Make Ahead Banana French Toast Casserole

If you want a Banana French Toast Casserole that feels special enough for brunch but easy enough to prep ahead, this is the one. It bakes up custardy in the center, crisp on top, and full of rich banana flavor.

Just like Blueberry Pancake Casserole and Sausage Breakfast Casserole.

Who doesn't love warm french toast and bananas? French bread is dunked in a mixture of ripe banana, eggs, vanilla, and cinnamon, and then pan fried in butter on the stovetop until golden. The crunchy topping, made with brown sugar, flour and butter contrasts the soft and custardy banana interior perfectly. Bon appetit!

Why This Banana French Toast Casserole Works

I like this casserole because it gives me the best parts of French toast without the stovetop babysitting. The bread soaks up a rich custard, the bananas melt into the filling as it bakes, and the streusel on top gives me the contrast I actually want in a breakfast casserole: soft underneath, crisp on top, and just sweet enough to feel festive.

What makes it especially useful for holiday brunch is that I can assemble it ahead of time and bake it when everyone is ready to eat. That means I'm not standing over a skillet making batch after batch of French toast while the rest of the brunch gets cold. Instead, I get one dish that feels bakery-worthy, serves a crowd, and still tastes best with minimal effort.

Best Bread for Banana French Toast Casserole

I want bread that can soak up custard without collapsing into mush, so I love to use brioche or challah, or Fluffy Condensed Milk Bread.

If the bread is a day or two stale, that's even better. Slightly dried-out bread absorbs the custard more evenly, which helps the casserole bake up with a creamy center instead of a soggy one.

What bread not to use: Soft sandwich bread tends to disappear once the custard goes in, while a richer bread keeps its shape and gives the casserole a better texture after baking.

Why you'll love Banana French Toast Casserole

• Special-occasion breakfast casserole that's ideal for hosting: Unlike traditional French toast where you cook slices individually, this casserole allows you to prepare a large batch at once, making it perfect for feeding a family.
• Perfect for Making Ahead: You can also assemble the casserole the night before and refrigerate it overnight, allowing the bread to soak up the custard and be ready to bake in the morning. This way, instead of standing over a hot stove, you can simply pop the casserole in the oven and let it bake while you focus on other tasks.

Banana French Toast Casserole Ingredients

• Ripe bananas - They are sweeter, softer, and easier to mash than less ripe bananas. I also find them to be more flavorful.
• French bread - In France, the most common bread used for French toast, is brioche or a day-old baguette. While baguettes are delicious, they can be too crusty and not ideal for soaking up the egg mixture. Brioche, with its rich, buttery flavor and soft texture, is a great alternative. Other good options include croissant or challah bread.
• Eggs - Of course, you'll need eggs for French toast! The eggs are what thickens the french toast and gives it a rich custardy texture.
• Milk & Heavy cream - I use a combination of milk and cream in French toast batter because they create a richer, more decadent flavor and texture than using milk alone.
• Vanilla extract, cinnamon & nutmeg - The combination of vanilla and cinnamon creates a delicious and aromatic French toast. I also added a pinch of nutmeg for the perfect finish!

How to Make Banana French Toast Casserole

1. Add Bread Slices and Sliced Bananas

Prepare a 9x13 baking dish with pan spray or butter. Place well dried bread cubes in the dish and then spread sliced bananas evenly over the top of the bread cubes.

2. Make Cinnamon Vanilla Custard

In a large bowl add eggs, milk, heavy cream, brown sugar, vanilla, ground cinnamon, ground nutmeg and pinch of salt and whisk everything together until everything is mixed in.

4. Pour Custard over Bread Cubes and Banana Slices

Slowly pour your custard over the bread cubes and bananas so it doesn't splash out of the dish.  If your spices have settled in the bottom of the bowl, swirl the mixture or give it a quick whisk before adding the last of the custard.

5. Make Crumble Topping

In a medium bowl add flour, brown sugar, cold cubed butter, cinnamon, nutmeg and pinch of salt and use a pastry cutter or fork to to mix everything together to create crumbs. 

6. Add Crumble Topping

Remove the dish from the refrigerator and top with crumble by first squeezing some in your hand and then breaking it up into large pieces and spreading it over the top of the bread.

7. Bake

Bake the casserole until the center is just set and the top is deeply golden. The top should look crisp and browned, but the inside should still feel soft and custardy when you cut into it

If you pull it too early, the center stays loose. If you bake it too long, you lose the creamy texture that makes the dish worth making in the first place. I'd rather err on the side of just-set and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.

Banana French Toast Casserole FAQ

What supplies do I need? All you need is 9x13 baking dish, mixing bowls and spoons, measuring cups and spoons, whisk, and pastry cutter.

Can I freeze Banana French Toast Casserole? Yes, banana bread freezes exceptionally well and freezing it is a great way to preserve it for later enjoyment. It can be frozen whole, sliced, or even in individual portions!

Tips for making the best Banana French Toast Casserole

• Be Prepared: Gather all your ingredients at once and prepare equipment ahead of time.  Make sure all your ingredients are at room temperature unless mentioned otherwise.
• Easy Clean Up:  Whenever you can, use your larger measuring cups as your mixing bowls.  You will use fewer dishes, save time on cleaning up and have more space in the kitchen.
• Dry Bread:  If your bread cubes are still pretty moist, place them on a tray and put them in a 200 degree oven for about 30 minutes.
• Lot's of Crumble:  Add "more than you think" amount of the crumble.  Some will sink so you want enough to have some on the top after baking.
• Breakfast or Dessert? This little dish is great for both breakfast or a great banana dessert. Consider adding traditional "breakfast" toppings like pancake syrup and/or powdered sugar for breakfast.  For dessert you could top with whip topping or even ice cream. 

Variations to the Recipe

• Bread type: You can use Challah, sourdough or Italian bread with beautiful results.
• Milk: I have a massive weakness for evaporated milk being mixed in my banana french toast, and once I used a couple tablespoons of condensed milk as the sweetener.

Can I make Banana French Toast Casserole ahead?

A great way to make it ahead is to assemble it and then refrigerate it overnight or freeze it for later baking. This allows the bread to soak up the custard and infuse it with flavor. 

Serving Suggestions

Serve your Banana French Toast Casserole with a variety of toppings such as maple syrup, powdered sugar, whipped cream and/or fruit like more sliced bananas and/or strawberries and blueberries.

Storage

• Freezing: Prepare the banana french toast and then freeze it for later. Thaw it in the refrigerator overnight before baking. You can freeze the French toast batter separately from bananas as well.
• Banana Considerations: Bananas can oxidize and turn brown, so if making ahead, consider adding them just before baking or using them in a separate topping. 
• Reheating: Banana French Toast can be reheated in the oven, air fryer, or microwave. 
• Refrigerator: Store leftover French toast and any banana toppings separately in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

More Breakfast Recipes

• Blueberry Pancake Casserole
• Bacon, Egg, Potato and Cheese Skillet
• Savory Breakfast Bundt Cake
• Sausage Breakfast Casserole