Vegan French Toast Casserole
This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Please read my disclosure.I love starting my mornings with my Vegan French Toast Casserole, it’s like dessert for breakfast but so much healthier! It’s easy to make, packed with wholesome ingredients like sprouted wheat bread, apples, soy milk, flax seeds, and maple syrup, and perfect for the whole family to enjoy.
French toast has always been my breakfast weakness, but let’s be real, sometimes I want all that cozy, indulgent goodness without the extra work or sugar overload. My recipe is as simple as blend, pour, and bake – no flipping required. Plus, it pairs perfectly with my favorite healthy morning staples, like these healthiest breakfast cereals for a balanced start to the day.
I created this vegan French toast casserole for those busy mornings when my family craves something comforting and made with love, without the hassle of standing over the stove. Just like my healthy French toast, it’s simple, indulgent, and perfect for starting the day right!
👩🏽🍳 Why I Love This Recipe
What I love most about my vegan French toast casserole recipe is how easy it is to make AHEAD! Busy mornings with my family can be chaotic, but this recipe lets me prepare everything the night before, so all I have to do is pop it in the oven the next day. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a warm, comforting breakfast without any of the morning rush.
I can’t tell you how much I love finding new ways to give forgotten ingredients a second life, and that’s exactly what this vegan French toast casserole does. That loaf of stale bread sitting on the counter? It turns into the coziest, most indulgent breakfast that feels like a big hug on a plate. With a creamy, egg-free batter made from dairy-free milk and ground flax, it delivers all the classic French toast flavors you love but in a healthier, plant-based package.
I first made this on a chilly weekend morning when my family was craving something sweet, and it quickly became my go-to for every occasion. With endless topping options like fresh berries, a drizzle of maple syrup, or a dusting of powdered sugar, it’s as versatile as it is delicious.
It’s not just a breakfast bake; it’s a memory-maker for mornings when you want something special without spending hours in the kitchen. Whether it’s a Christmas morning surprise, a brunch with friends, or just a quiet weekend treat, my breakfast casserole always delivers joy in every bite. I can’t wait for you to make it! 🙂
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🥘 Ingredients
My favorite thing about my vegan French toast casserole is that it uses everyday ingredients I can easily find at my local grocery store, making it both convenient and delicious.
Soy Milk: I love using soy milk because it makes the custard rich and creamy without any dairy. It’s a staple in my kitchen!
Ground Flax Seeds: Flax seeds are my go-to for replacing eggs, they thicken the custard perfectly. Plus, they’re easy to find in the baking aisle.
Maple Syrup: Pure maple syrup adds the perfect natural sweetness. I always keep some on hand for drizzling too!
Sprouted Wheat Bread: This hearty bread soaks up the custard beautifully and gives the casserole a chewy texture. Day-old or crusty bread works best.
Apple: Apples bring a sweet, tender bite that takes this dish to the next level. I love the extra color and texture they add!
🍲Substitutions
Milk: I usually go for almond, oat, or cashew milk, they all work perfectly. If you’re not vegan, you can use dairy milk too. For extra richness, I sometimes swap 1/2 cup of soy milk with coconut milk for a hint of coconut flavor!
Other Eggs: there are many vegan egg substitutes, but chia seeds work too if you adjust the ratio. They thicken the custard just as well and are so easy to use!
Bread: I love switching things up with different breads like buckwheat sourdough bread, or my personal favorite, cinnamon raisin bread! To make gluten-free vegan French toast casserole, simply use my gluten-free bread.
Fruit: Apples are my go-to, but pears, peaches, or blueberries are just as amazing.
🔪 How To Make
You’ve got to try my vegan French toast casserole recipe, it’s so easy to make! Just follow these simple steps, and you’ll have a delicious, drool-worthy breakfast everyone will love.
Blend Ingredients: I start by blending all the ingredients, except the bread and apple, in my high-speed blender. Once it’s smooth, I let it sit for fifteen minutes so the ground flax can thicken up and create the perfect custard!
Preheat Oven & Assemble: Next, I preheat my oven to 350°F and get my baking dish ready with a quick spray of olive oil. Then, I layer the cubed bread evenly in the dish and sprinkle the chopped apples on top, it’s already looking so good!
Add The Custard: Once the custard has thickened, I pour it evenly over the bread cubes. I make sure every piece is soaked so there aren’t any dry spots, it’s the secret to that perfectly creamy texture!
Bake The Casserole: I pop the casserole into the oven and let it bake for 45 to 55 minutes, filling the kitchen with the sweetest aroma. Once it’s done, I carefully take it out and let it sit for 20 minutes to set, it’s so hard to wait, but it’s worth it!
Serve: Finally, it’s time to dig in! I love serving this vegan breakfast casserole with fresh berries, a sprinkle of powdered sugar, and a drizzle of maple syrup, it’s pure breakfast bliss!
💭 Expert Tips
My #1 Secret Tip for making the best vegan French toast casserole is to always use stale or day-old bread. I learned this the hard way after my first attempt ended up a bit soggy, delicious, but not quite the texture I wanted! Now, I make sure to dry out fresh bread overnight or pop it in the oven at a low temperature 200 degrees until it’s perfectly crusty. It makes all the difference in creating a casserole that’s creamy inside but still holds its shape beautifully.
Other Tips To Keep In Mind:
- Grease The Baking Dish Well: I always grease my casserole dish to prevent the bread from sticking. Vegan butter, coconut oil, or nonstick spray works perfectly!
- Make Custard With A Blender: Using a blender makes the custard silky smooth. It ensures the flax is fully incorporated for that perfect egg-like consistency.
- Allow Batter To Rest: Letting the batter sit for 15 minutes is a must. It gives the flax seeds time to thicken and work their magic.
- Allow Time For The Bread To Absorb The Custard: I always let the custard soak into the bread for 10–15 minutes before baking. It ensures every piece is perfectly creamy and flavorful.
📖 Variations
I love how versatile my Vegan French Toast Casserole is! I always have fun experimenting with it, and some of my favorite variations include:
Nutty: I love adding sliced almonds or chopped walnuts for extra crunch. It’s the perfect way to add texture to the apples and bread!
Cinnamon Raisin: Cinnamon raisin bread with a handful of raisins is a game-changer. It adds so much warmth and sweetness to every bite!
Very Berry: Swapping the apples for fresh blueberries and dried cranberries is one of my favorite fruity twists. It’s bright, juicy, and so delicious!
Chocolate Chip: I like adding ½ cup of vegan chocolate chips turns this into a decadent treat. It’s perfect for when I’m craving something extra indulgent.
Coconut: this one is my fav, I add ¼-½ cup of shredded coconut and a hint of coconut extract make this casserole taste like a tropical dream. It’s a fun and flavorful twist!
🍽 Serving Suggestions
My vegan French toast casserole is the ultimate breakfast treat – warm, comforting, and perfect for sharing! I love serving it with:
Toppings: I love adding a variety of toppings to this baked French toast casserole, it tastes amazing with toppings! Anything you like is fair game. My pear compote is so nice with it, or a drizzle of maple syrup are always a hit. For something extra special, try my vegan nutella, whipped coconut cream or my strawberry chia jam!
Extra Protein: For a protein boost, I like serving this with my vegan silken tofu scramble or a drizzle of peanut butter. It’s a delicious way to make breakfast more filling!
Individual Servings: For kids or guests, I sometimes make individual 8-10 portions in small ramekins. Just divide the bread, apples, and custard, then bake for 30-40 minutes, it’s so fun and personalized!
🫙 Storage Directions
Storing: I always let the casserole cool to room temperature before storing it in an airtight container. It keeps fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days, making leftovers a breeze!
Freezing: If I have extra, I freeze it in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. When I’m ready to enjoy it again, I just defrost it in the fridge overnight.
Reheating: I reheat individual portions in the microwave for 30-60 seconds or warm the whole dish in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes. It’s just as good the second time around!
❓ Recipe FAQs
Why is my baked French toast soggy?
To avoid a soggy casserole, I always use hearty, stale bread, it soaks up the custard perfectly without falling apart. I also make sure to bake it long enough for the custard to set properly. Finally, I let it rest for a few minutes after baking to firm up, it’s worth the wait!
Can you use stale bread to make french toast casserole?
Yes, I always recommend using sturdy bread! If the bread is too soft, it won’t absorb the custard properly and can make the French toast soggy. When I don’t have leftover bread, I go for dense options like sprouted whole wheat, it soaks up the custard beautifully, giving a casserole that’s soft inside and crisp on top.
CAN I MAKE THIS AHEAD OF TIME?
Absolutely! I love making this casserole ahead of time for a stress-free morning. I assemble it as usual, cover it tightly with plastic wrap, and refrigerate it overnight. In the morning, I bake it straight from the fridge, adding a few extra minutes to the baking time since it starts off cold.
🥞 More Vegan Breakfast to Try!
- Vegan Breakfast Cookies
- Quinoa Oatmeal
- Vegan Frittata
- Healthy Vegan Apple Pancakes
- Vegan Green Waffles
- Homemade Cinnamon Toast Crunch
- Chocolate Chip Pancake Muffins
Love this plant based breakfast recipe? Please leave a 5-star rating 🌟 in the recipe below and/or a review in the comment section further down the page!
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🎥 Watch How to Make It
Vegan French Toast Casserole
I love starting my mornings with my Vegan French Toast Casserole, it’s like dessert for breakfast but so much healthier! It’s easy to make, packed with wholesome ingredients like sprouted wheat bread, apples, soy milk, flax seeds, and maple syrup, and perfect for the whole family to enjoy.
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 113kcal
Ingredients
- 2¼ cup unsweetened soy milk
- 3 tbsp ground flax seeds
- 3 tbsp maple syrup
- ¼ tsp cinnamon, ground
- ½ tsp vanilla extract
- 1½ tsp brown sugar
- 8 slices sprouted wheat bread, roughly chopped
- 1 apple, diced
Instructions
- Add all ingredients from soy milk through to brown sugar to a high speed blender/food processor. Blend until smooth. Set aside for 15 minutes to allow the custard to thicken.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F / 180 C.
- Spray a baking dish with olive oil.
- Arrange the chopped bread in an even layer over the base of the baking dish.
- Top with the diced apple.
- Pour the prepared custard over the bread and apple, making sure all bread is well coated in custard.
- Bake in the oven for 45-55 minutes. Remove and allow to sit for 20 minutes or chill in the fridge overnight before cutting into 8 servings.
- Serve topped with a sprinkle of powdered sugar, fresh berries and a drizzle of maple syrup.
Notes
- I always use stale or day-old bread. I learned this the hard way after my first attempt ended up a bit soggy, delicious, but not quite the texture I wanted! Now, I make sure to dry out fresh bread overnight or pop it in the oven at a low temperature 200 degrees until it’s perfectly crusty. It makes all the difference in creating a casserole that’s creamy inside but still holds its shape beautifully.
- I always grease my casserole dish to prevent the bread from sticking. Vegan butter, coconut oil, or nonstick spray works perfectly!
- Using a blender makes the custard silky smooth. It ensures the flax is fully incorporated for that perfect egg-like consistency.
- Letting the batter sit for 15 minutes is a must. It gives the flax seeds time to thicken and work their magic.
- I always let the custard soak into the bread for 10–15 minutes before baking. It ensures every piece is perfectly creamy and flavorful.
Nutrition
Serving: 1piece | Calories: 113kcal | Carbohydrates: 18g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 3g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 111mg | Potassium: 173mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g
My kids gobbled this up! Thank you for another winner! 🙂
Woohoo!! So happy to hear that! 🙂
Such a delicious brunch recipe with fresh berries. Everyone loves french toast!
Thanks so much Beth!!
Could you substitute cream cheese for anything? Can of coconut cream, Using the solid part only, minus the liquid?
Hi Shana! I’m not sure about the coconut cream – it might work but I’ve never tried it (so it is worth a try!) Alternatively, you could also use ricotta cheese instead of the cream cheese as a 1:1 substitute (I haven’t tried this either but I have heard it works!) Hope that helps!
I have made this numerous times now and we love it! I use a green apple or two and also add blueberries and raspberries sometimes. And use Dave’s Raisin Bread and no brown sugar. This is so good…and easy! Just wondering how this would taste if I froze it?
Hi Joan! I’m so glad you’ve been loving this recipe! Great idea to add berries – I’ll probably do that myself next time! 🙂 I actually haven’t frozen this before so I can’t say with certainty that it would freeze well, but I do know that french toast overall does freeze well – especially if you reheat it in the oven. So that’s what I’d try if I were you! Freeze it, and when you want to eat it again, warm it in the oven. Let me know how that goes!
That’s too bad that your family didn’t like it, this is a big hit with my daughter & hubby! How did you like the recipe?
Yum!! Definitely trying this!!! Nutritious and delicious 😉
Thanks Lauren!! I’m sure you will love this recipe! 🙂
Can you mix the ingredients and cook the next morning? Looking for something to take to an early morning meeting.
Hi Patty! I think you probably could. What I’d do is mix the ingredients and assemble everything (in the baking dish) the night before, put it in the fridge, cover it with saran wrap, and bake it the next morning. Hope that helps, let me know how it turns out!
Just came across this recipe and love it! This looks so tasty, I will have to give it a try!
Thanks Denise!! It’s so nice to “meet” you – can’t wait to hear how this turns out for you!
This is sooo tasty! I made this for breakfast this morning, and it was fantastic! I am a mom from the Midwest (Iowa) trying to lose those those extra lbs from pregnancy which is how I stumbled on your blog. When I read your hubby was from the Chicago area (about 3 hrs from me) and he loves your recipes, I new it was fate. Can’t wait to try more!
Woohooo!! So glad you liked this recipe Kristen! And it’s always great meeting fellow midwesterners! We’re in Ann Arbor, so not too far from you either 🙂 Can’t wait to hear how the rest of my recipes turn out for you!
I just came across your blog and love it! Can’t wait to keep reading it!
Aww thank you so much! Can’t wait to hear how you like my recipes!
Nice looking recipe. I was just wondering about the Fiji apples. Does it have something to do with the texture, firmness or sweetness? Just curious. I know different apples have different characteristics, so it made me wonder.
Thanks Claire! For the Fuji apples – honestly they are just my favorite type of apple. They have the perfect firmness, perfect level of sweetness. But you could use another apple if you like another type better! I just like Fuji the best and it works really well in this recipe. Hope that helps!
I love the addition of fuji in the cassarole. It looks great.
Thanks Joy! The fuji apples really amp up this french toast!
This french toast recipe sounds wonderful. I LOVE Hungry Girl! Sometimes I will read one of her recipes and think, “I’m not sure how this is gonna taste…” but it always tastes great! I also love things that are created for an individual portion. Thanks for sharing!
I totally agree – HungryGirl has some great ideas! Can’t wait for you to try this recipe Liz!
Your brunch looks absolutely delicious! I love everything Hungrygirl! She has such creative recipes and healthy options for your favorite not so good for you favorites! I will have to try that french toast asap!
Thanks Lauren!! I’m sure you will love this recipe when you try it!
everything looks so good,.
Thanks! Enjoy!
You’re definitely making me hungry with all this!
Hehe thanks Belinda!