Instant Pot French Toast Casserole
Published 9/5/2018 • Updated 12/7/2023
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When short on time and short on oven space, give this Instant Pot French toast casserole a try! It combines the flavors and textures we love about French toast and cinnamon rolls to create a truly epic brunch recipe.
Our recipe for Instant Pot French toast casserole combines everything we love about French toast with the delicious gooey texture and flavor of a cinnamon roll – and only takes 25 minutes to cook in your Instant Pot. If you’re tight on oven space or don’t have an oven (hello dorm room!), you’ll appreciate how quickly and easily this breakfast recipe comes together.
Combine cubed sourdough bread and walnuts with an almond butter cinnamon drizzle, top it all off with a sprinkle of butter and brown sugar, mix in the eggs and milk, and let the pressure cooker do the rest. While optional, the buttery brown sugar topping cooks to sweet, caramelized perfection and sets this recipe apart. We tested the casserole with and without it and we all preferred the version with the topping!
Featured Comment
“I made this recipe with gluten free bread and it was delicious! Kid approved!!” – Jamie
What You Need for Instant Pot French Toast Casserole
There are 3 parts to this homemade French toast casserole – here’s what you need for each:
French Toast
- Sourdough bread
- Eggs
- Milk
- Vanilla
- Maple syrup
- Walnuts
Almond Butter Drizzle
- Almond butter
- Maple syrup
- Cinnamon
- Coconut oil
Topping
The optional topping comes together with cubed, cold butter and brown sugar.
French Toast Casserole Variations
Mix up this Instant Pot breakfast casserole with any of these swaps. Instead of:
Sourdough bread, use your favorite kind of bread. We love the chewiness of sourdough and really love the texture it takes in a breakfast bake, but cinnamon raisin or a hearty whole wheat would be delicious. You can’t go wrong!
Maple syrup, try honey.
Walnuts, use the same amount of chopped pecans.
Almond butter, try peanut butter or a mixed nut butter in the topping. Just make sure it’s the drippy, all natural kind.
FAQ
For a gluten free version of French toast casserole, use GF bread. No other changes needed!
Absolutely. Simply omit the chopped walnuts from the recipe OR add raisins instead.
This French toast casserole is done cooking when the mixture is set and lightly golden brown. It takes about 25 minutes to cook through in the Instant Pot.
Storage
Store any leftover French toast casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
To reheat leftovers, we recommend using the oven. Transfer leftover casserole into an oven-safe baking dish and place in a 350ºF oven until warmed through, about 10-15 minutes. This method prevents soggy leftovers!
We don’t recommend freezing leftovers as the bread will become very soggy once frozen, thawed, and reheated. This casserole is best enjoyed fresh!
Serving Suggestions
Serve this French toast casserole with a side of fresh fruit, hot coffee, and any of your favorite toppings. Some of our go-to French toast toppings are a drizzle of maple syrup, slather of almond butter or peanut butter, or sprinkle of coconut flakes or chocolate chips.
Instant Pot French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
French Toast
- 12 slices sourdough bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (~6 cups)
- 8 large eggs
- 1 cup milk, any kind
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
Almond Butter Cinnamon Drizzle
- 2/3 cup almond butter, drippy
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 3 teaspoons ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon melted coconut oil
Optional Topping
- 4 tablespoons butter, cold and cubed
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
Instructions
- Spray a heat proof 8-inch glass bowl with nonstick cooking spray (this is the bowl you will use to cook your French toast in). Set aside.
- Make the almond butter cinnamon drizzle: In a small bowl, mix together the almond butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, and melted coconut oil. The consistency should be drippy – if not, add additional melted coconut oil 1 teaspoon at a time.
- In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs, milk, vanilla, and maple syrup together.
- Assemble the French toast casserole: Place half of the bread cubes and half of the walnuts into the prepared glass bowl. Drizzle half of the almond butter cinnamon drizzle over the bread mixture. Add the rest of the bread cubes and walnuts and drizzle the remaining almond butter mixture on top.
- Pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes and use a spatula to mix. If adding the optional topping, sprinkle the cubed butter and brown sugar on top.
- Place the metal Instant Pot trivet on the bottom of Instant Pot and pour in 1 cup of water. Place the bowl of the French toast casserole mixture on top of the trivet.
- Lock the Instant Pot and turn the pressure valve to seal. Press manual and turn to high pressure and cook for 25 minutes.
- Quick release and remove Instant Pot cover. Let cool and serve with your favorite French toast toppings.
Tips & Notes
- Storage: Store any leftover French toast casserole in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Nutrition Information: Does not include optional topping.
Watch It
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Hi Lee,
Can I maybe make this using a healthier bread, or a gluten-free bread perhaps?
It looks simply delicious, and I will be making it regardless 🙂
Hi! Any kind of bread will work 🙂
This looks wonderful and I’m looking forward to making it. But I’m confused by your nutritional info. Sugar:2?? Did you mean 20 g carbohydrate, which would be reasonable, given the bread and maple syrup?
Is there a particular reason one would need a cake pan/oven safe bowl to make this… Is making it directly in the instant pot not advised?
Hey Ali! The reason why we didn’t cook it directly in the Instant Pot is because you need the water at the bottom to create the moisture in order to pressure cook it. We also think you would get the burn notification if you did it directly on the bottom! However, we’ve never tried it!
Oh my, I have never seen anything more decadent and comforting in my entire life! I LOVE French Toast and cinnamon. I will say that the last step might be my favorite. Quickly serve myself and DIG IN!
Very simple words have been used to explain this method and I understand everything well. Thanku so very much sharing this great recipe. This is something very interesting and amazing. I really love the idea and way you present this to us.
As sweet as a honeymoon with the help of Sweet Home Costa Rica
We just want to make it “Sweet Home” for You.
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tan dulce como una luna de miel con la ayuda de Sweet Home Costa Rica
We just want to make it “Sweet Home” for You.
https://sweethomecr.com/
So excited about that almond butter sauce!! YUM 🙂
ITS SO GOOOOOOD!
Can you not read the blog anymore? Like with most recent first? Everything looks different! Is it just me???????
Hey LJ! You can still read the blog 🙂 You just have to scroll down to the bottom of the home page.
This sounds amazing! I don’t have an instant pot though–can this be made in the oven or even a slow cooker?
Hi Lisa! This recipe is Instant Pot specific! Try out our Maple Pecan Overnight French Toast– it is made in the oven!!