Brioche Custard French Toast Casserole

Brioche Custard French Toast Casserole

Make this decadent custard French toast casserole with brioche, coconut milk, and nutmeg. Perfect for holiday brunch or family gatherings!

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Brioche Custard French Toast Casserole

I love to host, and this Brioche Custard French Toast Casserole is one of my favorite make-ahead brunch recipes for feeding a crowd.

It bakes up golden with a crisp top and soft, pillowy custard center. Made with custard powder and coconut milk, it has a rich, slightly tropical flavor that always gets people asking what the secret ingredient is.

Serve it with mixed berry compote, maple syrup, crispy bacon, or avocado for a full brunch spread. It’s perfect for brunch, holidays, and special occasions, and also works beautifully as a French toast dessert casserole with ice cream or whipped cream.

A true easy baked French toast casserole that’s sweet, savory, and always a crowd-pleaser.

Brioche Custard French Toast Casserole

Tiffany’s Tip

  • When baking, check for doneness by gently shaking the dish or inserting a knife in the center — it should come out mostly clean, with no wet custard pooling underneath. If the center still looks liquidy, give it a few more minutes.

  • To avoid burning the bottom , place the casserole on the upper rack of your oven rather than directly over the heating element. This helps the top brown beautifully while keeping the base from overcooking.

  • And while I love using Bird’s Original Custard Powder for that classic flavor, any custard powder brand you like will work perfectly in this recipe.

Brioche Custard French Toast Casserole

Substitutions & Variations

  • Breads: Brioche and challah give a rich, soft texture, but French bread , sourdough, croissants, cinnamon-raisin, or even gluten-free bread all work. Just make sure to soak longer for very crusty bread.

  • Milk & Cream: No evaporated or coconut milk? Use whole milk, half-and-half, or a mix of milk and cream. For dairy-free, use almond, oat, or soy milk and swap butter for plant margarine or coconut oil.

  • Sweeteners: Brown sugar adds depth, but white sugar, coconut sugar, maple syrup, or honey all work. (If using a lot of liquid sweetener, reduce the coconut milk a little. )

Brioche Custard French Toast Casserole

Storage & Reheating

  • Refrigerate: Let the casserole cool to room temp within 2 hours. Cover tightly or put portions in an airtight container. Refrigerate up to 5 days . (Keep syrups or toppings separate so leftovers don’t get soggy. )

  • Freeze: Freeze without toppings. Wrap the whole casserole or individual pieces tightly in plastic wrap and foil. Freeze up to 3 months . Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.

  • Reheat: • Microwave: Heat single servings on high for 1–2 minutes until warm and soft.• Oven: Warm larger portions at 350°F for about 10 minutes to bring back a bit of crispness.

Prefer to watch instead of reading this delicious recipe? check out this video for a quick and easy guide:

Brioche Custard French Toast Casserole

By Tiffany Boakye-Korsah
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 45-60 minutes
Servings: 6-8

Ingredients

  • - 1 loaf brioche or challah, cut into 1-inch cubes
  • - 5 large eggs
  • - 1 can (12 fl oz) evaporated milk
  • - 1 cup coconut milk
  • - 3 tablespoons custard powder (such as Bird’s)
  • - ½ cup brown sugar
  • - 4 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
  • - ¾ teaspoon fresh-grated nutmeg
  • - ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • - ½ teaspoon salt
  • - 2 tablespoons of unsalted butter, melted (plus extra for greasing the dish + topping)

Instructions

Prep the Oven and Dish: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Generously butter a 9×13-inch baking dish (or similar ~3-quart casserole dish) to prevent sticking and add flavor.

Arrange the Bread: Place the bread cubes into the greased dish.

Make the Custard: Using a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, evaporated milk, coconut milk, custard powder, brown sugar, vanilla, nutmeg, melted butter, cinnamon, and salt until smooth and well combined. Tip: Ensure the custard powder has fully dissolved with no lumps.

Combine Bread and Custard: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread cubes in the dish. Use a spatula to gently press the bread, making sure every piece is coated in custard.

Soak (Quick or Overnight): Let the casserole sit for at least 10-15 minutes so the bread absorbs the custard. For an even moister result, cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate it for a few hours or overnight.

Add Additional Cinnamon and Butter on Top: Before baking, sprinkle about ½ teaspoon of ground cinnamon evenly over the casserole. Melt 2 tablespoons of butter and drizzle it across the top. As it bakes, the butter and cinnamon will help the French toast casserole develop a lightly crisp, golden-brown crust with extra flavor.

Bake: Bake the casserole in the preheated oven for 45–60 minutes, or until it is puffed, golden brown, and the custard is fully set. The center should no longer look liquid — a slight custard-like jiggle is perfectly fine, but it should not appear runny or sloshy. Gently shake the dish to check; the center should look mostly firm. Tip: If the top begins browning too quickly near the end of baking, loosely cover it with foil.

Serve: Let the casserole cool for about 5–10 minutes after baking (it will deflate slightly as it settles – that’s normal!). Then cut into squares or spoon onto plates. Serve warm.

Notes

This Custard French Toast Casserole brings together soft brioche or challah bread with a creamy custard of coconut milk, evaporated milk, brown sugar, and warm spices.
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