Vegan French Toast Casserole
Overnight vegan french toast casserole! If you’re looking for a crowd-pleasing breakfast or brunch recipe, then you’ve gotta try this vegan breakfast casserole. Make it at night and it’s ready in the morning.
I’ve got your company breakfast! This overnight vegan french toast casserole recipe. With a crunchy, sweet praline topping, lots of maple syrup and fresh berries.
Doesn’t that just sound fantastic? This vegan french toast casserole must for mornings when your house is full and you need to feed the hungry masses.
This is always my dilemma when company comes to visit us. When it comes to breakfast, I like serving things that you can graze on; something that friends and family can enjoy early and something that I can munch on after I’ve had a few cups of coffee.
I like breakfast meals that aren’t big events, but are more than just a box of cereal and a carton of milk. Something special for company, but effortless enough that I’m not spending more hours in the kitchen.
THIS IS IT. 🙌
Why I Love this Recipe
My mom used to make something similar for us growing up and I wanted to make a vegan version. Even though we eat eggs, eggs in custard kinda gross me out. So, I set about veganizing my mom’s famous recipe.
The beauty of this recipe is that you make it at night! Then, pop it into the fridge so the bread can soak up all of the yummy filling. Top with the pecan-sugar mix and bake. That’s it! So simple, so easy and so, so delicious.
I dropped off leftovers of this for one of my dearest mama friends last week and she texted me the next morning to say, “THIS french toast is to DIE for. So good!”
I dropped off leftovers of this for one of my dearest mama friends last week and she texted me the next morning to say, “THIS french toast is to DIE for. So good!”
It’s the perfect option for holiday brunch or breakfast.
Ingredient Notes
The filling is made with bananas and therefore, it has a slight banana taste. I LOVE that. I feel like this casserole reminds me of bananas foster, banana baked oatmeal and my mom’s french toast casserole. Baked bananas have the yummiest, warm taste but- you’ve obviously gotta like bananas for this one.
I like using leftover french bread for this, but any leftover bread can work.
The cornstarch is needed to help to thicken the almond milk, and arrowroot starch or tapioca starch in place. I almost always have almond milk on hand so I use that, but oat milk or other non-dairy milk will also work. I’ve tested this with oat milk and it’s great!
How to Make this Vegan French Toast Casserole
Step 1: Blend the Mixture
Place the ripe bananas, cornstarch, milk, cinnamon and vanilla in a blender and puree until creamy and smooth. You can use a hand mixer but you want the bananas to be blended and creamy!
Step 2: Tear the Baguette
Tear the baguette and place in a large casserole pan. You want the baguette to be slightly stale so you can tear it first and then let it set out for a few hours to get a little dry. Pour the banana mixture all over the torn bread, making sure the bread is covered.
Step 3: Make the Praline Topping
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the sugar and whisk together until sugar has melted and become like a caramel-sauce. Turn off heat and add the pecans, nutmeg and cinnamon. Spread the pecan topping over the bread.
Step 4: Bake
Bake for 40 minutes, until lightly puffed and golden! Remove and then enjoy– we love this with a dollop of yogurt and maple syrup.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does French Toast Casserole Have to Sit Overnight?
The casserole doesn’t have to sit overnight, but it does need to sit for at least 3-4 hours so the bread can soak up all the yummy filling. Not allowing it to set for long enough will make for a harder casserole.
If you are trying to make this for the same day, then I recommend allowing the bread to soak for at least 3 hours, stirring the filling into the bread so it soaks up faster.
Does this taste like banana?
The banana adds sweetness and a subtle banana flavor. But not a big banana flavor! You really don’t taste the banana because of the cinnamon and vanilla flavor.
I can’t wait for you to try this vegan french toast casserole recipe! Perfect for any house guests you’ve got this holiday season. It is the holidays, so I serve this one with lots of maple syrup and fresh berries. Yum!
Other Easy Brunch Recipes You May Love:
- Vegan Eggs Benedict
- Sourdough Waffles
- Sheet Pan Breakfast Hash
- Pumpkin Waffles
- Baked Apple Cinnamon Oatmeal
If you try this vegan fresh toast casserole, make sure to come back to leave a comment and a rating. Your feedback helps other readers, and seeing you make my recipes makes my day!
Video
Vegan French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1½ cups almond milk, or other non-dairy milk of choice
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, divided
- 1 french baguette, slightly stale and torn/cut into large cubes
- 1/3 cup vegan butter, I love Earth Balance
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 cup chopped pecans
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- maple syrup, for topping
Instructions
- Blend bananas, milk, cornstarch, 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon and vanilla in a blender until smooth.
- Tear the baguette into cubes and place into a well-greased 9×13 baking pan. Pour the banana mixture over the bread and press down to make sure all of the cubes are touching the mixture. Cover, and place in the fridge for 4 hours or overnight.
- The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
- Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the sugar and whisk together until sugar has melted and become like a caramel-sauce. Turn off heat and add the pecans, nutmeg and remaining 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon.
- Spread the pecan topping evenly over the prepared casserole and place in the oven. Bake for 40 minutes, until puffed and lightly golden.
- Serve with maple syrup and fresh berries, if desired.
Just made this for Easter brunch and it was a big hit.
So glad to hear, thanks Charleen!
I just made this for a family Christmas bunch and EVERYONE loved it! I accidentally bought French bread instead of baguettes so I used 8 cups per a previous reply. I baked it covered except for the last 15 minutes.
If I were to double it, would it fit in the same 9×13 dish or would I need to make it in two separate dishes?
Thank you for a wonderful recipe, so easy and a real crowd pleaser!
So glad to hear! Yes, i would use two separate pans for best results
Hi! I’m doubling the recipe and noticed the only ingredients that changed were the bread, brown sugar, and pecans. Do I need need to in increase the others?
That might be a glitch on the recipe card– the rest should double as well!
Do you use vanilla almond milk or something else? Thanks!
Hi Cecilia, I typically just use plain almond milk but vanilla would be great!
Made this for Christmas brunch AND New Year’s Day hungover breakfast. So easy and such a big hit with my meat loving husband!
Can you sub baking stevia for the sugar?
I don’t know– I’m not sure what the exchange ratio would be. If you try it, let me know how much you used!
Just wondering where the cholesterol comes from. There should be zero if its truly vegan. Thanks.
Hi Michelle, looks like the nutritional information was pulling in butter instead of vegan butter– just fixed it, but the recipe never changed.
How many cups of bread would that be? Bread loaves vary so much.
About 8 cups
This is the BEST brunch recipe! I’ve made this about a dozen times and we love it every single time. Thank you, highly recommend!