High-Protein French Toast Casserole
If you are looking for a high-protein French toast casserole that hits your macros without losing that nostalgic flavor, you are exactly in the right place! French toast is a childhood favorite we never wanted to give up, and this recipe brings back everything we love about the classic breakfast in a lighter, modern way.
Honestly, the sweet aroma of cinnamon and vanilla filling the kitchen while it bakes is divine, luring everyone to the table before the timer even goes off. Golden on top and wonderfully tender inside, this dish delivers all those comforting notes we all love. This dish is perfect for a holiday brunch, a relaxed weekend breakfast, or meal prep.
Nutrition (Per Serving – Recipe Makes 6 Servings)
|
Calories |
Carbs |
Fat |
Protein |
|---|---|---|---|
|
249 kcal |
24 g |
9 g |
17 g |
Calories and macronutrients are per serving and are approximate. Actual values may vary depending on the specific ingredients used. For informational purposes only.
Why Choose This Recipe for French Toast Casserole?
Easy Meal Prep
This is our version of a French toast casserole easy enough to prepare without much effort. Instead of making French toast batch by batch in a pan, we bake a big portion all at once. That makes it perfect for a meal prep breakfast when we want something ready to go for several days.
Lighter & Packed with Protein
For us, this high-protein French toast casserole feels lighter than more traditional French toast versions. At the same time, it’s packed with protein thanks to plenty of egg whites and protein powder.
Not Too Sweet
We intentionally keep the casserole itself only lightly sweet. That way, we can decide how sweet we want it to be when serving. Depending on our mood, we can add different toppings and adjust the sweetness instead of having the whole French toast casserole overly sweet from the start.
What You Need for This Recipe
Here you can see the ingredients for this high-protein french toast casserole. See the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients with all quantities.
Ingredients Explained
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Toast Bread: we use classic wheat toast because we simply like the flavor best. It also absorbs the custard mixture reliably, which works really well for this casserole.
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Egg Whites + Whole Eggs: they provide most of the protein in the recipe, while the whole eggs also add more flavor and a richer texture.
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Vanilla Whey Protein: we use it to boost the protein content while adding a nice vanilla flavor to the custard at the same time.
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Almond Milk: we use unsweetened almond milk because it keeps the calorie content low in comparison to dairy milk.
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Cornstarch: it helps bind the custard mixture, which is especially useful here because we use a lot of egg whites, which can otherwise make the mixture quite watery.
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Butter: we only need a small amount, but it makes a noticeable difference to the overall flavor and gives the casserole a much richer taste.
- Coconut Oil: we use solid coconut oil to lightly grease the baking dish before adding the bread and custard.
Easy Ingredient Substitutions
You can easily customize this high-protein french toast casserole recipe to match your own taste.Â
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Milk: almond milk can be replaced with any other kind of dairy or non-dairy milk.
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Bread: whole wheat bread and protein bread work well too. Brioche or brioche buns are also an option if you want a richer version. Just keep in mind that different types of bread absorb the custard differently.
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Sweetener: erythritol can be replaced with another sweetener, such as monk fruit sweetener, stevia, xylitol, honey, or maple syrup. Adjust the amount depending on the sweetness of your chosen sweetener and your personal preference.
- Butter & Coconut Oil: you can swap the butter for coconut oil, or the other way around. For greasing the baking dish, you can also use cooking spray.
Any changes to the ingredients may affect the macronutrient values. If you modify the recipe, the nutritional values should be recalculated accordingly.
How to Make French Toast Casserole
Images 1–6: Prep the Bread & Custard
Start by preheating the oven and cutting the bread into small cubes. For the custard, simply add everything to a high-speed blender and blend until smooth and fully combined. We don’t blend it any longer than necessary.
Images 7–12: Assemble the Casserole
Lightly grease your baking dish with solid coconut oil, then spread the bread evenly inside. Pour the custard over it and gently mix everything together so the bread is well coated and spread everything out evenly.
Optional: let it soak for about 10 minutes, and then give it another gentle mix.
Images 13–14: Bake & Add the Toppings
Bake until the edges are set and the center is still slightly soft. Try not to overbake it, as the casserole will continue to set while it cools. If the top starts browning too quickly, loosely cover it with aluminum foil. Let it cool for a little while before slicing so the custard can finish setting. Then add your favorite toppings and enjoy!
JuicyMacros Recipe Tip
- Use Slightly Dried Bread: we like to use slightly dried or leftover toast bread for this recipe. It absorbs the custard mixture better, which works especially well for this French toast casserole.
Can You Make French Toast Casserole Ahead of Time?
Yes, you can absolutely prepare this dish ahead of time, making it the perfect option for a busy week. Here is how to store, freeze, and reheat it:
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Fridge: store the casserole covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
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Freezer: the casserole can be frozen for up to 2 months. We prefer freezing it already portioned in freezer-safe containers, so it’s easy to take out only what we need. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
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Reheating: our favorite ways to reheat the casserole are the air fryer and oven because they keep the texture closest to freshly baked. The air fryer is also a little quicker.
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Air Fryer: reheat at 160°C / 320°F for 3–5 minutes.
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Oven: reheat at 160°C / 320°F for 8–10 minutes.
- Microwave: reheat in 20–30-second intervals. This makes the casserole softer and more gooey than the air fryer or oven.
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Air Fryer: reheat at 160°C / 320°F for 3–5 minutes.
What to Serve with French Toast Casserole
We usually go for classic sweet toppings, but this French toast casserole also works really well with savory breakfast sides. The combination of sweet French toast with something salty and savory creates a really satisfying contrast.
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Sweet Options
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Fresh berries, such as strawberries, blueberries, or raspberries
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Agave syrup or maple syrup
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A light dusting of powdered sweetener
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Vanilla Greek yogurt
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Savory Options
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Crispy bacon or breakfast sausage
- Scrambled eggs
If this recipe was a hit for you, consider leaving a star rating and letting us know your experience in the comments below. 🙂
Recipe: High-Protein French Toast Casserole
High-Protein French Toast Casserole
6
servings10
minutes30
minutes249
kcal24
g9
g17
gAll the nostalgic flavor of classic French toast baked into an easy, high-protein casserole. It is perfect for meal prep or a relaxed weekend breakfast.
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Ingredients
- Bread
250 g Toast Bread, cut into 2–3 cm cubes
- Custard
300 g Liquid Egg Whites
4 Whole Eggs (L)
120 ml Unsweetened Almond Milk
30 g Vanilla Whey Protein Powder
15 g Cornstarch
15 g Butter, melted
20 g Erythritol (or sweetener of your choice)
1.5 tsp Cinnamon
0.5 tsp Nutmeg
0.5 tsp Vanilla Powder
0.25 tsp Salt
- Other
10 g Coconut Oil
- Optional Toppings (not included in macros)
Agave Syrup
Fresh Strawberries & Blueberries
Powdered Sweetener
Directions
- Prep the Bread & Custard
Preheat the oven to 170°C / 340°F on the convection setting.
Cut the toast bread into 2–3 cm (about 1 in) cubes.
Add the egg whites, whole eggs, almond milk, vanilla whey protein, melted butter, sweetener, cornstarch, cinnamon, vanilla powder, nutmeg, and salt to a high-speed blender. Blend just until smooth and fully combined. Don’t overblend. - Assemble the Casserole
Lightly grease a baking dish with solid coconut oil. (Note 1)
Spread the bread evenly in the baking dish and pour the custard over it. Gently toss everything together to make sure the bread is well coated.
Optional: Let the bread soak for 10 minutes. Give everything another gentle mix, then spread it out into an even layer. - Bake
• Convection: 170°C / 340°F for 30–35 minutes
The French toast casserole is done when the edges are set and the center is still slightly soft. Avoid overbaking. If the top starts browning too quickly, loosely cover the dish with aluminum foil. - Cool & Serve
Let the casserole cool for about 15 minutes before slicing it into 6 equal portions. This gives the custard time to finish setting and makes the casserole easier to slice cleanly. Serve with your favorite toppings, if desired.
Recipe Video
Notes
- 1. Baking Dish Size
We used a baking dish measuring 30 × 20 cm (12 × 8 in). - 2. Storage
– Fridge: Store covered in the fridge for up to 4 days.
– Freezer: The casserole can be frozen for up to 2 months if stored in freezer-safe containers. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating. - 3. Reheating
– Air Fryer: Reheat at 160°C / 320°F for 3–5 minutes until warmed through.
– Oven: Reheat at 160°C / 320°F for 8–10 minutes until warmed through.
– Microwave: Heat in 20–30-second intervals until warmed through. Avoid overheating, as this can dry out the casserole. - *Calories and macronutrients are per serving and are approximate. Actual values may vary depending on the specific ingredients used. For informational purposes only.
Nutrition (auto. calculated, use for approximation only)
- Total number of serves: 1
- Calories: 249kcal
- Fat: 9g
- Carbohydrates: 24g
- Protein: 17g
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Recipe FAQs
Can French toast casserole be frozen?
Yes, it can. Wrap individual, cooled slices tightly in plastic wrap and freeze them for up to 2 months. For the best texture, thaw your portion overnight in the fridge before reheating.
What bread is best for French toast casserole?
Classic wheat toast bread is ideal because it absorbs the custard reliably. For the absolute best results, use slightly dried or day-old bread, as it soaks up the liquid even better without becoming soggy.
Can you make French toast casserole without soaking overnight?
Absolutely! You don’t need to soak the bread overnight for this recipe. Once the bread is coated with the custard, you can bake the casserole right away. For even better results, let the cubed bread sit in the custard for 10 minutes while your oven preheats, then bake it.
