Bourbon French Toast Casserole Recipe

This Bourbon French Toast Casserole is an indulgent brunch casserole with the delicious flavors of cinnamon and vanilla. Topped with a rich and gooey bourbon caramel sauce, it is a show-stopping recipe that is perfect for any brunch!

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Jump to:

• What You Need to Make Bourbon French Toast Casserole
• What Kind of Bread Works Best?
• How to Make Vanilla Custard
• Make-Ahead Instructions
• Caramelized Bourbon Brown Sugar Sauce
• French Toast Variations
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Other Breakfast Recipes You Might Enjoy
• Recipe
• Reviews

Every year on Christmas Eve I make two casseroles: This Bourbon French Toast Casserole and a Sausage Green Chile Casserole. Combined, they take about 20 minutes to put together. They sit in the refrigerator overnight, and then it is like an extra gift on Christmas morning. Just before we open our presents, I slide both of the casseroles into the oven. We slice up the oranges that my kids always get in their stockings, and breakfast is done!

This casserole is perfect for Christmas morning, New Year's brunch, or any time when you want something that is easy, yet impressive.

What You Need to Make Bourbon French Toast Casserole

This casserole tastes like something you have slaved over for hours, but it is really so simple to make! There are three parts to the dish:

1. Crusty bread, sliced thick
2. Custard made from milk, half and half, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon
3. Bourbon caramel sauce that has brown sugar, butter, and bourbon

What Kind of Bread Works Best?

French toast casserole needs a dense bread with a good crust. If you use regular bread it will just end up a soggy mess. My favorite bread for this is a classic French bread (after all, this is French toast), but a loaf of Italian bread, sourdough, or challah would also work very well.

In a pinch, you can buy pre-sliced bread, but it really works best if the bread is a little thicker than how they cut it at the store. I use slices that are about an inch thick.

How to Make Vanilla Custard

• The vanilla custard is so simple to make! Just whisk all of the ingredients together until the eggs are completely incorporated with the milk.
• The cinnamon will rise to the top. That's totally okay!

Make-Ahead Instructions

• Pack the bread tightly into a 9x13 pan. When you think you have packed as much in as you can, squeeze in a couple of more pieces.
• Pour the custard evenly over the bread.
• Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours, or overnight.

Caramelized Bourbon Brown Sugar Sauce

• This bourbon brown sugar sauce is what really sets this recipe apart from all of the other French toast casserole recipes out there. It is buttery and caramelly, with an undertone of warm bourbon. As much as I try to resist, I always find myself grabbing a spoon for a quick taste while I make it. Quality control. (Wink.)
• This sauce can be made while the oven is preheating. Melt the butter and brown sugar together in a saucepan until they are bubbling, then remove from the heat and add in the bourbon.
• Pour over the top of the casserole before baking.

French Toast Variations

I love this Bourbon French Toast Casserole just as it is, but if you are looking to mix it up, there are many wonderful variations that you can make.

Pecan - Sprinkle ½ cup of chopped pecans over the top of your casserole before baking.
Apple - Slice 3 large apples. When making the sauce, melt the butter and add the apples and brown sugar. Cook for 7-8 minutes, until apples, are softened. When making this version, I like to add the cinnamon to the apple mixture instead of in the custard. Spoon apples over the bread before baking.
Orange - Replace the half and half with a cup of orange juice, and add 1 teaspoon of orange zest to the custard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Other Breakfast Recipes You Might Enjoy

• Buttermilk Spice Muffins
• Gooey Butter Cake
• Applesauce Pumpkin Bread
• Buttermilk Biscuits and Sausage Gravy

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Recipe