This decadent Vegan French Toast Casserole can be prepped the night before for the ultimate hands-off breakfast! It has all the flavors of traditional french toast and then some, thanks to the crunchy, sweet topping.
This recipe is further proof that you don’t need animal products to make amazing baked goods. I really wasn’t sure I could pull this off, but after a few tries, I got it just right. Really! No eggs, no milk, no cream.
Vegan French Toast Casserole is the perfect make ahead breakfast casserole for when you have company visiting, holiday mornings or just a lazy weekend. It’s totally rich and decadent, and tastes like french toast! If you haven’t already, please go make my 10 minute Vegan French Toast. You’ll thank me!
I have a few very important tips and tricks for making this the BEST French Toast Casserole ever, so read on.
What is the best bread to use for vegan french toast casserole?
This is the most important part of the entire recipe. Trust me, because I tried it first with a pretty fresh loaf of moist bread. It was wayyyy too soggy and did not turn out. The next time I used a day old loaf that was pretty dried out, and it was absolutely perfect.
So pretty please, do not try to make this recipe using sandwich bread or any fresh, moist loaf of bread. It will just be soggy bread no matter how long you bake it. I want you to use a DAY OLD loaf of french/sourdough bread or even a baguette.Â
If you only have fresh bread, cut it up and lay it out on a baking sheet. Let it dry out at room temperature for a couple of hours before using.
How to make french toast casserole without eggs:
This was a really big challenge! It took a few tries to get it just right. French toast casserole is usually made with about 6 eggs. The custard for my vegan version is made with a combination of silken tofu, coconut milk and cornstarch. It works perfectly! And the best part: no eggy aftertaste.
How to serve vegan french toast casserole?
The casserole isn’t super sweet on it’s own, so serve it with a dusting of powdered sugar and warm, pure maple syrup.
Consider making Tofu Scramble or a batch of Tempeh Bacon to go alongside it.
I hope you love this Vegan French Toast Casserole! It’s:
- Soft & Crunchy
- Easy to make
- Perfect for holiday mornings
- Sweet and decadent
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Vegan French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 1 day old large loaf (14-16 ounces) french or sourdough bread* cut into 1 inch cubes (about 10 cups)
- 12 ounces silken tofu
- (1) 13.5-ounce can full fat coconut milk
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
Topping
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 1/4 cup all purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 3 tablespoons vegan butter, cold
Instructions
- Prepare the bread: Cut the bread into 1 inch cubes. I do this by first slicing the loaf, then cutting into smaller cubes. Lightly grease a 9 by 13 inch casserole dish, and add the bread cubes to it.
- Make the custard: In a blender, add the silken tofu (drained of water if needed), coconut milk, cornstarch, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon and salt. Blend until smooth.
- Pour the custard over the bread cubes. Using your hands, press the bread down into the custard a few times, until the bread is soaked in it. Cover and place in the refrigerator for 8-12 hours. You can bake it immediately if you prefer.
- In the morning, preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
- Make the topping: In a small bowl, combine the brown sugar, flour and cinnamon. Then cut the vegan butter in with a fork or your fingers. Sprinkle this over the top of the casserole.
- Bake, uncovered, for 40-50 minutes, until golden brown on top and cooked throughout.
- Sprinkle with a dusting of powdered sugar and serve with warm, pure maple syrup. Enjoy!
Notes
- You MUST use day old, dried out bread for the casserole. If you use moist, fresh bread, you will have a soggy casserole and it will not taste good! Sometimes you can even buy day old bread at your grocery store, discounted. If you only have fresh, cut it up and let it sit at room temperature, uncovered for a few hours to dry out.
- You can use mori-nu silken tofu, or the silken tofu packed in water. Simply drain all the water you can from the packaging before using.
Amazing! I followed the directions as written. Everyone loved it, even the non-vegans!
Can I use regular Tofu? Bought the wrong kind. Thanks.
It should work pretty well.
I make this dish all the time! It’s amazing. The recipe is great as it is but often, to make it faster and avoid blending, I’ve subbed tofu for a container of just egg. I prefer to use the vegan brioche from Trader Joe’s and love adding pecans.
Thanks for sharing your great idea and review! I’m thrilled you are loving the French toast casserole!
I made this for a friends group brunch and it was the biggest hit at the party. I did a 1.5x recipe and not a single bite was left to take home. I’m the only vegan, so folks knew the dish was vegan, though I didn’t tell anyone that it has tofu so as not to get any naysayers right off the bat. Everyone said it was delicious!
A friend is allergic to almonds, so I used oat milk. I also used Trader Joe’s vegan brioche bread, which is amazing. Don’t hesitate to make this for vegans and non-vegans alike!
Hi Marcella. I’m thrilled the casserole was a hit! Thanks for taking time to share your terrific feedback and review!
How to store leftovers? And for how long?
It’s best eaten right away but the leftovers can be covered and stored for about 2 to 3 days in the fridge. Just know that the bread might become soggy after it sits.
I sprinkled crushed pecans on 1/3 and petite diced apples on 1/3 and left it as is on the last part. All were equally delicious.
Hi Kim. Yumm! Thanks for sharing your great ideas and feedback!
Do you think it would be OK to make the custard a couple days before actually using it? Can’t wait to try this!
Yes, it will work just fine to prepare it ahead of time. Enjoy!
Ugh! I forgot to add the cornstarch!! Will it turn out soggy? Just got off my night shift and missed it!
Giving it five stars because I know it will be delicious made correctly!
Let me know how it turned out for you!