Don't Toss Those Crusts! The Ultimate French Toast Casserole Recipe

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Back-to-school season is in full swing, and if you’re anything like me, your kitchen has become sandwich central. Between packed lunches, after-school snacks, and weekend PB&Js, I’m going through loaves of bread faster than I can buy them. And if your family prefers crustless sandwiches (looking at you, picky eaters!), you’ve probably found yourself staring at a growing pile of bread crusts wondering, “What on earth do I do with all of these?”

Well, I’m here to tell you: don’t you dare throw them away!

Easy French Toast Casserole Recipe. Don't toss the crusts. This is a great way to not waste the crusts from your kids lunch sandwiches. Premake this the night before as a time saver for those early mornings.

Those leftover crusts are about to become your new breakfast hero. This French Toast Casserole is not only the perfect solution for bread crust overload, but it’s also one of the easiest, most crowd-pleasing breakfast dishes you’ll ever make.

Table of Contents

Why This Recipe is a Game-Changer

It’s practically foolproof. No flipping individual pieces of French toast at the stove while trying to get everyone ready for school. Just dump, mix, bake, and done.

It feeds a crowd. Perfect for busy weekday mornings when everyone’s rushing out the door, or weekend brunches when you want to impress without the stress.

It’s sneakily nutritious. I add a scoop of vanilla protein powder to the custard mixture – the kids have absolutely no idea, and I love knowing they’re getting that extra protein boost to fuel their day.

It reduces food waste. Those sandwich crusts that would otherwise end up in the trash? They’re the star of the show here.

The Secret Ingredients That Make It Special

While the base of this recipe is simple, there are a few ingredients that really elevate it:

Pumpkin pie spice alongside the cinnamon adds warmth and complexity
Heavy cream makes the custard extra rich and luxurious (though you can skip it if you prefer)
Vanilla protein powder sneaks in nutrition without affecting the taste
Overnight soaking (if you have time) creates an even more custardy texture

French Toast Casserole with Protein Boost

Ingredients:

6 cups sandwich crusts (roughly from 10–12 sandwiches)
4 large eggs
1½ cups milk (or milk of choice)
½ cup heavy cream (optional, for extra richness)
⅓ cup sugar (or maple syrup – sometimes I omit this entirely)
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1 scoop vanilla protein powder (optional but highly recommended)
Powdered sugar and syrup for serving

Instructions:

Prep your dish. Preheat your oven to 350°F and grease an 8×8 baking dish.
Arrange the crusts. Spread your sandwich crusts evenly in the prepared dish. Don’t worry about making it look perfect – rustic is the goal here!
Make the custard. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, and protein powder until well combined. Make sure to whisk thoroughly to avoid any protein powder clumps.

Combine and soak. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the crusts, then gently press them down with a fork or your hands to help them absorb the liquid.
The waiting game. Let the mixture sit for at least 10 minutes so the crusts can soak up all that custardy goodness. For even better results, cover and refrigerate overnight – this creates an incredibly rich, bread pudding-like texture.
Bake to perfection. Bake for 35–40 minutes, until the top is golden brown and the center is set (it shouldn’t jiggle when you gently shake the pan).
Serve and enjoy! Top with a dusting of powdered sugar, a drizzle of maple syrup, fresh berries, or whatever your family loves.

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Pro Tips for Success

Don’t have enough crusts? You can supplement with torn pieces of regular bread, day-old croissants, or even leftover pancakes or waffles.

Make it ahead. This is perfect for meal prep! Assemble the night before and just pop it in the oven in the morning.

Customize the flavors. Try adding a handful of chocolate chips, fresh berries, or even a layer of cream cheese for different variations. You can also go savory by adding precooked meat, veggies and cheese to your egg mixture. The options are endless.

Leftover magic. This reheats beautifully in the microwave for quick weekday breakfasts throughout the week.

The Bottom Line

This French Toast Casserole proves that some of the best recipes come from necessity and creativity. What started as a way to avoid wasting sandwich crusts has become one of our family’s most requested breakfast dishes.

Save this recipe, because trust me – once you try it, it’s going to become a regular in your breakfast rotation!

Don't Toss Those Crusts! The Ultimate French Toast Casserole Recipe. This is a great way to not waste the crusts from your kids lunch sandwiches. You can premake it as a time saver for those early mornings.

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