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kimberlypettitt2
Aug 254 min read

A Peachy Morning Delight: French Toast Overnight Casserole with Cream Cheese Whipped Topping and Homemade Buttermilk Syrup

There's something magical about waking up to the smell of breakfast already cooking, especially when it’s something as delicious and easy as a French toast casserole. This time, I decided to put a spin on the classic by incorporating flaky croissants as well as fresh peaches from our tree. There's nothing like the taste of homegrown fruit, and when it’s baked into a warm, custardy dish, the flavors truly shine.




The best way to use a lot of peaches!

Our peach tree has been generous this year, so I’ve been looking for all sorts of ways to use the bounty. Peaches are such a versatile fruit—they’re sweet, slightly tart, and perfect for both savory and sweet dishes. For this casserole, they add a juicy burst of flavor that pairs beautifully with the rich custard and cinnamon-spiced bread.


Preparing the Casserole: TIPS FOR THE BEST OVERNIGHT FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

The beauty of this recipe is that you can prepare everything the night before, making your morning stress-free. I start by grabbing a loaf of pre-sliced french toast bread from Costco as well as a package of their croissants, and tear them into smaller pieces. You can let the bread sit out a day or two to get stale as the staleness helps the bread soak up all the eggy goodness. But listen - I feel like many recipes are too soggy and we don't like soggy bread. The goal is a custardy texture, not a soggy mess. Although the recipe is quite simple there are some important steps to attaining that custard texture.

  • Crescents - game changer in my book! I won't ever make an overnight casserole without them.

  • Don't overdo the liquid. When there's too much liquid, it becomes a soggy mess. In this recipe you may think it's too dry when you pop it in the fridge the night before, but I promise it won't be.

  • After pouring your egg mixture over the bread and fruit, cover the dish and pop it into the fridge overnight. This gives the bread time to absorb all the custard, ensuring every bite is tender and flavorful and not soggy!


Toppings That Take It Over the Top

In the morning, I preheat the oven and let the casserole bake until it’s golden. While it’s baking, I whip up a cream cheese topping that’s just sweet enough to complement the peaches without overpowering them. It’s a simple mixture of cream cheese, powdered sugar, and a splash of vanilla, whipped until light and fluffy (be sure to whip the whipping cream separate from the other ingredients).


And then there’s the buttermilk syrup—oh, the syrup! This stuff is liquid gold. It’s made with sugar, butter, buttermilk, and a hint of vanilla, cooked until it’s rich and slightly tangy. Once you’ve had homemade buttermilk syrup, there’s no going back to the store-bought kind.


The Perfect Weekend Breakfast

When the casserole is ready, I spoon generous dollops of the cream cheese topping over the top, letting it melt into the warm bread. A drizzle of buttermilk syrup finishes it off, seeping into all the nooks and crannies. The combination of the juicy peaches, creamy topping, and rich syrup is nothing short of heavenly.


This peach French toast overnight casserole is perfect for lazy weekend mornings. The best part is that it’s so easy to make, yet it feels like such a special treat. Plus, it’s a great way to use up those fresh peaches in a way that lets their flavor shine.


So if you’ve got a peach tree in your yard—or just a few peaches from the farmer’s market—give this recipe a try. I promise it will become a regular in your breakfast rotation, just like it has in ours.


Peach French Toast Overnight Casserole with Cream and Buttermilk Syrup

Ingredients for casserole:

  • 4-5 slices Costco French toast bread, torn into medium sized pieces

  • 3 Costco crescents, torn into medium sized pieces

  • 3-4 fresh peaches, sliced

  • 6 Eggs

  • 1 cup milk

  • 1 cup heavy cream, divided

  • 1 tps vanilla extract

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

  • 1/2 tsp nutmeg

  • Sprinkle of cinnamon sugar

Ingredients for cream cheese whipping cream:

  • 8 oz. cream cheese

  • 1 cup heavy cream

  • Powdered sugar

  • 1 tsp vanilla


Ingredients for buttermilk syrup:

  • 1/2 cup butter

  • 1/2 cup buttermilk

  • 1 cup granulated sugar

  • 1 tsp vanilla extract

  • 1 tsp baking soda


Instructions:

  1. Place torn bread and crescent pieces into a greased baking dish.

  2. Whisk eggs, milk, 3/4 cup heavy cream, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg together, then pour over the bread.

  3. Place peach slices over top of bread and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar

  4. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

  5. In the morning drizzle remaining 1/4 cup heavy cream over top.

  6. Bake uncovered at 350°F until golden, about 45-50 minutes.

  7. Top with cream cheese whipped topping and drizzle with homemade buttermilk syrup.


For the Whipping Cream

  1. Combine cream cheese, powdered sugar and vanilla and mix until cream cheese is soft.

  2. In a separate bowl whip heavy cream until soft peaks form.

  3. Gently mix whipped cream into cream cheese mixture.


For the Buttermilk Syrup:

  1. In a large sauce pot combine butter, buttermilk and sugar and heat on medium heat until sugar dissolves.

  2. Remove from heat and add baking soda and vanilla (mixture will bubble and rise)

  3. Continue to stir until combined


SERVE AND ENJOY!!


Want even more peach deliciousness? Be sure to sign up for my newsletter for a free monthly recipe series where I'll be sharing a mouthwatering peach crumble muffin recipe and definitely check out these other fantastic PEACH recipes:

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