Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole

4.05 from 23 votes

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole is the perfect sweet addition to your Christmas morning breakfast or brunch! Studded with sweet cinnamon apples, tart cranberries and drizzled with vanilla glaze. Make it the night before and bake it in the morning!

Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole drizzled with vanilla glaze on a wood plate with a fork. Maple syrup in the background.Are you more into Christmas morning breakfast or dinner? I get far more excited about breakfast! I feel like the big fancy dinner is for Thanksgiving and Christmas is all about breakfast and brunch. This year I’ll be serving this easy Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole. 

I like to have one savory breakfast item, like this Sheet Pan Spinach Tomato Ricotta Frittata or this Crustless Sausage, Kale and Ricotta Quiche. Then to go with that, something sweet. In previous years it’s been this Cranberry Maple Pecan Baked Oatmeal or a loaf of this Cranberry Orange Yogurt Cake. However this year, it’s all about this Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole!

Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole in a white casserole dish.

What Do I Need to Make the French Toast Casserole?

  • Whole wheat French bread, whole wheat rustic crusty bread or sub with white French bread
  • Apples
  • Cranberries, fresh or frozen
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Vanilla
  • Maple syrup (the real stuff)
  • Butter
  • Ground cinnamon and allspice

Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole in a white baking dish with a piece scooped out.If you’re thinking about making this French toast casserole for Christmas morning or anytime, keep in mind that you’ll want the bread to be dried out. This isn’t the time to use a fresh loaf of bread because it will turn out too soggy. If you don’t have a loaf of bread that’s a few days old you can dry it out in the oven.

If you’re drying the bread out in the oven, which is what I did, set the oven to 300° F. Cut the bread into approximately one inch cubes and spread them out into an even layer on a baking sheet. Bake the bread cubes for about 5 minutes, give them a toss and bake for another 5 minutes. Let them cool before assembling the casserole. 
A piece of Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole drizzled with vanilla glaze.

Can I Make This the Night Before Serving?

Yes! This is one of those wonderful breakfast recipes that can be made the night before so you don’t have to get up at 4:00am and start cooking. Be sure to allow 30-60 minutes in the morning to pull the casserole out of the refrigerator and let it come to room temperature before putting it in the oven. If you don’t want to make the casserole the night before, make a note that it will need to soak in the egg mixture for 2-3 hours before baking it.

Is This Gluten-Free?

The version I made is not gluten-free. However, it can easily be made gluten-free by swapping the whole wheat French bread with your favorite gluten-free bread. Again, be sure that the bread is dried out.

Closeup photo of Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole on a wood plate drizzled with vanilla glaze.

How to Make the Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole

There are three main steps to making this recipe. First is to cut the bread into cubes and dry them out if necessary. Next, melt the butter in a skillet and add in the diced apples, maple syrup, cinnamon and allspice. Sauté the apples for 4-5 minutes or until they’re just tender, not mushy. The last step is to whisk together the eggs, milk, maple syrup, cinnamon, allspice and vanilla.

A note on the milk. I used 2% milk. If you want the casserole to be more rich, use whole milk, half and half or a combination of any of these. For a dairy-free version, I suggest using unsweetened vanilla almond milk and substituting the butter with coconut oil.

A piece of Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole drizzled with vanilla glaze on a wood plate with a fork.To assemble the French toast casserole, take half of the bread cubes and arrange them into a single layer in the bottom of a 9×13 baking dish. Top the bread with half of the apple mixture and half of the cranberries. Make a second layer repeating those steps. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the entire casserole and then use your hands to press the bread down so everything is coated in the liquid. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for 2-3 hours or overnight. 

The casserole will need about an hour to bake and don’t forget to let it sit out and come to room temperature before putting it in the oven. To make this casserole extra special for Christmas morning I drizzled it with a vanilla glaze. If you don’t want to bother with that just serve it topped with maple syrup. 

Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole Pinterest collage.

More Christmas Morning Brunch Recipes

This Spinach, Bacon and Cheese Strata will be a fantastic addition to your next holiday brunch or weekend breakfast! Make it the night before and bake it in the morning for a stress free, hearty egg dish everyone will enjoy! #strata #eggs #bacon #spinach #bread #brunch #breakfast #christmas #thanksgiving #breakfastcasseroleSpinach, Bacon and Cheese Strata

Cranberry Maple Pecan Baked Oatmeal

Sheet Pan Spinach Tomato Ricotta Frittata

4.05 from 23 votes

Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole

Prep: 20 minutes
Cook: 1 hour 20 minutes
Total: 1 hour 40 minutes
Servings: 8 servings
Cranberry Apple French Toast Casserole is studded with sweet cinnamon apples, tart cranberries and drizzled with vanilla glaze.
Save this recipe!
Get this sent to your inbox, plus get new recipes from us every week!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.

Ingredients 

Cinnamon Apples

  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 3 apples, peeled and diced
  • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

French Toast Casserole

  • 1 loaf whole wheat artisan, or french bread
  • 6 eggs
  • 2 egg whites
  • 2 cups low fat milk, or milk of choice
  • 1/4 cup maple syrup
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
  • 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 3/4 cup fresh or frozen cranberries

Vanilla Glaze (Optional)

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • Pinch of salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract or vanilla bean paste
  • 1-2 teaspoons milk, more or less as needed

Instructions 

  • For the apples, melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the diced apples, maple syrup, cinnamon, allspice and salt. Stir to combine. Cook the apples for 4-5 minutes or until just tender, stir often.
  • In a large bowl whisk together the eggs, egg whites, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, allspice and salt.
  • Place half of the bread cubes into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle half of the apples and cranberries evenly over the bread. Repeat these steps with the remaining ingredients. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the casserole.
  • Use your hands to press the bread down so that it's coated in the egg mixture. Cover with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for 2 hours or overnight.
  • Remove the casserole from refrigerator and let it come to room temperature, about 30 minutes. While the casserole comes to room temperature preheat oven to 350ยฐ F. Cover the casserole with foil and bake on the middle rack of the oven for 50-60 minutes. Remove the foil and bake another 10-15 minutes or until the top is lightly browned and the center is firm.
  • Just before serving whisk together the ingredients for the vanilla glaze. Serve the casserole with maple syrup and drizzled with the vanilla glaze if desired.

Notes

Vanilla glaze is not included in the nutritional information.

Nutrition

Calories: 313kcalCarbohydrates: 45gProtein: 14gFat: 9gSaturated Fat: 4gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gCholesterol: 150mgSodium: 477mgFiber: 6gSugar: 21g

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

Tried this? Leave a comment below!

You May Also Like...

Get new recipes sent to your inbox!
Subscribe to get new recipes first!
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
4.05 from 23 votes (23 ratings without comment)

Leave a comment

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

Recipe Rating