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Home » Recipes » Courses » Breakfast and Brunch Recipes » Pancakes, Waffles & French Toast

Overnight Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole

Published: Apr 15, 2019 by Terri Gilson · Modified: Mar 19, 2023 · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This post may contain affiliate links · 17 Comments

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carrot cake overnight french toast casserole in white casserole dish
Photo collage - whole carrot cake overnight french toast casserole on the top and a piece of it on the bottom
Piece of Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole in the foreground and whole casserole in background

This easy Overnight Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole is an overnight casserole made with healthy eggs, pineapple, walnuts, and pureed carrots (in the form of baby food) so it's quick and easy to make) but still tastes like you're eating carrot cake for breakfast! It's the perfect Easter breakfast casserole recipe.

Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole with a piece missing

Overnight Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole is popular at Easter but makes a great brunch any time of the year! It pairs perfectly with Old Fashioned Fruit Salad and Air Fryer Turkey Sausage. This recipe was inspired by my favorite Carrot Cake recipe.

Jump to:
  • 🥘 Ingredients
  • 📖Variations & Substitutions
  • 🔪Instructions
  • ⏲️ Baking time
  • 🥗 Side dishes
  • 🍽Equipment
  • 🌡️Storage
  • 👪 Serving Size
  • 📋 Overnight Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole Recipe

🥘 Ingredients

This French toast casserole boasts healthy carrots (baby food) and other real, wholesome ingredients like eggs, cinnamon, pineapple, walnuts, and cream, yet it still tastes like you're eating a carrot cake for breakfast!

The beauty of baby food is that the work is already done for you! Why do all that shredding or cooking and puréeing carrots when you don’t have to? That's why I use carrots,  in the form of baby food, in this casserole; it's super quick and easy.

And since they make it for babies, there are no preservatives and fillers in it. It's pure carrots and water. And the brand I uses makes theirs with organic carrots. Plus, you can buy baby food anywhere!

2 jars of baby food piled up behind a dish of carrot baby food

In addition to carrot baby food, you will also need the following for this french toast bake:

  • Thick French bread Texas toast bread 
  • large eggs
  • half-and-half cream
  • brown sugar
  • white granulated sugar
  • vanilla extract
  • ground cinnamon
  • crushed pineapple and pineapple rings, drained and liquid squeezed out
  • walnuts
  • maple syrup
  • cream cheese, room temperature
  • icing sugar/powdered sugar
  • whipped cream * I use the aerosol can of whipped cream
  • carrot ribbons (thin) * See photo below, in instructions

Easter starts with eggs and so does this Baked French Toast Casserole!

3 Eggs in a basket (one made to look like an Easter bunny) with bread and other french toast ingredients in background

📖Variations & Substitutions

  • Carrots - you could cook and purée carrots instead of using baby food
  • Bread - you can use Brioche instead, but you may need to use 2 loaves, if loaves are smaller
  • Whipped Cream - Use real whipped cream, instead of spray whipped cream, if you prefer
  • Pineapple - use fresh pineapple instead of canned, if you prefer
  • Walnuts - you can use pecan pieces instead of walnuts

🔪Instructions

Prep: Generously spray a 9 X 13 casserole dish or baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.

slices of bread, overlapping placed in white casserole dish

Arrange ½ the loaf of slices of bread in 2 rows, overlapping if need be, in a casserole dish.

liquid french toast mixture poured over half the bread

In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half cream, drained, crushed and squeezed pineapple (make sure you squeeze as much liquid out as possible!),  pureed carrots (baby food), brown sugar, white granulated sugar,  vanilla, cinnamon and maple syrup. Then beat with a whisk until blended thoroughly.

Pour ½ the liquid french toast mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the cream-egg mixture. 

second layer of bread slices added to casserole

Then add the rest of the bread slices

final layer of bread covered in remaining liquid mixture and walnuts

Pour the remaining half of the liquid mixture over the bread slices

Add finely chopped walnut evenly over soaked bread slices.

carrot cake casserole covered in aluminum foil

Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight (about 8 hours)

cream cheese glaze being spread on casserole

The next day,  preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C) Remove from refrigerator, leave the foil on, and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes. 

Remove foil and return to oven for an additional 15 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare glaze.

Cream Cheese Glaze: In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat softened cream cheese until smooth. Gradually add powdered sugar/icing sugar until incorporated. Then add milk and vanilla.

Spread glaze over warm casserole with a spatula.

Whole Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole with pineapples dotted with whipped cream and grated carrots on top

Garnish:

Sprinkle with cinnamon and pat the pineapple rings dry with paper towel and place on top of casserole.

Dot the insides of the pineapple rings with whipped cream (* I use whipped cream from a spray bottle).

 Use a vegetable peeler to make thin ribbons with carrots, then add 2-3 on top of the whipped cream. Add a few pieces of chopped walnuts.

carrot being ribboned with vegetable peeler

Serve with additional syrup and whipped cream, as desired.

⏲️ Baking time

Overnight French toast Casseroles are so much easier than fussing with making individual French toast. It takes about 10 minutes to throw together the night before, you let it rest overnight in the fridge while you slumber and the next morning, you pop it in the oven for 50 minutes. Easy Peasy! And perfect for your Easter brunch.

🥗 Side dishes

This carrot cake casserole pairs well with the following dishes:

  • Old Fashioned Fruit Salad (with Honey Lime Dressing) (shown)
  • Air Fryer Turkey Sausage
easy fruit salad in white bowl with honey lime dressing being poured over salad

🍽Equipment

For this Carrot Cake French Toast with Cream Cheese Frosting you will need a mixing bowl, a 9x13 casserole dish, an electric mixer, a trivet, and a spatula (affiliate links).

🌡️Storage

You can store leftover carrot cake casserole for 3-4 days in an airtight container in the fridge! If you are just leaving it overnight, you can cover it in plastic wrap.

Make ahead:

  • This can also be reheated and served later. If you are taking it along to a gathering or potluck make sure you bake it in a microwaveable casserole dish (so it can warmed up)!
  • You'll want to add the glaze and garnishes AFTER you reheat it
  • And be sure to bring along additional maple syrup and whipped cream to serve with it!

Freezing:

  • You can freeze leftovers! I froze my leftovers of this recipe, fully garnished, then heated up a piece for 1 minute and 30 seconds. The texture was a little moister so I wouldn't recommend this for serving initially, but it's fine for eating as leftovers for yourself.
Piece of Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole in the foreground and whole casserole in background

👪 Serving Size

This overnight casserole makes 10 servings. However, you can half, double, or triple the recipe by clicking on the blue serving number and selecting the number of servings you'd like. The ingredient quantities will automatically adjust. You'll need a bigger casserole dish or an additional casserole dish if you double or triple it.

So, if you want to have dessert for breakfast and still feel good about it, then make this Carrot Cake French Toast recipe with cream cheese glaze. Perfect for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and essential for Easter Sunday dessert (or in this case 'dessert for breakfast'!)

Whole Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole with pineapples dotted with whipped cream and grated carrots on top
Food Meandering Logo

📋 Overnight Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole Recipe

This easy Overnight Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole is made with healthy eggs, pineapple, walnuts and pureed carrots (in the form of baby food so it's quick and easy to make) but still tastes like you're eating carrot cake for breakfast! It's the perfect Easter breakfast casserole recipe.
5 from 6 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Breakfast, brunch
Cuisine: American, Canadian
Keyword: carrot cake, casserole, french toast, overnight
Special Diet: Vegetarian
Servings: 10 people
Calories: 308kcal
Author: Terri Gilson
Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 50 minutes minutes
refrigeration: 8 hours hours
Total Time: 9 hours hours 40 minutes minutes
Prevent your screen from going dark

Equipment

9x13 casserole dish
electric mixer
stack of different colored large 9X12 trivets
trivets
an array of colorful spatulas
spatula

Ingredients

  • 1 loaf Thick french bread, brioche or texas toast bread * if using brioche, may need to use 2 loaves, if loaves are smaller
  • 8 large eggs
  • 1 1 /2 cups half-and-half cream
  • 2 -128 ml -carrot baby food jars
  • 4 tablespoon brown sugar
  • 2 tablespoon white granulated sugar
  • 2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • 1 -398 ml can -crushed pineapple, drained and liquid squeezed out
  • ⅔ cup finely chopped walnuts
  • ¼ cup maple syrup

Cream Cheese Glaze

  • 8 oz oz cream cheese
  • 1 cup icing sugar/powdered sugar
  • 3 tablespoon milk
  • 1 tsp vanilla

Garnish

  • 1 398 ml can pineapple rings, drained and patted dry with a paper towel
  • ½ - 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • whipped cream * I use the aerosol can of whipped creaam
  • carrot ribbons (thin) * See photo below, in instructdions
  • walnuts
US Customary - Metric

Instructions

NOTE: The instruction images will NOT print by default. If you want them to print, you'll need to check the box beside "images" on the print page

  • Generously spray a 9 X 13 casserole dish or baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
  • Arrange ½ the loaf of slices of bread in 2 rows, overlapping if need be,  in a casserole dish.
    slices of bread, overlapping placed in white casserole dish
  • In a large bowl, combine the eggs, half-and-half cream, drained, crushed and squeezed pineapple (make sure you squeeze as much liquid out as possible!),  pureed carrots (baby food), brown sugar, white granulated sugar,  vanilla, cinnamon and maple syrup. Then beat with a whisk until blended thoroughly.
  • Pour ½ the liquid  mixture over the bread slices, making sure all are covered evenly with the cream-egg mixture. 
    liquid french toast mixture poured over half the bread
  • Then add the rest of the bread.
    second layer of bread slices added to casserole
  • Pour the remaining half of the liquid over the bread slices. Sprinkle finely chopped walnut evenly over soaked bread slices.
    final layer of bread covered in remaining liquid mixture and walnuts
  • Cover with foil and refrigerate overnight (about 8 hours)
    carrot cake casserole covered in aluminum foil
  • The next day,  preheat oven to 350 degrees F (176 degrees C ). Remove from refrigerator, leave the foil on and bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes. 
  • Remove foil and return to oven for an additional 15 minutes. Meanwhile prepare glaze.

Cream Cheese Glaze

  • Beat softened cream cheese with a hand mixer until smooth.
  • Gradually add powdered sugar/icing sugar until incorporated. Then add milk and vanilla.
  • Spread glaze over warm casserole with a spatula.
    cream cheese glaze being spread on casserole

Garnish

  • Sprinkle with cinnamon.
  • Pat the pineapple rings dry with paper towel and place on top of casserole, as shown.
  • Dot the insides of the pineapple rings with whipped cream (* I use a whipped cream from a spray bottle) 
  • Use a vegetable peeler to make thin ribbons with carrots, then add 2-3 on top of whipped cream.
    carrot being ribboned with vegetable peeler
  • Add few pieces of chopped walnuts.
  • Serve with additional syrup and whipped cream, as desired.
    Whole Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole with pineapples dotted with whipped cream and grated carrots on top

Notes

Make ahead:
  • This can also be reheated and served later. If you are taking it along to a gathering or potluck make sure you bake it in a microwaveable casserole dish (so it can warmed up)!
  • You'll want to add the glaze and garnishes AFTER you reheat it
  • And be sure to bring along additional maple syrup and whipped cream to serve with it!
Freezing:
  • You can freeze leftovers! I froze my leftovers of this recipe, fully garnished,  then heated up a piece for 1 minute and 30 seconds. The texture was a little more moist so I wouldn't recommend this for serving initially, but it's fine for leftovers.
 
Nutrition Facts
📋 Overnight Carrot Cake French Toast Casserole Recipe
Amount Per Serving (1 slice)
Calories 308 Calories from Fat 81
% Daily Value*
Fat 9g14%
Saturated Fat 1g6%
Cholesterol 131mg44%
Sodium 269mg12%
Potassium 147mg4%
Carbohydrates 46g15%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 22g24%
Protein 10g20%
Vitamin A 230IU5%
Vitamin C 0.1mg0%
Calcium 60mg6%
Iron 2.4mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Nutrition

Serving: 1slice | Calories: 308kcal (15%) | Carbohydrates: 46g (15%) | Protein: 10g (20%) | Fat: 9g (14%) | Saturated Fat: 1g (6%) | Cholesterol: 131mg (44%) | Sodium: 269mg (12%) | Potassium: 147mg (4%) | Fiber: 1g (4%) | Sugar: 22g (24%) | Vitamin A: 230IU (5%) | Vitamin C: 0.1mg | Calcium: 60mg (6%) | Iron: 2.4mg (13%)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Sue

    April 15, 2019 at 10:37 am

    Well how brilliant is that?! I would have never thought to use baby food carrots. As a vegetarian I have a love affair with eggs so a fabulous recipe to add to my collection. Being able to make it the night before takes the stress away and a special morning to share with friends.

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      April 15, 2019 at 7:30 pm

      Thanks, Sue! Yes, discovering this baby food hack was a happy accident in an attempt to avoid food waste! Although I’m not vegetarian, I’m with you when it comes to eggs! I eat them daily ?

      Reply
  2. Alisa Infanti

    April 16, 2019 at 11:45 am

    I love the fact that is is an overnight recipe. Easter is so busy for us between families that I usually do a brunch for my family so am always looking for a good recipe like this that just needs to be popped in the oven in the morning!

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      April 19, 2019 at 9:23 pm

      I hear you, Alisa! I am not the greatest at hosting (I get stressed) so the more I can do in advance, the better!

      Reply
  3. Isabelle @ Crumb

    April 16, 2019 at 11:52 am

    This looks like a lovely addition to an Easter brunch, and the idea of using baby food to sneak in some vegetables is positively brilliant. Of course, I'd have some 'splaining to do about why there's baby food in the pantry, seeing as we've never had babies and aren't planning on having any, so my poor husband would be very confused! 🙂

    Reply
  4. Dawn - Girl Heart Food

    April 17, 2019 at 6:18 am

    This is such a brilliant idea! Love the idea of carrot cake in breakfast form and I especially love that you can prep the day before! This would disappear fast at any Easter meal. Perfect for brunch on a random Saturday too 😉

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      April 19, 2019 at 9:22 pm

      Hi Dawn - thanks! Yes, it is definitely a random any day recipe!

      Reply
  5. Colleen

    April 17, 2019 at 8:57 pm

    This is brilliant. I never, ever would have thought to use baby food in any recipe, but wow this looks delicious and simple. I Can't wit to try it!!

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      April 19, 2019 at 9:22 pm

      thank you, Colleen! Yes, I'm always looking for shortcuts and ways to use up leftover anything 🙂

      Reply
  6. Himalayan salt valley

    April 18, 2019 at 5:04 am

    This looks so delicious. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful recipe.

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      April 19, 2019 at 9:21 pm

      Thanks !

      Reply
  7. Denise@urbnspice

    April 18, 2019 at 6:50 am

    I love the terms BK and AK, Terri. I think so many of us Moms can relate to that, for sure! Your overnight french toast carrot cake casserole sounds wonderful! And what a great tip to use that perfect carrot baby food puree. It's brilliant! Thanks for sharing.

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      April 19, 2019 at 9:20 pm

      Thank you, Denise!

      Reply
  8. Jo Vanderwolf

    April 18, 2019 at 11:53 am

    Oh my gosh! So perfect for Easter brunch. My guests are going to love it. Thank you for sharing, I can't wait to give it a go!

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      April 19, 2019 at 9:20 pm

      Thanks, Jo! I hope you enjoy 🙂

      Reply
  9. NANCY WU

    April 23, 2019 at 6:06 pm

    Hey!! this looks delish! Can’t wait to make this for the little one.

    Nancy
    Nomss.com

    Reply
    • Terri Gilson

      April 24, 2019 at 5:09 am

      Thanks, Nancy! I hope you enjoy it - we do 🙂

      Reply

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I'm Terri, a passionate home cook and baker, an award-winning recipe developer and a busy working mom that is trying to eat healthy and fit everything into not enough hours in a day! My mission is to share not only my recipes, cooking hacks and tips with you, but also my secrets to successful weight maintenance.

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