Paula Deens Overnight French Toast
Wake up to an irresistibly decadent breakfast with Paula Deen’s Overnight French Toast! This make-ahead recipe combines thick slices of day-old French bread soaked in a rich custard of eggs, half-and-half, and warm spices like cinnamon and nutmeg. Topped with a buttery praline glaze made of brown sugar, chopped pecans, and a touch of corn syrup, this baked casserole delivers a perfect balance of creamy, crunchy, and sweet in every bite. With just 15 minutes of prep the night before, it’s a stress-free way to treat your family or guests to a bakery-worthy French toast experience. Garnish with powdered sugar and serve with warm maple syrup for a crowd-pleasing breakfast or brunch centerpiece that’s as elegant as it is effortless!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 1 loaf French bread (preferably day-old)
- 8 large Eggs
- 2 cups Half-and-half
- 1 cup Milk
- 2 tablespoons Granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon Vanilla extract
- 0.5 teaspoons Ground cinnamon
- 0.5 teaspoons Ground nutmeg
- 0.25 teaspoons Salt
- 0.5 cup Unsalted butter (melted)
- 1 cup Light brown sugar (packed)
- 1 cup Chopped pecans
- 2 tablespoons Light corn syrup
- 0.5 teaspoons Cinnamon (for topping)
- 2 tablespoons Powdered sugar (for optional garnish)
Instructions
Grease a 9x13-inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
Cut the French bread into 1-inch slices. Arrange the slices in a single layer across the greased baking dish, slightly overlapping if needed.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, milk, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined.
Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread slices. Press down gently to ensure the bread absorbs the custard. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
The next morning, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
In a medium bowl, prepare the praline topping by mixing the melted butter, light brown sugar, chopped pecans, light corn syrup, and cinnamon until a crumbly mixture forms.
Remove the French toast casserole from the refrigerator and spread the praline topping evenly over the soaked bread slices.
Bake the casserole, uncovered, in the preheated oven for 40 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the custard is set.
Remove from the oven and let it cool for 5-10 minutes before serving.
Optional: Dust with powdered sugar before serving and pair with warm maple syrup.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
606 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 35.9 g | 46% | |
| Saturated Fat | 15.2 g | 76% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 0.2 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 242 mg | 81% | |
| Sodium | 344 mg | 15% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 60.5 g | 22% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 2.7 g | 9% | |
| Total Sugars | 43.7 g | ||
| Protein | 13.5 g | 27% | |
| Vitamin D | 1.6 mcg | 8% | |
| Calcium | 164 mg | 13% | |
| Iron | 2.2 mg | 12% | |
| Potassium | 324 mg | 7% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
