There’s something special about waking up to the smell of warm cinnamon and baked apples. This Overnight Cinnamon Apple French Toast Casserole is one of my all-time favorite make-ahead breakfasts — perfect for holidays, cozy weekends, or brunch with family. And the best part? It’s simple enough for anyone to make (seriously, if I can do it, you can too!).
This recipe blends fluffy challah bread, tender apples, and a hint of cinnamon — with an optional drop of doTERRA Cinnamon essential oil for my oily friends who love adding wellness to their kitchen. 🍎✨
Prep + Cook Time:
Ingredients:
For the French Toast:
1 (16-ounce) loaf challah bread, day-old and cubed
6 eggs
1 cup half and half
1 cup milk (2% or whole)
½ cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon(optional: add a toothpick swirl of doTERRA Cinnamon essential oil — just a touch goes a long way!)
3 apples, peeled and thinly sliced
For the Streusel:
⅓ cup brown sugar
⅓ cup flour
1 teaspoon cinnamon
¼ cup cold butter, diced
For Serving:
Powdered sugar
Maple syrup
Instructions:
- Mix the custard: In a large bowl or mixing pitcher, whisk together eggs, half and half, milk, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon. Set aside.
- Assemble the casserole: Grease a 9x13” baking dish. Add half the bread cubes, layer with half the apple slices, and pour half the custard mixture over top. Repeat with remaining bread, apples, and custard.
- Chill overnight: Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight (or at least 4 hours).
- Bake it up: Remove from the fridge while the oven preheats to 350°F. Sprinkle with streusel, then bake 45–55 minutes or until golden brown and set in the middle.
- Make the streusel: In a small bowl, combine brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter until crumbly (tip: you can prep this the night before too).
- Serve & enjoy: Cool for 5–10 minutes, then dust with powdered sugar, drizzle with maple syrup, and enjoy all the cozy fall flavors!
Sue’s Tip:
“If I can make this, you definitely can too! It’s the easiest brunch win and always gets rave reviews.”
Essential Oil Note:
Cooking with essential oils is totally optional — but for my fellow oil lovers, a touch of doTERRA Cinnamon adds a cozy, aromatic boost that takes this dish from great to amazing.