French Toast Bread Pudding

This easy French toast bread pudding is soft, custardy, and warmly spiced—the perfect make-ahead breakfast casserole for brunch, holidays, or using up leftover homemade bread.

Cozy Breakfast Treat

If bread pudding and French toast had a breakfast baby, this would be it.

This cozy baked breakfast casserole is everything I love about traditional bread pudding—soft custardy centers, golden toasted edges, warm cinnamon flavor—but served up in breakfast form.

In other words?

Think of it as bread pudding’s breakfast cousin.

I actually created this recipe as a way to use up leftover slices of my homemade Simple Sandwich Bread. Because while I adore fresh homemade bread, living alone means I sometimes need creative ways to use up the extras before they go stale.

And let me tell you—this may be one of my favorite accidental discoveries yet. French toast in bread pudding form? Yes, please!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

French toast bread pudding is one of those recipes that feels special enough for holidays and brunch gatherings, but easy enough for a lazy weekend breakfast at home.

It’s rich, comforting, and wonderfully versatile. Better still, you can prep it ahead of time and bake it fresh the next morning.

Whether you’re serving overnight guests, hosting brunch, or simply craving something cozy with your coffee, this recipe delivers.

What Makes This Different from Bread Pudding?

Traditional bread pudding is usually served as dessert, often topped with a sweet sauce.

French toast bread pudding is a bit lighter in sweetness, warmly spiced, and intended for breakfast or brunch. It has all the custardy comfort of bread pudding with the familiar flavor profile of classic French toast.

Ingredients for French Toast Bread Pudding

You will find a full printable recipe card at the bottom of this post but here's a peek at what you will need. These are simple ingredients you might already have on hand in your kitchen.

• 8 cups cubed bread (preferably day-old or slightly dried)
• 6 large eggs
• 2 cups whole milk
• ½ cup heavy cream
• ⅓ cup brown sugar
• ¼ cup granulated sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
• Pinch of salt

Streusel Topping

• ½ cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 4 tablespoons cold butter

Optional Maple Butter Glaze

• ½ cup unsalted butter
• ½ cup pure maple syrup
• ¼ cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Pinch of salt

A Note About the Bread

Because softer sandwich bread absorbs custard quickly, I recommend using slightly stale bread for best results.

If your bread is fresh, simply cube it and let it sit out overnight—or place the cubes on a baking sheet and dry them in a 250-degree oven for 10–15 minutes.

You want the bread slightly dried, not toasted.

How to Make French Toast Bread Pudding

Grease a 9x13 baking dish. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugars, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until fully combined.

Stir the bread cubes into the custard mixture evenly over the bread cubes.

Use the back of a spoon or clean hands to gently press the bread down into the custard so every piece gets coated.

Cover and refrigerate for 2-4 hours. Overnight is fine as long as the bread is sturdy enough to handle the longer soaking time.

To Make the Streusel Topping

In a medium bowl (or food processor), combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon.

Cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. I made mine in a food processor.

Store in refrigerator until ready to bake.

Baking Instructions

Remove soaked bread from refrigerator while oven preheats to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

Place in prepared baking dish.

Sprinkle streusel topping over casserole if using.

Cover loosely with foil and bake for 25 minutes.

Remove foil and continue baking another 20–25 minutes, until golden brown and set in the center.

Make the Maple Butter Glaze

While the French Toast casserole is baking, make the glaze.

Combine butter, maple syrup, and cream in a microwave-safe bowl.

Heat in microwave on high heat for one minute and stir. If necessary, heat for another 30 seconds until the butter melts. Whisk until it comes together. Stir in vanilla and salt.

Remove baked casserole from oven and allow to rest for ten minutes.

Slice and place on plate or in bowl.

Pour some of the glaze on each slice. I like to drizzle it on to individual slices instead of pouring it on top of the whole bread pudding.

Serving Suggestions

If you decide to skip the glaze, here are some other options. Serve warm with:

• Maple syrup
• Powdered sugar
• Fresh berries
• Whipped cream
• Caramel drizzle for an extra-indulgent brunch treat

Storage Tips

Store leftovers covered in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or warm larger portions in the oven.

If You Like Bread Pudding. . .

You're going to love my bread pudding master list!

Check out my breakfast bakes post for 80+ great sweet and savory breakfast ideas.

Other Breakfast Recipes to Enjoy

Here are some fan favorites!

• Cinnamon Rolls from Canned Biscuits: Simple and delicious!
• Triple Chocolate Coffee Cake: Baked in a bundt pan, this one is over-the-top!
• Monkey Bread from Canned Biscuits: Easy-peezy!
• French Toast with Orange Glaze: A personal favorite!
• Simple Homemade Pancakes: Who needs a mix?
• Delicious and Easy 2-Ingredient Breakfast Biscuits: My go-to recipe!

Final Thoughts

If you love bread pudding but have ever wished it were socially acceptable for breakfast… good news. French toast bread pudding is here to make all your brunch dreams come true.

Warm, cozy, custardy, and just sweet enough, it’s a terrific way to use up leftover bread while treating yourself to something special.

Before you go, why not pin some photos to your Pinterest boards?

About the Baker

At Out of the Box Baking, I love creating approachable recipes that make homemade baking feel doable—even on busy days. From easy breads to comforting breakfast casseroles, my goal is to help home bakers create delicious treats without stress or fuss.

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love, that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

Psalm 90:14 ESV