Chocolate French Toast Casserole

Chocolate French Toast Casserole made with challah bread, soaked in a chocolate mixture overnight, and loaded with chocolate chips, is the most decadent breakfast ever.

Anything with chocolate, French toast, and casserole in the same dish has to be delicious. Those are all comfort foods, and when they are put together as one, watch out! In this recipe, I soak challah bread in a rich chocolate custard mixture overnight and then bake it in the morning for the most incredible (even sinfully so) breakfast ever. This one will feed the whole family, with leftovers for seconds or brunch. 

Chocolate French Toast Casserole is hands down one of my top favorite breakfast dishes. This casserole is so easy to make, and it tastes better than at a fancy and expensive restaurant. My recipe is handmade with care because I had to be sure every ingredient was measured perfectly to get the exact ratio of bread to custard. I do not like soggy French toast either, so I did not want to serve it to anyone else.

Crusty Challah bread is soaked overnight in a sweet chocolate mixture. After that, it is baked to golden perfection and served with maple syrup and fresh fruits. This breakfast is loaded with chocolate chips and topped with a drizzle of chocolate sauce and is indulgent way to start your day.

I use three-day-old challah bread chopped into pieces to soak up just enough of the chocolatey eggy mixture without absorbing too much. It has enough eggs baked into it that it will not soak up any more than it should. Also, my chocolate chips are large enough, so they do not melt all the way. 

I love making easy breakfasts that taste great, and can easily feed a crowd, when I have family over for the holidays. I usually make pumpkin cheesecake pancakes, croissant casserole, or chocolate banana bread. All these can be assembled or made in advance, and these are such a time saver during hectic mornings!

Why you will love this recipe

• Three comfort foods in one: Chocolate, French toast, and casserole? Wow! Three of my favorites. Having chocolate for breakfast is the best way to start your day. Perfect for special occasions, or Christmas morning.
• Better than any restaurant: Handmade with fresh ingredients chosen for the best reasons. Also, made with easy to find ingredients and minimum prep work and dishes to clean.
• It is ready in the morning: Prepare it in advance, and just get it out of the fridge, bake, and serve. No mess, no fuss.  Perfect for brunch parties and for bigger crowds.
• Don’t worry about leftovers: Wrap it in plastic and leftovers can stay in the freezer for up to three months. 

What you’ll need to make chocolate french toast casserole

Special items:

• Baking dish – A 9×13 baking dish is what I used.
• Saucepan – Small saucepan for mixing the sauce.
• Bowls
• Cooking utensils

Ingredients:

• Challah bread – Made with lots of eggs and an extra yolk, this bread is perfect for French toast casserole. It should be about three days old for it to soak up the custard properly. Try my simple recipe for challah bread.
• Eggs – They must be at room temperature, and make sure they are large. The ratio of eggs to the other ingredients has to be exact to make the custard perfect.
• Half and half – Either use half and half or heavy cream to make this a rich custard. Using milk will give it a watery and loose batter that will end up in a soggy casserole.
• Vanilla – The pure vanilla extract adds an extra level of complex richness and taste that brings out the chocolate better. Artificial vanilla flavoring uses fillers that tend to leave a bitter aftertaste.
• Cinnamon – Gives the French toast a sweet and warm taste to elevate the flavors.
• Cocoa powder – Use unsweetened cocoa powder to add a deep chocolate taste without the extra sweetness.
• Cocoa – I use one package of instant hot cocoa, or you can use two K-cups of hot chocolate. This adds a delicious boost of sweet chocolate flavor.
• Chocolate chips – Try to find extra large semi-sweet chocolate chips so they do not melt all the way. Biting into a half-melted chocolate chip is a heavenly surprise.
• Unsalted butter – Just the rich sweet taste of real butter to mix with the brown sugar to make the sauce is perfect. No salt is needed here.
• Dark brown sugar – Dark brown sugar should be used for a richer and deeper sweetness. This is the sauce that is going to be made with the butter and poured onto the French toast.
• Salt

How to make chocolate french toast casserole?

1. Prepare the pan: First, prepare a 9×13 baking dish by spraying it with baking spray.
2. Coat the bread: Then, whisk the cocoa powder, eggs, half and half, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and instant cocoa in a large bowl until it is smooth and shiny. Then, add the bread and mix gently to make sure it is all coated. Scoop it all into the baking dish and pour the rest of the cocoa mixture on top.
3. Chill overnight: Now, add brown sugar and butter in a small saucepan and melt it over medium heat, stirring continuously for about five minutes. When it is smooth and shiny, pour it on top of the bread mixture. Then, wrap the dish tightly with plastic and place it in the fridge overnight.
4. Bake and serve: The next day, remove the casserole to come to room temperature while the oven heats to 350 degrees F. Then, bake for 30 to 35 minutes until golden brown. Start checking after 25 minutes. Serve immediately with syrup.

Expert tip

Overnight or not

Some say that leaving chocolate French toast casserole (or any French toast casserole) to soak overnight is too long. I have heard that it can make the bread too soggy. While I have never had that issue with my recipe, I can see that happening if the wrong type of bread is used or if the bread is too fresh. Also, if there is too much liquid or not the right kind of liquid. For instance, if milk is used instead of half and half, it could cause the casserole to be runny.

I would not think that leaving it in the refrigerator overnight would cause that though. If the bread soaks up enough liquid for it to be soggy, that is going to happen within the first hour or two. It would not matter how long it was left in the fridge. In fact, it may even dry out more if left in there longer.

A runny casserole is never pleasant. However, it is not the end of the world either. There are some things I can suggest. First, remove the casserole and drain the excess liquid. Then, add a little bit of cornstarch slurry if there is still too much liquid left over. If that does not work, use a slotted spoon to remove the bread to a cooking sheet and bake it at 425 degrees F for five minutes and that should crisp things up nicely.

Recipe variations and add-ins:

• Extra creamy: Add about half a brick of chopped cream cheese on top of the casserole before pouring the custard on top for an extra creamy casserole.
• Go nuts: Sprinkle some chopped pecans or walnuts on top for a crunchy casserole.
• Add caramel: Drizzle some caramel sauce on top before baking it, to make this even more delectable.
• Dress it up: Make it a festive breakfast by adding some rainbow sprinkles on top for the kids.
• Fresh fruit: Some raspberries, blueberries, and strawberries would be delicious on this casserole.

Serving suggestions:

Here are some fun serving ideas to try.

• This would be delicious served with a side of hash browns. This easy recipe only needs six ingredients.
• For a buffet, serve this along with some scrambled eggs, chocolate donuts, strawberry scones, and muffins with coffee and tea.
• If you are serving this delicious chocolate French toast casserole for brunch with the ladies, don’t forget the mimosas. Try my apple cider mimosa recipe.
• Instead of serving it for breakfast, this delicious dish would also make a scrumptious dessert served warm, topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.
• For a family meal, the adults can have a London fog latte while the kids enjoy this tropical smoothie.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my chocolate French toast casserole soggy?

First, this can happen if the bread is too fresh, thin, or flimsy. I use challah bread that is old and dry. It has to be dense enough so that the custard does not soak in too much. It could also be that there is too much moisture in the mixture. Make sure the recipe is being followed exactly and that you are using the right kind of measuring cups. If the cooking temperature is too high, it will make the outside brown before the inside is done. Make sure the temperature is correct.

What is challah bread?

Challah is made from eggs, sugar, and oil instead of milk and butter like with other breads. It has a lot more eggs in it than regular bread dough, so it is eggier and softer, letting it soak up more of the milk mixture. The challah loaf is also braided, giving it a thick, bubbled top layer that makes it perfect for creating soft pillows of custardy goodness. The texture is almost like pastry when pulled apart and sweet enough on its own without all the custard.

Why does French toast casserole have to soak overnight?

Letting it sit all night allows the bread to soften and the custard to infuse with the bread. This way, it gets to absorb all of the flavors. In the morning, it will be extra soft and full of chocolate, brown sugar, vanilla, cream, and cinnamon. It is ready to be baked first thing in the morning, so breakfast is waiting to be served when everyone is sitting down at the table to eat.

Can French toast casserole be made ahead of time?

I would not make it any further ahead of time than 24 hours because the bread will dry out in the fridge. However, it can be cooked and frozen for up to three months. Cook it as usual and let it cool completely. Then, put it in the fridge until it is chilled. After, wrap it in plastic wrap, then in aluminum foil twice before freezing it. Remember to take it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge the night before. Then, let it come to room temperature and cover with foil before reheating at 350 degrees F for 20 to 30 minutes.

How to store:

• Refrigerate: Leftovers can be refrigerated for three days in an airtight container.   
• Freezing: To freeze, let it chill and then wrap it in plastic wrap, then foil, and it will stay fresh for three months. 
• Defrost: Thaw overnight in the refrigerator for the best flavor and texture.
• Reheating: You can reheat it in the oven for 20 to 30 minutes at 350 degrees F or in the microwave for one to two minutes.

More breakfast recipes:

Recipe tips:

• Start with stale bread, best French toast recipes are made with bread that is not very fresh. Also, if the bread is freshly baked it will get soggy very quickly and also it’s more prone to crumble and break. The bread that has been baked 3-4 days ago gives you the best results in this recipe.
• Also, use Challah bread, because it is a sweet egg-based bread, and is topped with a shiny, golden brown braid, which is perfect for this dish.  The bread’s texture is denser, and it gets to absorb more of the chocolate mixture, which will make this casserole amazing.
• Let the casserole sit out for about 45 minutes to an hour to come to room temperature before baking it. This will help it bake more evenly.
• Instead of chopping up the bread, fan it out or layer it to make it look fancier.
• Make sure the bread is thick and sturdy (like challah bread). It has to be able to absorb the custard without getting too soggy.
• Also, be sure the measuring and cooking temperature are correct, or the casserole may end up soggy.
• Since the challah bread is thick and dense, make sure it gets enough of the liquid. After soaking the bread in the mixture, pour some on top.
• Also, use large chocolate chips so they do not melt all the way. The extra chocolatey surprise is wonderful.
• Cut the bread into thick pieces to prevent it from getting too soggy.