This Cranberry Orange French Toast Casserole is one of my favorite holiday breakfasts! It’s soft on the inside and crisp on the edges, with fresh cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon and maple syrup. Prep it the night before and then bake in the morning!
The Breakfast I Want to Wake Up to on Christmas Morning
If I had to choose my favorite holiday breakfast, it would be this cranberry orange French toast casserole. It’s a festive twist on my classic French Toast Casserole, with fresh cranberries and orange zest plus a sweet streusel topping.
I love this recipe because I can prep it the night before and then just pop it in the oven in the morning. I pour a maple-sweetened custard mixture over cubes of French bread in the baking dish, and the bread soaks up the custard overnight, kind of like a bread pudding. Your kitchen will smell amazing as this bakes, and it tastes even better! If you love cranberry orange, be sure to try my Cranberry Orange Bread next!
This has been our Christmas morning breakfast for three years now. Absolutely delicious.
Corrine
The Best Bread for French Toast Casserole
I usually make this with a loaf of crusty white French bread or whole grain French bread. You can also use challah, brioche or ciabatta. I do not recommend using sandwich bread or other thin-sliced bread, since they will get too mushy when soaking overnight.
The key is to use day old bread that has dried out a little, so that it can soak up the egg mixture without getting soggy. If your bread is fresh, you can cut it into cubes and let the bread cubes dry out on the counter for a few hours before putting the casserole together.
How to Make Cranberry Orange French Toast Casserole
Rub the sugar and orange zest together with your fingers. This infuses the sugar with orange flavor. Then stir in the chopped fresh cranberries.
Prep the bread and custard: Place the bread cubes in a greased 9×13-inch baking dish. In a large liquid measuring cup or batter bowl (for easy pouring), combine the eggs, milk, pure maple syrup, vanilla, and cinnamon. Whisk until well combined and then pour evenly over the bread in the dish.
Make streusel topping: Stir together the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Add the cubed butter and use a pastry blender or your fingers to work the butter into the flour mixture.
Add cranberries and streusel: Sprinkle the cranberry-orange sugar mixture evenly over the top of the casserole. Then sprinkle on the streusel.
Refrigerate overnight. In the morning, preheat your oven to 350° F. Bake the casserole covered with foil for 30 minutes. Then remove the foil and continue to bake for another 20-30 minutes, until lightly golden on top and set in the center. Serve and enjoy!
What to Serve with Cranberry Orange French Toast Casserole
Since there’s already a half cup of maple syrup in the casserole, I don’t usually need more syrup when serving, but you can decide! Here are a few ideas for what to serve with this cranberry orange baked French toast:
- Balance out the sweet with some savory bacon. Here’s how I cook bacon in the oven.
- A fresh Fruit Salad.
- I enjoy this with Egg Muffins or Scrambled Eggs.
More Holiday Breakfast Ideas
- Cinnamon Rolls: My tried-and-true recipe makes the best fluffy cinnamon rolls! You’ll love the overnight option.
- Scones Recipe: These are so easy and you can make them any flavor.
- Breakfast Casserole: This savory breakfast casserole has sausage, veggies and cheese and feeds a crowd!
- Coffee Cake: This one has plenty of crumb topping and lots of cinnamon.
- Broccoli Quiche: When I want something easy but still impressive, this is what I make!
Made this recipe? I’d truly appreciate if you leave a comment and star rating below! Your review will help others who want to try this recipe. Thank you! 💛
Cranberry Orange French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- zest of 1 large orange
- 1 cup fresh cranberries, coarsely chopped
- 1 loaf day-old French bread*, or challah, brioche or ciabatta, cut into 1-inch cubes (about 10 cups of bread cubes)
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- ½ cup pure maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
For the streusel:
- ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
- 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ cup cold unsalted butter, cut into cubes
Instructions
- Place granulated sugar and orange zest in a medium bowl. Use your fingers to mix the sugar and zest together until fragrant. Add the cranberries and stir to combine. Set aside.2 tablespoons granulated sugar, zest of 1 large orange, 1 cup fresh cranberries
- Spray a 9×13 rectangular baking dish with cooking spray. Place the bread cubes in the dish and arrange them into an even layer as much as possible.1 loaf day-old French bread*
- In a large bowl or large liquid measuring cup or batter bowl (for easy pouring), combine the eggs, milk, maple syrup, vanilla, and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Whisk until well combined and then pour evenly over the bread in the dish.6 large eggs, 2 cups whole milk, ½ cup pure maple syrup, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Sprinkle the cranberry-orange sugar mixture evenly over the top.
- To make the streusel, stir together the flour, brown sugar, and ½ teaspoon cinnamon in a medium bowl. Add the butter pieces and then use a pastry blender or your fingers to work the butter into the flour mixture until the butter pieces are no bigger than small peas and the mixture begins to clump together. Sprinkle over the top of the casserole.⅓ cup all-purpose flour, 3 tablespoons packed light brown sugar, ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon, ¼ cup cold unsalted butter
- Cover the French toast with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- When you are ready to bake the casserole, preheat your oven to 350° F. Once the oven is preheated, remove the plastic wrap from the casserole and cover it with foil. Bake, covered for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and continue to bake for another 20-30 minutes, until lightly golden on top and set in the center. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
- Using day old bread that has dried out a little lets the bread soak up the egg mixture without getting soggy. If your bread is fresh, you can cut it into cubes and let the bread cubes dry out on the counter for a few hours before putting the casserole together.
I originally shared this recipe in December 2015. Post updated December 2025 with new photos, more helpful tips and a recipe video.
Oh man this french toast is screaming at me to make it. I love a good breakfast dish and this one is by far the best looking one I’ve seen yet. I love that crumble too. This would be perfect Christmas morning. So pinning this. 🙂
Breakfast is definitely my favorite meal of the day, Cyndi! I think you’d love this french toast bake! 🙂
I love this! I’ve never made a french toast casserole…but I love that it is SO much easier than dealing with standing over the stove to make french toast. Cranberry and orange is the best flavor combo too 🙂 yum!
Thank you, Rachel! I LOVE cranberry and orange together, too!
Make ahead breakfast are my favorite, especially when it involves french toast! This casserole looks amazing, Kristine! I love the cranberry and orange combo. It sounds so festive and I bet your house smelled amazing when this was baking! What a perfect Christmas morning treat!
Thank you, Gayle! Yes, my house smelled so good while this baked! 🙂
I love overnight french toast bakes! This cranberry orange version is just GORGEOUS, Kristine! So perfect for an holiday breakfast!
Thank you so much, Sarah!
I’ve never made a French toast bake before, but this looks like a wonderful recipe for a holiday brunch!
Thanks, Kelly! I know we’ll be enjoying this at least once more this season!
Ohh this sounds wonderful! Thanks so much for the Post, Picture’s, and the Recipe, I will have to give it a try!
You are too sweet, Rebecca! I’m so glad you like this recipe! 🙂
Overnight french toast casseroles are the best! Cranberry and orange sounds like such a delicious combination for one!
Thank you, Christin! The cranberry orange flavor is so good in this!
I have never actually made baked French toast. One of those things I’ve been meaning to try for ages, but never have. Definitely need to try this, it looks amazing! And make ahead is always a good thing!
You do need to try baked french toast, Stacey! I haven’t made it too many times myself, but after trying this version I’m hooked!
This looks so delicious! My mom loves cranberries so I’m always looking for unique new ways to use them… she’ll love this!
This recipe looks delicious! Do you think you could use dried cranberries in lieu of the fresh?
Yes, I think that would work. I hope you enjoy this, Meredith!
Could I use regular flour and salted butter for the topping?
Yes, that will work. Enjoy!
Has anyone made a dairy-free substitution for the milk? I might try this soon with almond milk because it’s what I have already, but I would love to hear successes from others!
Thank you for sharing this recipe. Can we use frozen cranberries if we can’t find fresh?
Yes, frozen should work great. Enjoy!
Do you think a loaf of cranberry orange breakfast bread would be ok to use, or too much?
It’s hard to say. I think it really depends on the texture of the bread. If it is a really soft bread, it might not work as well.
This has been our Christmas morning breakfast for three years now. Absolutely delicious.
This Cranberry Orange French Toast recipe has a delicious fruitiness. Perfect for the holidays!