Gluten-Free French Toast Casserole

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see our privacy policy or read our disclosure policy for more info.

Last updated
Jump to RecipeRate this Recipe
5 from 6 votes

Gluten-Free French Toast Casserole for the win! This easy overnight French toast casserole takes all the hassle out of French toast! Try our classic recipe or one of the tasty variations below for a fun treat! (Dairy-Free Option!)

Pouring syrup on Front view of overnight gluten-free french toast casserole topped with berries, almonds, and powdered sugar
  • Emily Dixon from One Lovely Life in a blue gingham shirt prepping fresh fruit

This Cozy Gluten-Free French Toast Bake Takes All The Fuss Out Of French Toast!

This easy baked french toast casserole recipe has become one of my FAVORITES for holidays and weekends. There’s SO much to love!

⏱️ EASE: It’s made from simple ingredients (all the regular French toast staples!), and bakes up in a casserole dish. No standing over the stove battering & cooking individual pieces!

🍴 MAKE-AHEAD. This works GREAT as an overnight French toast casserole, so you can mix it up the night before and pop it in the fridge overnight. (Such a great option for holidays, like Christmas morning or Easter brunch, when you’d rather be part of the fun than stuck in the kitchen!)

🍕 FLAVORS: All the delicious vanilla and cinnamon custardy flavors of traditional French toast, paired with a *light* dusting of powdered sugar or a drizzle of maple syrup. SO GOOD.

💡 TOP TIPS: Make sure to start with stale bread or dry bread for best results!

Happy cooking! xo, Emily

Gather Your Ingredients

making gluten-free french toast casserole, step by step
  • Gluten-Free Bread. The bread is the base of this gluten-free French toast casserole, and the better your bread, the better your casserole! We’ve made this with MANY brands of gluten-free bread over the years–Canyon Bakehouse, Trader Joe’s, Three Bakers, Udi’s and more. No matter what brand you choose, you also want it to be dry or a little stale, so this is a great way to use a less-than-perfect loaf! (See the FAQ for a tip for drying out your bread!)
  • Eggs. Traditional for French toast, eggs provide binding power, a little “puff” to the bake, and help create the signature French toast custard that makes this so amazing.
  • Almond Milk (Or Whatever You Drink). You can use whatever milk your family typically drinks or uses for this recipe. We’re mostly dairy-free, so we most often use unsweetened almond milk or cashew milk, but basically any milk will work. Feel free to use oat milk, coconut milk, dairy milk, etc!
  • Melted Butter or Vegan Butter. A tiny little bit of butter or vegan butter adds a LOT to the texture of this recipe, though it’s technically optional. I love that it makes the dish feel a bit more rich and hearty. Feel free to skip it if you prefer!
  • Pure Maple Syrup (Or Sugar). To sweeten things up and help the French toast casserole brown a bit, we’ll add some pure maple syrup (or a little sugar or brown sugar) to the mixture.
  • Cinnamon, Vanilla & Salt. Plenty of seasoning makes a big difference! I like to go big on the vanilla, with plenty of cinnamon and a teeny pinch of salt to balance things out.
  • Some Yummy Toppings. Last, but not least, you can top this baked french toast casserole with extra goodies when it comes out of the oven or add some tasty mix-ins along the way. (More on this in a minute!)

How To Make Gluten-Free French Toast Casserole, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below.

To Make This Casserole The Night Before

  1. Prep Your Pan. Grease a 9×13″ (3-quart) baking dish with a little butter or spray oil.
  2. Prep Bread. Place dry bread cubes in the prepared baking dish.
  3. Make The Custard Mixture. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, syrup/sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. (The cinnamon may look a little clumpy. Don’t worry!)
  4. Pour the egg/milk mixture over the bread in the baking dish, doing your best to evenly coat the bread. Use a spatula to *gently* pat down the bread so it’s all coated in the egg mixture.
  5. Cover & Chill. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate 8-12 hours overnight in the refrigerator.
  6. The Next Morning, Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and let the casserole come up to room temperature while the oven preheats.
  7. Bake. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake 30 minutes covered.
  8. Remove the foil and bake the French toast casserole an additional 15-20 minutes or until the top is golden.
  9. Cool 5 minutes or so, then cut into slices + top with powdered sugar or your favorite garnishes.
Ingredients for gluten-free french toast casserole

To Make The Casserole Right Away

  1. Preheat & Prep Your Pan. To start, preheat the oven 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13″ (3-quart) baking dish with a little butter or spray oil.
  2. Prep Bread. Place dry bread cubes in the prepared baking dish.
  3. Make The Custard. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, syrup/sugar, melted butter, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. (The cinnamon may look a little clumpy. Don’t worry!)
  4. Pour the egg/milk mixture over the bread in the baking dish, doing your best to evenly coat the bread. Use a spatula to *gently* pat down the bread so it’s all coated in the egg mixture.
  5. Cover, Rest & Bake. Cover the baking dish with foil and let rest 20-30 minutes before baking. Bake COVERED 30 minutes.
  6. Remove the foil and bake the French toast casserole an additional 15-20 minutes UNCOVERED or until the top is golden.
  7. Cool 5 minutes or so, then cut into slices + top with powdered sugar or your favorite garnishes.
A plate of gluten-free French Toast Casserole topped with fresh berries and almonds

Variations To Try

It’s tough to beat classic cinnamon overnight french toast casserole, but I love to try! If you’re feeling like a change of pace, try one of these yummy mix-ins:

  • CINNAMON ROLL. If you really want to make this special, add 3-4 Tbsp. of brown sugar mixed with 1/4 tsp. cinnamon on the top of the French toast bake before popping it into the oven. Then, drizzle over a little glaze made out of 1/4 cup powdered sugar + 1-3 tsp. milk.
  • FRESH BERRIES OR MIXED BERRY. My favorite easy variation on gluten-free French toast casserole is adding 1-1 1/2 cups fresh berries. Strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries all work! Add one variety or mix a few together for a colorful, sweet twist. (Note: you *can* use frozen berries. They just tend to bleed their color a bit and have a softer texture. If those 2 things don’t bother you, go right ahead!)
  • SLICED PEACH. In the summer, try adding a sliced peach (or two) to the recipe! The sweet, happy brightness is lovely with the cinnamon. (Plus, is there ANYTHING better than a fresh peach?)
  • BROWN BUTTER. If you tolerate dairy, brown butter is SO good in French toast! It adds a gorgeous caramel-y flavor and depth that’s lovely with berries and nuts. To make this variation, simply brown your butter before using it in this recipe, using 3 Tbsp. of butter instead of 2 Tbsp.
  • PECAN. Pecans are one of my favorite additions! The nutty crunch is so satisfying next to the cinnamon and the custardy sweetness of the French toast bake. It *almost* feels like eating a sticky bun. Almost.
  • CHOCOLATE CHIPS. Feeling like the fun mom/dad/human? Add some chocolate chips!
Close up overhead view of overnight gluten-free french toast casserole topped with powdered sugar

FAQ + Tips And Tricks For The Best French Toast Casserole

Use DRY or STALE bread! You really want to use dry or stale bread for gluten-free french toast casserole since it keeps the bread from getting too soggy. You can leave your bread out overnight or throughout the day before adding it to this recipe, or you can dry it in a 200 degree F oven for 10 minutes or so. (The bread should dry out but shouldn’t color or get toasted.) Let it cool completely before adding to the recipe.

How Long In Advance Can I Make Gluten-Free French Toast Casserole? I say overnight, but I really mean 8-12 hours, tops. The longer you leave the bread to soak, the softer it gets. Once you past that 12-hour mark, it tends to go from “soaked in goodness” to “soggy + falling apart.” No bueno. So, try to stick to an 8-12 hour window for best results.

Budget-Friendly Tip! I like to save all the ends of my bread loaves over a few weeks, then use them all for this when I get enough. My kids won’t use the ends for sandwiches or toast, but they’ll happily eat them in this gluten-free French toast casserole!

Garnishing gluten-free french toast casserole with berries, syrup, and almonds

Yummy Toppings For French Toast Casserole

Once it comes out of the oven, your French toast casserole is a perfect blank slate for extra toppings and garnishes. Feel free to garnish it with:

  • Pure Maple Syrup. Duh.
  • Whipped Cream. Some whipped cream or dairy-whipped cream is so fun for a special occasion!
  • Fresh Berries. Strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, you name it!
  • Banana Slices. I love some bananas with nuts & maple syrup!
  • Nuts. Sliced almonds, toasted pecans, or your favorite!

More Brunch Favorites To Try

Sheet pan of roasted breakfast potatoes and veggies with a spoon taking a scoop

Roasted Breakfast Potatoes & Veggies

Sweets & Thank You Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls with vanilla cream cheese frosting

SOFT Gluten-Free Cinnamon Rolls

Bacon potato egg breakfast casserole in a white casserole dish

Bacon Potato Breakfast Bake

Close overhead view of a white bowl of honey lime fruit salad with green grapes, strawberries, and blueberries.

Honey Lime Fruit Salad

Did You Make This Recipe?

Tell me all about it! Leave a star rating below when you try our Gluten-Free French Toast Casserole recipe. I can’t wait to hear how it goes!

Tap to Leave a Review
Pouring syrup on Front view of overnight gluten-free french toast casserole topped with berries, almonds, and powdered sugar

Gluten-Free French Toast Casserole

5 from 6 votes
Emily Dixon, One Lovely Life
Gluten-Free French Toast Casserole – This easy overnight French toast casserole takes all the hassle out of French toast! Try our classic recipe or one of the tasty variations below for a fun treat! (Gluten-Free + Dairy-Free)
**It’s really important that you use dry or slightly stale bread for this recipe so it doesn’t go soggy. See the notes section below for tips on speeding things along if your bread isn’t dry/stale. 
Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Resting Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 1 hour 35 minutes
Print Pin Rate
Servings: 8 Generous servings
Calories: 289kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 (15 oz) loaf dry or slightly stale gluten-free bread* cut into 1-inch cubes (you'll have about 9-10 cups cubed bread) (I like Canyon Bakehouse for this!)
  • 5 large eggs
  • 2 cups milk regular or dairy-free milk: I use unsweetened almond milk
  • 1/3 cup pure maple syrup white sugar, or brown sugar
  • 2 Tablespoons butter or vegan butter melted
  • 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/8 teaspoon salt
  • OPTIONAL TOPPINGS: pure maple syrup powdered sugar, fresh berries, sliced peaches, toasted pecans, sliced almonds, etc.

Instructions

TO MAKE THIS CASSEROLE THE NIGHT BEFORE:

  • Prep Your Pan. Grease a 9×13" (3-quart) baking dish with a little butter or spray oil.
  • Prep Bread. Place dry bread cubes in the prepared baking dish.
  • Make The Custard Mixture. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, syrup/sugar, melted butter, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. (The cinnamon may look a little clumpy. Don't worry!)
  • Pour the egg/milk mixture over the bread in the baking dish, doing your best to evenly coat the bread. Use a spatula to *gently* pat down the bread so it's all coated in the egg mixture.
  • Cover & Chill. Cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and refrigerate 8-12 hours overnight in the refrigerator.
  • The Next Morning, Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and let the casserole come up to room temperature while the oven preheats.
  • Bake. Place the baking dish in the oven and bake 30 minutes covered.
  • Remove the foil and bake the French toast casserole an additional 15-20 minutes or until the top is golden.
  • Cool 5 minutes or so, then cut into slices + top with powdered sugar or your favorite garnishes.

TO MAKE THIS CASSEROLE RIGHT AWAY (SAME MORNING)

  • Preheat & Prep Your Pan. To start, preheat the oven 350 degrees F. Grease a 9×13" (3-quart) baking dish with a little butter or spray oil.
  • Prep Bread. Place dry bread cubes in the prepared baking dish.
  • Make The Custard. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, syrup/sugar, cinnamon, vanilla, and salt. (The cinnamon may look a little clumpy. Don't worry!)
  • Pour the egg/milk mixture over the bread in the baking dish, doing your best to evenly coat the bread. Use a spatula to *gently* pat down the bread so it's all coated in the egg mixture.
  • Cover, Rest & Bake. Cover the baking dish with foil and let rest 20-30 minutes before baking. Bake COVERED 30 minutes.
  • Remove the foil and bake the French toast casserole an additional 15-20 minutes UNCOVERED or until the top is golden.
  • Cool 5 minutes or so, then cut into slices + top with powdered sugar or your favorite garnishes.

Notes

  • *HOW TO DRY BREAD FOR FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE: If your bread isn’t dry, you can leave it out overnight or all day to dry, or pop it in a 200 degree oven on a baking sheet for about 10 minutes to speed things along. Let the bread cool completely before proceeding with the recipe.
  • Budget-Friendly Tip! I like to save all the ends of my bread loaves over a few weeks, then use them all for this when I get enough. My kids won’t use the ends for sandwiches or toast, but they’ll happily eat them in this gluten-free French toast casserole!
  • Tips For Leftovers. Cover the pan with foil or transfer slices of the casserole to an airtight container and store in the fridge 1-2 days. Reheat in the microwave, or place the entire pan in a 300 degree oven for 15-20 minutes to reheat. 

Video

Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Keyword: gluten free french toast casserole, gluten-free baked French toast, gluten-free French toast bake

Nutrition

Serving: 1/8th recipe | Calories: 289kcal | Carbohydrates: 40.1g | Protein: 8.1g | Fat: 9.4g | Saturated Fat: 2.8g | Cholesterol: 142.6mg | Sodium: 429.4mg | Potassium: 252mg | Fiber: 2.2g | Sugar: 12g | Calcium: 167.5mg

Nutrition facts are an estimate only and will vary based on brands and amounts used.

Find it Online:

https://www.onelovelylife.com/gluten-free-french-toast-casserole/

Originally shared December 2020. Updated with step-by-step photos and new video and republished December 2025.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




17 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    This is so good! I needed to use up some of these ingredients so this was the perfect recipe. I added a little less vanilla just because I don’t love an overpowering vanilla taste in my French toast. I also let mine sit for the full 12 hours and it came out like bread pudding!! After taking the foil off I added a layer of brown sugar before putting it back in for the remaining time to give it a crispy topping. I also drizzled extra syrup on the night before on top of the whole pan. Definitely recommend this recipe!

    Reply

  2. 5 stars
    This is one of those Gluten-free recipes that make you want to tell all your friends “you wouldn’t know this was gluten free!”

    It is so good and remarkably easy to make!!

    Reply

  4. 5 stars
    Made this with sourdough bread. Soaked it overnight. It was very tasty
    I greased the pan well before adding ingredients but it did stick a lot to the pan 🙁

    Reply

    1. I’ve never frozen it before, but it would probably work? Otherwise, it easily mixes up the night before to bake in the morning!

      Reply

  7. 5 stars
    We love this overnight French toast casserole! I’ve even fed it to people who don’t normally eat gluten free and they enjoyed it as well. Thanks for the recipe!

    Reply

  8. Hi Emily, can you reheat this (I’m using non-gf bread) without it getting soggy? This sounds good for Christmas (anytime actually!!).

    Thanks!

    Reply

    2. Hi, I’m going to try this for my family brunch tomorrow and will update the rating. I assume the melted butter gets mixed in with the eggs and the other ingredients that are Whisked together?it’s never mentioned thanks.

      Reply

  9. 5 stars
    I make this for dinner at least once a month. When partial loves and ends are getting stale I put them in the freezer. Once I have enough, we make this using up any frozen fruit bits too. I serve it with bacon or sausage and the we reheat leftovers for breakfasts. No one complains on French toast night!

    Reply