Overnight Baked French Toast Casserole (Vegan)

Why You’ll Love This Overnight French Toast Casserole Recipe

• Easy make-ahead recipe. The prep for this overnight French toast casserole is incredibly simple. You’ll assemble all the ingredients the night before so the bread can soak up the vegan custard. The next morning, whip up the maple pecan topping for the casserole and pop it in the oven. 
• Perfect for the holidays. With the cozy spices, maple, and pumpkin, this is the ideal French toast recipe for a holiday brunch with family and friends.
• Everyone will love it. Even though this French toast casserole is vegan, everyone will absolutely devour it—no one will realize it’s not made with egg and dairy because it tastes so true to the original!

Notes on Ingredients

Scroll down to the recipe card to find the ingredient quantities and recipe instructions.

• Gluten free French loaf or challah – You can use traditional French bread, sourdough, or challah if you’re not avoiding gluten.
• Pumpkin puree – Make sure you buy pure pumpkin, not pumpkin pie mix. 
• Flax eggs – Learn how to make flax eggs.
• Coconut milk – Use the canned variety, not the refrigerated cartons or bottles. This adds creaminess to the recipe.
• Almond milk – Or use another plant-based milk you have on hand.
• Maple syrup – Buy real maple syrup, not breakfast syrup. It’s not the same!
• Ground cinnamon – You can use pumpkin pie spice instead if you want to lean into pumpkin season.
• Pinch salt
• Vanilla extract

Pecan Topping

• Almond flour – You can use coconut flour instead of almond flour, or regular flour if you aren’t gluten free.
• Maple syrup – You can sub any other liquid sweetener, such as agave. 
• Vegan butter – This needs to be melted.
• Pecans – You can buy whole pecans and chop them or buy pecan pieces.

What Kind of Bread Should I Use for French toast? 

You have options when it comes to the bread you use. Gluten free, gluten-full (okay, that’s not a word), whatever! The most important thing is that your bread should be stale. If it’s fresh and moist, your French toast casserole will turn out soggy. 

Use day-old bread, or if that’s not an option, cut the bread into squares and let them sit at room temperature for a few hours to dry out or pop them in the oven at 300ºF for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the bread is dry but not toasted.

How to Make a French Toast Casserole

• Make the custard. Combine the pumpkin puree, flax eggs, coconut milk, almond milk, maple syrup, ground cinnamon, salt and vanilla extract. Whisk until the puree is fully incorporated.
• Assemble. Place the bread cubes in a greased casserole dish. Pour the custard over the bread and press down so they’re completely soaked. Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight, or for at least 6 hours.
• Prepare to bake. Remove the casserole from the refrigerator and set it on the countertop to warm up a bit. Preheat the oven to 350ºF.

• Make the topping. Combine the almond flour, maple syrup, vegan butter and chopped pecans in a small bowl and stir. Spread the mixture over the top of the casserole.
• Bake. Bake the casserole for 45 to 60 minutes. Because this is a vegan French toast casserole and it doesn’t have any eggs, you can bake it until it reaches your desired texture. If you want it extra soft and creamy, you can take it out earlier!
• Finish. Remove the casserole dish from the oven and allow it to cool slightly before serving. Serve with a drizzle (or generous pour) of maple syrup, if desired.

Tips for Success

• Don’t make the topping in advance. It needs to be made in the morning so it’s fresh.
• About the cooking times. I prefer cooking this casserole for about 50 minutes, when it’s set but still soft on the inside. If you want it completely baked, definitely aim for 60 minutes. 
• Watch the topping. The top may get a bit browned after the first 20 minutes, so cover the baking dish with foil, if necessary.

Add-In Ideas

The pumpkin-y flavors in this vegan overnight French toast casserole make it great for pairing with any of these add-ins:

• Diced apples
• Diced pears
• Raisins
• Pecans
• Pepitas
• Chocolate chips

Serving Suggestions

You may or may not need the maple syrup for serving. Taste a bit of the casserole first, because mine tasted lovely with out. A dusting of powdered sugar is extra festive, or serve this casserole with apple butter or coconut whipped cream!

For a well-rounded breakfast, add something savory: Tofu Scramble, Garlic Roasted Potatoes, or your favorite plant-based sausage or bacon.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

• Refrigerator: Store leftovers tightly wrapped in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. You can warm them up in the oven at 350ºF for about 20 minutes (depending on the amount you’re heating up) or in the microwave until they’re warmed through.
• Freezer: Wrap it well and keep it in the freezer for up to 2 months. For best results, let it thaw in the refrigerator, then reheat according to the instructions above.

More Vegan Breakfast Recipes

• Apple Pie Pancakes
• Pumpkin Waffles
• Cinnamon Roll French Toast
• Fluffy Tofu Scramble
• Instant Pot Steel-Cut Oats