French Toast Casserole with Cream Cheese

By Lee Funke

4.50 from 2 votes

4/20/2026

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Made with just 6 ingredients, this homemade French toast casserole with cream cheese is a hostess’ dream. I often turn to this recipe when hosting a large group for brunch – it’s tender and sweet, wildly simple to make, and feeds a crowd. Dollops of cream cheese elevate basic French toast casserole, adding an unexpected burst of texture and creaminess to every bite.

What You’ll Need

• Milk: Whole milk is the base of the French toast liquid mixture, adding creaminess and rich flavor.
• Eggs: Help bind everything together.
• Cinnamon + nutmeg: For warm, cozy flavor.
• Bread: I like to use sweet, tender brioche bread for French toast casserole. Cut it into 1-inch cubes before adding to the casserole dish.
• Cream cheese: Adds a welcome creaminess and delightful texture once baked. You’ll never want to make French toast casserole without it!

How to Make It

1. Whisk the wet ingredients together.
2. Add the bread chunks to a prepared casserole dish.
3. Pour the milk mixture on top of the bread. Use your hands or a spatula to fully submerge the bread in the liquid.
4. Nestle cream cheese pieces into the bread and sprinkle on top.
5. Cover the pan with foil and bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes.

Fun Twists & Variations

Add 1 cup of fresh fruit (like blueberries, raspberries, or chopped strawberries, apples, or peaches) in step 4.

Replace the spices with 1 heaping tablespoon of a spice mix like cake spice, pumpkin pie spice, or chai spice.

Use a flavored cream cheese! Try any sweet variety like strawberry, honey walnut, or blueberry.

Instead of brioche, use your favorite kind of bread like sourdough, sandwich, or challah bread. You could also use Hawaiian rolls (or make my stuffed Hawaiian roll French toast).

Serving Ideas

French toast casserole with cream cheese tastes great with classic French toast toppings like a drizzle of maple syrup, dusting of powdered sugar, dollop of whipped cream, or fresh berries.

This casserole is hearty enough to serve on it’s own, or pair with something savory like bacon, goat cheese scrambled eggs, or sausage, egg, and cheese casserole.

Storing Leftover French Toast Casserole

If you have any leftover casserole, let it cool completely. Once cool, transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days.

To reheat: Place leftover casserole in an oven-safe dish and cover with foil. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 350℉, or until warmed through. You can also use the microwave, but I find leftover French toast casserole tastes best when reheated in the oven.

More Sweet Breakfast Recipes

• Cream Cheese Stuffed Waffles
• Strawberry Cheesecake French Toast
• Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes
• Strawberries and Cream Stuffed French Toast
• Cinnamon Sugar Cream Cheese Toast
• Cinnamon Roll Casserole

4.50 from 2 votes

French Toast Casserole with Cream Cheese

Made with just 6 ingredients, this homemade French toast casserole with cream cheese is a hostess' dream. Dollops of cream cheese add an unexpected burst of texture and creaminess to every bite.

By: Lee Funke

Prep: 10 minutes mins

Cook: 1 hour hr

Total: 1 hour hr 10 minutes mins

Servings: 6

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Ingredients 

1x2x3x

• ▢ 3 cups whole milk
• ▢ 4 large eggs
• ▢ 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• ▢ 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• ▢ 18 oz. brioche loaf, chunked
• ▢ 8 oz. cream cheese, diced

Instructions 

• Preheat the oven to 350℉ and spray a 9×13-inch casserole dish with nonstick cooking spray. Set aside.
• Whisk the milk, eggs, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a large bowl.
  
• Place the bread chunks in the prepared casserole dish.
  
• Pour the milk mixture over the chunks of bread in the pan. Use your hands or a spatula to press down on the bread to ensure it soaks up all of the liquid.
• Nestle the cream cheese pieces into the bread mixture and sprinkle some on top.
  
• Cover the casserole dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes, then remove the foil and bake for another 30 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the center is set.
• Serve with your favorite french toast toppings.
  

Tips & Notes

• Make ahead instructions: Prepare the recipe as written through step 5. Cover the casserole dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight. When ready to bake, remove the casserole from the refrigerator and continue with the recipe. You may need to add a few more minutes to the bake time – keep an eye on it as it bakes.
• Storage instructions: Once cool, transfer leftover casserole to an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. 
• To reheat leftovers: Place leftover casserole in an oven-safe dish and cover with foil. Bake for 10-15 minutes at 350℉, or until warmed through.

Watch It

[adthrive-in-post-video-player video-id=”UK4eFris” upload-date=”2022-10-26T00:00:00.000Z” name=”French Toast Casserole with Cream Cheese” description=”French toast casserole with cream cheese is the way to go when making breakfast for a crowd. It’s tender, sweet, and oh-so-easy to make.”]

Nutrition

Calories: 616 kcal, Carbohydrates: 48 g, Protein: 20 g, Fat: 39 g, Fiber: 1 g, Sugar: 7 g

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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