This easy Cranberry Orange French Toast Bake is bursting with fresh orange and cranberry flavors! Make it the same day or follow the directions for the overnight option, and enjoy it the next day!
Whether you’re looking for an easy make-ahead breakfast or something special for the holidays, this Cranberry Orange French Toast Bake is a flavorful, simplified variation to french toast!
Lots of fresh orange and cranberry flavor as well as cozy cinnamon and nutmeg give this french toast casserole a perfect combination of festive flavors!
The cinnamon nutmeg topping adds a bit of sweetness and crunch without being overpowering.
Since you can make it the night before and bake it the next morning, this french toast bake allows you to enjoy what might usually be a weekend breakfast for a weekday breakfast.
Or it can take some stress off of holiday entertaining to have a breakfast ready the night before for your guests the next morning!
Rather have it fresh the day of? It takes hardly any prep work to throw together in the morning, if that’s more your style!
How to Make Overnight Cranberry Orange French Toast Casserole
If you’re going to bake the breakfast casserole right away, start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
Then spray a 9×13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. You won’t want to skip this step as you will find that the edges are prone to sticking.
Add the cubed bread to a large bowl. You’ll want to make sure you have plenty of room to stir everything together!
In a separate bowl, whisk together eggs, milk of your choice, maple syrup, orange juice, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg until well-combined.
Pour mixture over cubed bread, and stir until all of the bread is coated. Gently stir in fresh cranberries.
Spread bread mixture into prepared baking dish. Gently press mixture into dish with a spatula. This helps the casserole bind together.
Top bread mixture with remaining 1/4 cup fresh cranberries.
In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over the top.
If you are baking the next day, cover with aluminum foil or plastic wrap. Refrigerate until ready to bake.
If baking immediately, bake for 55-65 minutes or until topping browns and center is puffed. Center will deflate as it cools.
Remove from the oven. Top with additional fresh orange zest, if desired.
Allow to cool for about 10 minutes before cutting into pieces and enjoying!
Tips for Making Cranberry Orange French Toast Bake
- If you are using bread that is on the drier side, consider covering the french toast bake after you have prepared it and stick it in the fridge for 30-40 minutes before baking. This will give the bread time to soak up the egg mixture and will keep you from having random dry pieces of bread in your french toast bake.
- Don’t want to make it right away? Once everything is in the pan, cover the mixture with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
- If the french toast bake has been in the refrigerator overnight, you may find that it takes a few extra minutes of bake time before it is done.
- If you like nuts, sprinkle on some chopped pecans or walnuts right before baking for a bit of a nutty crunch.
- Bake the french toast bake until the center is puffed and the edges are just starting to brown. This will keep the french toast from being soggy. The center will deflate as it cools.
Love French Toast Bakes? More french toast bake recipes to try!
- Apple Streusel French Toast Bake
- Pumpkin Cheesecake French Toast Bake
- Blueberry Lemon Cream French Toast Bake
Cranberry Orange French Toast Bake (with an overnight option!)
This easy Cranberry Orange French Toast Bake is bursting with fresh orange and cranberry flavors! Make it the same day or follow the directions for the overnight option, and enjoy it the next day!
Ingredients
For the French Toast
- 12 Cups day old crusty bread, cubed
- 10 eggs
- 1 1/4 Cup milk of your choice
- 1/2 Cup maple syrup
- 1/4 Cup fresh orange juice
- 2 Tablespoons fresh orange zest
- 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 Tablespoon cinnamon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg
- 2 Cups fresh cranberries
For the Topping
- 1/4 Cup butter, softened
- 1/4 Cup brown sugar
- 1/4 Cup all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 Cup fresh cranberries
- additional fresh orange zest, optional
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Spray a 9x13 inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
- Add cubed bread to a large bowl. Set aside.
- In a separate large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, maple syrup, orange juice, fresh orange zest, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Pour over cubed bread, and stir until bread is completely coated. Gently stir in fresh cranberries.
- Pour bread mixture into prepared baking dish. Even out mixture with a spatula.
- Top with additional 1/4 cup fresh cranberries.
- In a small bowl, whisk together brown sugar, all-purpose flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Sprinkle over the top.
- If baking the next day, cover and store in refrigerator until ready to bake. If baking immediately, bake for 55-65 minutes or until topping browns and center is puffed. (Center will deflate as it cools.)
- Remove from oven. Top with additional fresh orange zest, if desired. Allow to cool for 10 minutes before cutting into pieces and serving.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
Notes
Does your bread seem especially dry? Add the egg mixture to the cubed bread, and let it sit covered for 30-40 minutes in the refrigerator to make sure that the bread soaks in the liquid and there aren't any dry pieces.
Nutrition Information:
Yield: 12 Serving Size: 1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 292Total Fat: 10gSaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 5gCholesterol: 167mgSodium: 322mgCarbohydrates: 40gFiber: 3gSugar: 17gProtein: 10g
Nutrition information shown is an estimate provided by an online calculator and may not always be accurate. Nutrition values can vary greatly based on brand used. It should not be considered a substitute for a medical professional’s advice.
