• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
Zest for Baking
  • Start Here
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Membership
  • Classes & Books
menu icon
go to homepage
  • Start Here
  • Recipes
  • About
  • Resources
  • Classes & Books
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • subscribe
    search icon
    Homepage link
    • Start Here
    • Recipes
    • About
    • Resources
    • Classes & Books
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×
    • How to Substitute Eggs for Applesauce in Baking & Cooking
    • wooden bowl of quinoa
      10 Best Quinoa Substitutes for Cooking, Baking, and More
    • glass bowl of tahini running off a spoon
      Is Tahini Gluten Free? What You Need to Know
    • stack of cassava flour pancakes on a plate
      Cassava Flour Pancakes: Gluten-Free
    • measuring cup of sorghum flour
      Best Sorghum Flour Substitutes for Gluten-Free Baking
    • small glass bowl of agave syrup
      Best Agave Syrup Alternatives for Gluten-Free Baking
    • spoonful of baked bread pudding
      Easy & Delicious Gluten Free Bread Pudding Recipe
    • white bowl with gluten free pudding
      Homemade Gluten Free Chocolate Pudding Recipe
    • glass bowl with flax seed
      Best Flax Seed Substitutes for Gluten-Free Baking
    • chia seed and ground chia seeds on a cutting board
      8 Best Chia Seed Alternatives for Gluten-Free Recipes
    • bowl of millet flour
      Is Millet Gluten Free? How to Use This Ancient Grain
    • plate of gluten free halloween cookies
      Gluten Free Witches Finger Halloween Cookies
    Home » Recipes » Breakfast

    Easy Gluten Free French Toast Casserole {Dairy Free}

    Published: Aug 28, 2020 · Modified: Aug 26, 2021 by Christine · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video

    Drizzled with maple syrup, this gluten free French toast casserole is a delicious duo of cinnamon and bread… what could be better?! And you can make it ahead of time so there’s no morning prep!

    There's a secret in this recipe that takes it over-the-top delicious - it wasn't in the original recipe (posted 8/2020) but after some tweaking, I decided it was worth sharing! It's only one extra step but it's so worth it.

    side shot of a bite of a casserole

    This post contains affiliate links. Affiliate links support Zest For Baking at no additional cost to you. I receive a commission if you choose to make a purchase through these links.

    While something this impressive would typically be reserved for holidays or to serve to a crowd, there’s no need to wait till then to make it! These big, thick pieces are the perfect way to please hungry tummies, whether it's a table full or just a small gathering. And because the recipe can be made ahead of time, there’s literally nothing to do but grab the syrup! (Check out these make-ahead breakfast sandwiches too!)

    Why this recipe is the best!

    This recipe exactly what a French toast casserole should be – not mushy or overly wet. Not dry. But just perfectly balanced with a beautiful golden brown top and a smell that will tempt everyone’s tastebuds! If you’re a fan of cinnamon and bread, you will LOVE this easy, make ahead breakfast.

    Baking pro tips

    The recipe itself isn't complicated but it's important to follow the method to making it. Unlike this zucchini muffin recipe or these biscuits, the ingredients for this recipe don't have to be room temperature, but here are some other pro tips that will ensure you have the best tasting, fluffiest French toast casserole ever:

    Measure by weight

    A good rule of thumb for gluten free baking is if the recipe offers measurements in weight, pull out that digital scale and measure by weight. Weight is a more accurate measurement than cups so typically things like flours and even sugars should be offered in weight measurements (usually grams). Things like baking soda and baking powder are often in teaspoons which is ok. But flours definitely need to be measured by weight.

    Use French bread

    French bread has that texture we're looking for - sturdy, not crumbly, crusty exterior with a soft interior. And it holds up extremely well when soaked with the egg mixture. This French bread is the recipe I use. The recipe makes 2 good sized loaves so there's one for dinner and one for this this recipe!

    Don't try to use a storebought gluten free sandwich bread - it will not turn out. Other bread recipes, sliced thick, might work, but I have not tested them. (This white bread would probably be closest).

    overhead shot of slicing bread on the counter

    Use stale bread

    This is one of the firsts... first time that gluten free bread actually has the advantage! We really don't have to try very hard to get stale bread, but you'll want to make sure that your bread is at least a day old (I've used 2 day old and it's wonderful). The stale bread is easy to cut and soaks up the bread wonderfully.

    Let the casserole soak overnight

    This is where the ease of prep comes in - make the casserole the evening before, cover it and pop it in the refrigerator overnight. In the morning, remove it, heat up the oven and bake.

    This refrigeration time does two things: 1. it gives the bread a chance to soak up the egg mixture and 2. it makes for an easy meal in the morning.

    Don't put the cold glass dish directly into the hot oven

    Glass doesn't handle temperature changes well, which translates to: 'it might break and shatter, ruining your meal and kitchen!'. The best thing to do would be to remove the dish from the refrigerator about 30 minutes before baking to get the chill off.

    Essential tools and ingredients

    For the absolute best French toast casserole, make sure you have these tools handy:

    • Digital scale - this is the one I've used for years.
    • 9" x 13" baking dish - these glass dishes also come with lids!
    • Small saucepan - something heavy duty so it prevents burning.
    • Rubber spatula - this set comes with small sizes and large sizes.

    And these ingredients:

    • Vegan butter - Earth Balance is a great brand
    • Almond milk - other types of milk would work equally well

    How to make the best gluten free French toast casserole

    The ingredients

    labeled ingredients for french toast casserole

    Besides the bread, the short ingredients list is just 6 items – milk, eggs, brown sugar, butter, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. If you don’t need dairy free, then use dairy milk, no other recipe changes needed.

    Prepping the bread

    The bread just needs to be dry. So if you make the French bread and slices up the loaves into 1 inch chunks and let them sit out for a day, you’ll have perfect bread. BUT, if you don’t want to wait that extra day of ‘drying time’, then here’s a pro tip:

    Gluten Free French Toast Casserole bread cubes on a pan

    Make the French bread recipe, then once the loaves are cool, chunk 9.5 ounces of it into 1 inch cubes and lay them out on a dry baking sheet. Heat the oven to 300 F and bake for 15 minutes to dry them out. Then they are ready to use!

    Prepping the casserole

    steps to preparing french toast casserole

    Remember I mentioned a secret for this casserole that will take it over-the-top-delicious? This is it... It's a simple but super tasty brown sugar mixture, melted on the stove and poured into the bottom of the baking dish before adding the bread cubes. As simple as it is to make, it is a decedent addition.

    Just melt the butter in a small saucepan (image 1), then add the brown sugar and stir until fully melted. Pour his mixture into the buttered glass dish (image 2) and then sprinkle the bread cubes on top (image 3).

    In a medium bowl, mix the milk, eggs, vanilla and 1 teaspoon cinnamon (image 4). Then pour this mixture over the bread cubes (image 5) and use the back of a spatula and pat down the bread chunks to make sure each one has been coated with the egg-milk mixture. They may not stay submerged, but that’s ok, as long as they get coated.

    Refrigeration time

    Once the casserole is prepped and ready, simply cover it with a lid or foil and refrigerate for 6-8 hours to give the bread time to absorb the liquid.

    Baking

    Ready to enjoy all the decadence that’s about to unfold? Just remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and let it sit on the counter for 30 minutes to get the chill off.

    Meanwhile, preheat the oven to 400 F. Mix the remaining brown sugar and cinnamon in a small bowl and sprinkle over the casserole (image 6). Cover with foil and bake at 400 F for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for another 15 minutes or until a knife inserted into the middle comes out clean, without any egg on it.

    FAQ's about this recipe

    What type of bread is best in this recipe?

    I use my French bread loaves in this recipe (which is a great, anytime bread, by the way) and cut the loaves into 1 inch chunks. Then let it sit out for a day to dry out. Don't want to wait a day for it to dry out? See my tip below with a quicker method!

    I highly recommend using either a French bread or another bread you can slice thick. Regular storebought, sandwich bread works ok, but a thicker, white bread is best.

    Can I cut the recipe in half?

    Sure! So to cut it down to make 6 servings, simply cut the ingredients down by half. Use an 8 inch casserole dish, but everything else is the same for refrigeration time and baking time.

    Can it be baked immediately or does it have to refrigerate?

    While you can bake it immediately, I wouldn’t recommend it - let it refrigerate to absorb the liquid for 4 hours at the very minimum. Otherwise, you run the risk of it being too eggy since it doesn’t have time to absorb all the delicious egg-cinnamon mixture.

    How many cups of bread is 9.5 ounces?

    If you’re making my French bread recipe, each loaf comes out to between 12.5 and 13.9 ounces in weight. So you’ll need about ¾ of a loaf. Weighing the bread will give you the most accurate measure but 9.5 ounces equals 5-6 cups of cubed bread.

    What’s the best way to store this casserole?

    If you have some left over (yay, right?!) The best way to store it is to cover it with foil or a casserole lid and refrigerate. To warm it up, just microwave slices of it for 30 seconds to a minute.

    overhead shot of a slice of french toast casserole

    Enjoy yummy pieces of this gluten free French toast casserole served alongside maple syrup and fruit!

    Recipe

    close up side view of french toast casserole serving

    Easy Gluten Free French Toast Casserole {Dairy Free}

    Drizzled with maple syrup, this gluten free French toast casserole is a delicious duo of cinnamon and bread… what could be better?! And it’s made ahead of time so there’s no morning prep!
    4 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: bread, Breakfast, Main Course, Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 45 minutes minutes
    Refrigeration time: 6 hours hours
    Total Time: 7 hours hours
    Servings: 12 servings
    Calories: 160kcal
    Author: Christine

    Ingredients

    • 9.5 ounces French bread about 1 ¼ loaves of Gluten Free French Bread
    • ½ cup vegan butter
    • 210 grams brown sugar about 1 cup
    • 2 cups almond milk
    • 6 eggs
    • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
    • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon divided
    • 1 Tablespoon brown sugar

    Instructions

    • In a small saucepan, melt butter. Stir in 210 grams of brown sugar until melted.
    • Butter the bottom and sides of a 9"x 13" glass baking dish.
    • Pour brown sugar butter mixture into the baking dish.
    • Cut French bread into 1 inch cubes.
    • Place cubed bread in prepared casserole dish.
    • In a medium bowl, mix together the milk, eggs, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and vanilla extract.
    • Pour custard over bread, lightly tapping bread down to be fully coated in custard.
    • Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 6 - 8 hours.
    • Remove the dish from the refrigerator and let it sit for 30 minutes to warm slightly.
    • Mix together remaining 1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1 Tablespoon brown sugar. Sprinkle over the casserole.
    • Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Remove plastic wrap and cover with foil. Bake covered for 25 minutes. Remove foil and bake for additional 15 minutes.
    • Serve warm with maple syrup.

    Video

    Notes

    • Use a French bread that can be sliced thick 
    • Make sure to use day old bread
    • The refrigeration time is necessary for the bread to absorb the egg-milk mixture
    • Bake covered for 25 minutes, then remove the cover and bake an additional 15 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 160kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 7g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 304mg | Potassium: 93mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 119IU | Calcium: 90mg | Iron: 2mg
    Tried this Recipe? Tag me Today!Mention @zest_for_baking or tag #zestforbaking!

    More delicious gluten free recipes!

    • Gluten Free Buckwheat Bread
    • Cassava Flour Tortillas
    • Gluten Free Cinnamon Raisin Artisan Bread
    • Perfect Rice Flour Pancakes
    • Gluten Free Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins
    • Vegan Pumpkin Muffins
    • Cranberry Orange Scones

    Reader Interactions

    4 from 5 votes (5 ratings without comment)

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

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

    Recipe Rating




    Primary Sidebar

    Christine Brady.

    Hi, I'm Christine, a gluten free baker and baking problem-solver. I love baking breads and sharing best practices so that everyone can bake tasty treats too. Zest For Baking (est. 2013) is where you'll find gluten free (and dairy free) recipes, tips for substituting ingredients, and help navigating the world of gluten free baking.

    More about me →


    Spring Baking

    • inside of a cinnamon roll
      Gluten Free Cinnamon Rolls Recipe: Soft & Extra Fluffy

    • gluten free easter bread on a wire rack, overhead shot.
      Traditional Gluten Free Easter Bread

    • basket of gluten free dairy free rolls up close.
      The Best Gluten Free Dairy Free Dinner Rolls: Soft & Easy

    • gluten free hot cross buns on a cookie sheet
      Gluten Free Hot Cross Buns (With Dairy Free Option)

    • slice of gluten free carrot cake on a white plate.
      Gluten Free Carrot Cake: Light, Tender, Crowd-Pleaser

    • king cake sitting on a brown plate, overhead shot.
      Easy Gluten Free King Cake

    More Spring Baking


    2nd Edition! How to Substitute Eggs, Gluten Free Flours, Gums, and Dairy in Gluten Free Baking

    how to substitute ebook cover
    Check it out!

    Gluten Free Baking Help

    • small glass bowl of apple cider vinegar
      10 Best Apple Cider Vinegar Substitutes in Baking

    • cup of coconut flour
      Best 10 Coconut Flour Substitutes

    • wooden bowl of xanthan gum with a spoon
      Xanthan Gum vs Cornstarch: Which One Should You Use?

    • jar of baking soda on a table.
      6 Best Baking Soda Substitutes & How to Use Them

    • clear bowl of cornmeal on a counter
      Can You Substitute Cornmeal for Flour? 7 Flour Alternatives

    • agar agar powder in a bowl with a measuring spoon nearby
      Top 10 Agar Agar Substitutes for Cooking & Baking

    More Baking Help

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    Featured On

    About


    Since 2013, Christine has been helping readers with gluten free baking challenges and substitution issues, all while creating delicious gluten free baking recipes that no one would guess are actually gluten free. Her Zest For Baking recipes have been featured on Beyond Celiac, The Daily Meal, Bloglovin' and Dr. Axe, to name a few. When she's not hanging out on Facebook or sharing pictures on Instagram or pinning on Pinterest, you can find her in her kitchen, creating more ZestForBaking.com recipes!

    Browse


    • Start Here
    • Guide to Gluten Free Flour Substitutes
    • Alternatives to Xanthan Gum & Guar Gum
    • Gluten Free Oat Flour Substitutes
    • Gluten Free White Bread Recipe
    • Soft Gluten Free Breadsticks
    • Gluten Free Dairy Free Dinner Rolls
    • Millet Flour Biscuits
    • Gluten Free Baking Masterclass
    • Classes & Products

    Information


    About

    Contact

    Privacy

    Terms of Use

    • Instagram
    • Facebook
    • Pinterest

    Copyright © 2025 | Zest For Baking | Privacy Policy 

    As an Amazon Associate, Zest For Baking earns fees when you click on links within our articles and make qualifying purchases.

    • 143

    Rate This Recipe

    Your vote:




    A rating is required
    A name is required
    An email is required

    Recipe Ratings without Comment

    Something went wrong. Please try again.