This post may contain affiliate links. By browsing this website, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use.

This overnight vegan french toast casserole is made with Just Egg and just 9 other ingredients. All you need is 10 minutes to prep the night before, and then bake the next morning with a simple brown sugar crumb topping! The best, easy vegan breakfast bake for holidays and weekends.

Serving of french toast casserole topped with cranberry sauce and maple syrup.

French toast has been one of my favorite breakfasts for as long as I can remember. Luckily for both of us, making french toast without eggs and milk is incredibly easy!

When testing this recipe, I made several versions with blended silken tofu. Although it works well, it’s not perfect and I wanted to make the casserole prep even easier without any additional appliances.

After a bit of brainstorming, I settled on using Just Egg and I’m very happy with this version – just 9 ingredients, no blenders required, and completely free of flax eggs, tofu, and dairy.

Why this Recipe Works

  • Eggs are an essential ingredient in classic french toast and Just egg is the perfect vegan egg replacer.
  • Coconut cream is a great replacement for heavy cream and is my favorite choice when making dairy free french toast casseroles.
  • Soaking the french toast casserole overnight makes for the most flavorful do ahead vegan breakfast casserole!

Ingredient Notes

Ingredients measured and labeled for french toast casserole.

Casserole

  • Just Egg – Just Egg is a vegan egg substitute that is made out of mung beans. It is sold in liquid form in a bottle. To find Just Egg products in stores near you, use this Store Locator.
  • Stale french bread or sourdough – Any french baguettes or sourdough will do but I prefer to use round sourdough boules. Just make sure the bread has dried out at room temperature for at least 24 hours.
  • Coconut cream – I used coconut cream to replace the traditional heavy cream in french toast casseroles and it worked perfectly. No lingering coconut flavor either!
  • Unsweetened almond milk – Any unsweetened plant-based milk will work.
  • Maple syrup – You can also use agave nectar. I do not recommend substituting with granulated sugar as the custard will likely be too dry. The casserole needs the liquid volume.

Crumb Topping

  • All purpose flour – I have not tested this recipe with another flour, so I cannot recommend any substitutes. I suspect oat flour could work, but I cannot guarantee.
  • Brown sugar – Brown sugar provides the classic french toast flavor, however if you would like to keep this recipe refined sugar free, coconut sugar will also work, it just does not melt as nicely as brown sugar. Still great flavor!
  • Vegan butter – If you are out of vegan butter, a neutral oil will also work.

Step by Step Instructions

  1. Make sure your bread is stale and crusty! The #1 cause of soggy french toast casserole is using too fresh of bread.

    If I ever doubt if my bread is stale enough, I will bake the cubed bread for 10 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit just in case.
    When in doubt, give it a quick bake to dry it out. And I think it goes without saying but, never, ever use sliced sandwich bread!
  2. Add your cubed bread to a greased 9×13 baking dish.
  3. Whisk together the Just Egg, almond milk, coconut cream, cinnamon, vanilla, maple syrup and kosher salt.
  4. Pour the Egg mixture over the bread in the casserole dish.
Step by step how to make vegan french toast casserole.
  1. Carefully toss the cubed bread around in the casserole dish to ensure each piece is soaked in the egg mixture. It is okay if some is pooling in the bottom of the casserole dish, but most should be absorbed by the bread.
  2. Cover with saran wrap and refrigerate overnight.
  3. While the oven preheats the next morning, toss together the crumb topping ingredients in a small bowl.
  4. Sprinkle the crumb topping mixture over the casserole, then bake uncovered for 45 minutes!
Step by step how to make vegan french toast casserole.

FAQs

I don’t have time to make this casserole the night before. Can I make it morning of?

Yes! Although the flavors are a bit more developed when soaked overnight, you can make this and stick it in the oven right away!

Can I substitute the Just Egg for something else?

Sorry, no. The Just Egg is a very specific product that is not easily swapped with an alternative product.

Why is my vegan french toast casserole soggy?

It could be a number of things, but the most likely culprit is you either used the wrong bread, or it was not stale enough before soaking it in the egg mixture.

Can I make this vegan french toast without the crumb topping?

Yes, for a less sweet casserole, try it without the crumb topping. It is still sweet as is and lovely on it’s own!

Serving of french toast casserole topped with cranberry sauce and maple syrup.

French Toast Topping Ideas

This vegan french toast casserole is sweet enough on it’s own, but there are several ways to customize the toppings to make this recipe your own!

A few ideas:

  • homemade peach preserves (great for summer!)
  • cranberry sauce
  • fresh berries
  • sliced bananas
  • fresh peaches
  • vegan butter
  • powdered sugar
  • toasted pecans
Final baked casserole topped with cranberry sauce.

Tips for Success

  • Pick the right bread! The bread you choose can make or break your french toast casserole. I recommend a french bread or sourdough bread that has been left out to stale for at least 24 hours. Better yet, cube the bread first, then let it stale for 24 hours.
  • Don’t soak this casserole for longer than 12 hours, if you can avoid it. Refrigerating between 6-12 hours is the optimal amount of time. Plan accordingly!
  • Make sure all of the bread has soaked up some of the egg mixture. When you pour it over a lot of it sinks to the bottom. Tossing the bread in the mixture will ensure each piece is coated. If not, the bread at the bottom will be mushy and the bread on the top will not have much flavor since it didn’t soak up that good mixture!
Serving of french toast casserole topped with cranberry sauce and maple syrup.

More Easy Vegan Breakfast Ideas

Home-Cooked Roots Logo

Overnight Vegan French Toast Casserole Recipe

5 from 10 votes

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 45 minutes
Total Time 12 hours 55 minutes
Cost: $11.01 per recipe / $1.38 per serving
This overnight vegan french toast casserole is made with Just Egg and just 9 other ingredients. All you need is 10 minutes to prep the night before, and then bake the next morning with a simple brown sugar crumb topping! The best, easy vegan breakfast for holidays and weekends.

Ingredients
 

Casserole Ingredients

  • 10-12 heaping cups stale French bread or sourdough bread I usually buy a 24 ounce sourdough boule ($2.48)
  • 12 ounces Just Egg ($3.00)
  • 1 cup unsweetened plant-based milk I used almond milk ($0.60)
  • 1 (5.4 ounce can) coconut cream ($1.44)
  • 1/2 cup maple syrup ($2.08)
  • 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon ($0.12)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract ($0.48)
  • 1/2 teaspoon Morton kosher salt If using sea salt, reduce to 1/4 teaspoon ($0.02)

Brown Sugar Crumb Topping

  • 1/4 cup all purpose flour ($0.04)
  • 1/4 cup brown sugar ($0.12)
  • 1/4 cup vegan butter very cold, cubed ($0.60)
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon ($0.03)

Instructions

  • Slice the stale bread into 1 inch cubes. Make sure you have a minimum of 10 heaping cups of cubed bread. If the bread feels too soft and not stale enough, bake for 10 minutes at 300 degrees Fahrenheit to dry it out. Alternatively, you can leave the bread out for another 24 hours after slicing into cubes to dry it out.
  • Add the cubed bread to a lightly greased 9×13 casserole dish.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the Just Egg, almond milk, coconut cream, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and kosher salt.
  • Pour the Just Egg mixture over the cubed bread and gently toss the bread in the casserole dish and press the bread down into the egg mixture to ensure all the bread had evenly absorbed the egg mixture. It's okay if there is a small amount of liquid remaining in the bottom of the casserole dish, but MOST should be absorbed into the bread.
  • Cover dish tightly with saran wrap and refrigerate overnight for up to 12 hours.
  • The next morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Prepare the brown sugar crumb topping by simply mixing together the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon and cubed butter.
  • Sprinkle the crumb topping mixture over the casserole and bake for 45 minutes.
  • Allow to cool for 5 minutes, then serve with maple syrup and desired toppings.

Notes

  • The exact sourdough boule I use to make this french toast casserole. 
  • If you do not have time to refrigerate this casserole overnight, you can bake it right away it will just be less flavorful and less soft. Allowing it to soak for at least 1-2 hours is best! 
  • If you do not want to make with the crumb topping, leave it off! 
  • Do not use sliced sandwich bread to make this casserole. It will be too soft and soggy. 
  • There is no substitute for the Just Egg. I developed this casserole specifically with this product (not sponsored, just love it!). 
  • Do not substitute the maple syrup with a granulated sugar. It needs the liquid from the maple syrup. You can substitute with agave nectar or a similar liquid sweetener.
  • Note that kosher salt is not the same as table salt. If using table salt or Himalayan salt, reduce to 1/4 teaspoon.

Nutrition

Calories: 358kcal | Carbohydrates: 52g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 11g | Sodium: 725mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 20g

Disclaimer: The Nutritional Information provided for this recipe is only an estimate. The accuracy of the facts listed is not and cannot be guaranteed.

Course Breakfast
Cuisine American

Did You Love This Recipe?

Rate the recipe here and make sure to leave a comment below!

5 from 10 votes

This recipe was originally published July 29, 2020 and has been updated on July 21, 2021 and December 6, 2023 with new recipe photos. The original recipe remains the same.

Photos by Your Home Made Healthy. Recipe is adapted from Lil’ Luna.

12 Dirt Cheap Weeknight Dinners ebook page.
12 Dirt Cheap Weeknight Dinners ebook cover.

Wallet-Friendly Recipes & Smart Shopping Tips in Your Inbox

Plus get a free cookbook with 12 Dirt Cheap Dinner Ideas that’ll cost you $2 or less per serving.

leave a comment

I love to hear from you. Submit your recipe questions or review here and I will get back to you as soon as I can.

Recipe Rating




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

10 Comments

  1. Did you mean a 15oz can of Coconut Cream?

    1. Hi Rachael! No, 5.4 ounce can is correct. The brand Native Forest sells one this size. You can also buy a 15 ounce can and use about 2/3 cup.

  2. 5 stars
    This was delicious! Cut recipe I half and added blueberries. Wish I could post pic. Yum! Happy Mothers Day to ne!

  3. Can I substitute vegan cream cheese for the coconut milk and add a cup of fresh blueberries and omit the topping (serving with blueberry syrup) with similar results? Or perhaps just add blueberries to the original recipe w/o it getting soggy?

  4. Your recipe does not print.

  5. 5 stars
    Made this for Christmas and it was amazing! Not too sweet, deep flavors and so easy. All the non-vegans even said it was the best they ever had! Thank you and this recipe will be a keeper for our family!

    1. Aw, yay! It’s the best when non vegans approve 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it.

  6. Christina says:

    5 stars
    Absolutely incredible!! Thank you for a Christmas-morning-worthy recipe that all of us love! No one would guess this is not made with eggs and milk. Recommend!!!

  7. 5 stars
    If you are looking for a holiday crowd pleaser look no further. We have had this two times now and everyone loves it! No one will know it’s vegan, and the fact that it can be made the night before is my favorite part! Just pop it in the oven in the morning. Your house will smell amazing while you relax with your coffee.

related recipes