Apple Cinnamon Sourdough French Toast Casserole

If you’re looking for a delicious twist on regular French toast the whole family will love, this Apple Cinnamon Sourdough French Toast Casserole is it. Fresh or stale sourdough bread gets cubed and layered with a mouthwatering cinnamon-apple mixture made with your favorite apples.

This overnight French toast casserole is perfect for Christmas morning, a birthday breakfast, or a cozy weekend at home. It tastes like apple pie for breakfast, and your family will be asking for it again.

Apple Cinnamon Sourdough French Toast Casserole on a plate with maple syrup

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Table of Contents

Why You’ll Love This Recipe:

Prep Ahead for Busy Mornings

Get the casserole ready the night before, cover it, and stick it in the fridge. In the morning, just pop it in the oven and let it bake while you enjoy a slow cup of coffee or get the rest of breakfast going. It’s a lifesaver for Christmas morning or any busy weekend.

Cozy Fall Flavor

Tart Granny Smith apples cook down with butter, brown sugar, and ground cinnamon, then get layered with sourdough cubes and cream cheese. A custard made with milk, cream, eggs, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and salt soaks into the bread as it bakes, filling the kitchen with the smell of apple pie. If you’ve tried my Fluffy Sourdough Apple Pancakes or Chocolate Sourdough French Toast Casserole, I’m willing to bet this one will be a favorite too, especially this time of year.

Uses Stale Bread

Just like my traditional sourdough French toast casserole, this apple version is one of the easiest ways to use sourdough that’s starting to go stale. Cube it into bite-sized pieces, layer it with apples and custard, and bake for 50–55 minutes until the middle is set and the top turns golden and slightly crisp. With this easy breakfast casserole, you’ll never have to let a loaf of sourdough go to waste again

Ingredients & Substitutions

* To find precise measurements, scroll to the bottom of this post to find the recipe card*

Custard – Whole milk, heavy cream, and large eggs are used to create the base of the custard.
Maple Syrup – Love the extra fall sweetness it brings to the dish! I prefer pure maple syrup.
Cinnamon – Divide the ground cinnamon between the custard and cooked apples.
Apples – I suggest using Granny Smith Apples, I just love the tartness that it brings this dish, but you can swap it for other fresh apples like Red Lady or Gala Apples.
Cream Cheese – If you’ve never tried cream cheese in French Toast Casserole, you are in for a treat! The tangy creaminess goes perfectly with the sweetness of the apple cinnamon French toast casserole.

serving spoon in a apple cinnamon sourdough French toast casserole

How to Make Apple Cinnamon Sourdough French Toast Casserole

Add the butter to a large skillet over medium heat. Once the butter is melted, add the chopped apples. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until the apples are just tender.
Stir in the brown sugar and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon, and cook 1–2 more minutes until the sugar melts.
Remove from heat and let the apples cool.

Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Cube the crusty bread into bite-sized pieces, about 1-inch cubes. Place the bread cubes in a large bowl and set aside.
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, heavy cream, maple syrup, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until fully combined.
Grease a 9×13 baking pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Place half of the bread cubes into the prepared pan. Top this layer with half of the cinnamon-apple mixture and half of the cubed cream cheese. Repeat with the remaining bread, apples, and cream cheese to create the second layer.

unbaked apple cinnamon sourdough French toast casserole

Next, pour the custard mixture into the prepared casserole dish and place it in the preheated oven.
Bake for 50–55 minutes, or until the middle is set and the top of the casserole is golden brown and slightly crisp.
Serve warm with a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup.

apple cinnamon sourdough French toast casserole in a baking dish

How to Store

Store leftover Apple Cinnamon Sourdough French Toast Casserole in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat individual slices in the microwave, heating in 30-second increments until warmed through. For the whole casserole, preheat the oven to 350°F, cover it, and bake for 15–20 minutes until heated through.

Helpful Tips:

If the top of the Cinnamon Apple Sourdough French Toast begins to brown too quickly before the casserole is fully baked, cover it with aluminum foil and continue baking.
If you only have half a loaf of bread, cut the recipe in half and bake it in an 8×8-inch dish for the same amount of time.
Use fresh or day-old sourdough. Day-old bread soaks up the custard perfectly without falling apart.
When cooking the apples, watch closely so they become tender but don’t turn to mush.

FAQs

Can I cut the crusty parts of the sourdough bread out?

Yes. If you want a softer Apple Cinnamon French Toast Casserole, cut out any really tough crust before cubing the bread. It won’t affect how the custard soaks in, and in my testing, it makes the casserole more tender.

How do I prevent my apples from turning to mush when cooking?

Cook the chopped apples over medium heat for about 5 minutes, stirring often, until they are just tender. Then stir in the brown sugar and cinnamon and cook 1–2 more minutes. You’ll want to keep an eye on them so they don’t overcook.

What kind of apples are best for this French toast casserole?

Tart Granny Smith apples worked best in my test, but you can also try Red Lady or Gala. They give the casserole a nice balance of flavor and texture without getting too mushy.

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