make-ahead meals (especially baked casseroles) are terrific because you can completely assemble them in advance and bake them just before serving. They're the ultimate comfort food as they come bubbling hot and delicious straight from the oven to the table to the delight of family and friends.

Add another sprinkle of salt and pepper on top. Cover casserole with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes and up to 24 hours.

The ingredients that you add to your casserole will dictate how it's frozen, and some require one method versus the other. In general, freezing your casserole before baking may yield better results with the dish's texture.

Why do you have to refrigerate breakfast casserole overnight? ›

The casserole is covered and refrigerated overnight to allow the liquid ingredients to be absorbed into the bread. This is a perishable mixture and should be cooked the morning or day after assembly.

Covering the dish will trap the steam in and keep it moist while it heats. How do you moisten a dry casserole? Add a little water or milk to the top of the it before reheating.

Generally, casseroles with grains, rice or pasta that will cook during the baking process are usually covered, for at least part of the time. Casseroles made of cooked ingredients are usually baked uncovered. If you like a crisper, browner top, be sure the casserole is uncovered for at least part of the bake time.

Covering the dish with aluminum foil for the first part of the bake time helps the casserole heat through to the center without drying out on top.

Pro Tip: Avoid Dry Casserole.

The best way to prevent it from drying out is to add a little bit of water, around ¼ cup, to the top of it. Allow the water to seep between the food and the sides of the baking dish. Cover with aluminum foil to seal in the moisture.