This Protein French Toast Casserole is a meal prep, high-protein twist on a breakfast classic. It’s simple to throw together, feeds a crowd (or a hungry family), and offers a delicious but fueling way to start the morning. Perfect for lazy weekends or meal-prep brunches when you want something warm, soft, and totally comforting.
"My whole family loves French toast so this casserole was a hit! It was nice to be able to make it in a slow cooker!" - Liz
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 5 minutes pres and 5 hours cook time
- 👪Serves: 5
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 398 kcals and 21 grams of protein
- 📋 Main Ingredients: Gluten-free bread, eggs, maple syrup, collagen powder, and dairy-free milk.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, and high protein.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: Warm, cozy, and packed with maple-cinnamon flavor, this slow cooker French toast casserole delivers effortless comfort and protein in every bite.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
No time to fuss over the stove in the morning? This crockpot French toast casserole is your new best friend. It’s made with cozy cinnamon and maple syrup (just like this high-protein apple baked oatmeal) and gets a bright pop of blueberries, plus a hidden boost of protein. And unlike most French toast recipes, this one actually leaves you feeling good after you eat it.
Instead of bracing for a sugar crash, you’ll stay energized thanks to 21 grams of protein per serving. You can learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet, or grab my free 4-day energizing meal plan for moms if you need even more ideas. As a busy mom, I love that this dairy-free French toast casserole lets me indulge on special mornings while still curling up on the couch with my coffee instead of cooking.
💭Why You'll Love This Recipe
Allergy-friendly: This high-protein French toast casserole is dairy-free and gluten-free.
Comforting: Soft chunks of warm bread, swirled in a blueberry maple flavor.
Holiday breakfast: Great for holiday mornings like Christmas, where you eat a bit later, and it can cook while you enjoy the slow pace.
Ingredients and Substitutions
- Gluten-free bread: I personally find that the gluten-free bread from Costco works best for this recipe. That said, because gluten-free flours vary from bread to bread, using a different kind may alter the texture of the casserole a bit.
- Collagen powder: the secret ingredient for added protein! Collagen powder is a pure source of protein and a great way to help you stay energized throughout the morning.
- Almond milk: Any non-dairy milk will work; we use Almond cow hemp milk the most.
- Frozen blueberries: These add two things to the slow cooker French toast casserole. The first is a refreshing burst of flavor, and the second is a bit of extra liquid. So, be sure to use frozen and not fresh.
See the recipe card for full information on ingredients and quantities.
How To Make Protein French Toast Casserole
Step 1: In a small bowl, combine all the ingredients except for the bread, pecans, and blueberries.
Step 2: Use a handheld electric mixer to beat all the ingredients
Step 3: Pour the mixture over the bread cubes and mix well until it’s all coated.
Step 4: Top the mixture with frozen blueberries. Place a dishtowel over the slow cooker and then the lid. Do not "seal" the lid with clasps. Cook for 4-6 hours.
Expery Tips
For many slow cooker French toast casseroles, you need to leave your bread out and then soak it in the mixture. I find that gluten-free bread is already a little dry, so there’s no need to “make it stale”. And because this protein French toast cooks for so long, you don’t need to soak the bread in the mixture.
Make sure not to use frozen bread; thaw it first.
Line your slow cooker with parchment paper. Trust me. Otherwise, a lot of the bread sticks to the bottom and not only makes a mess, but you lose out on deliciousness!
Try to use small frozen blueberries so they disperse best.
When it’s ready to eat, you can top the simple crockpot French toast casserole with drizzled maple syrup and maple syrup candied pecans or try coconut milk caramel. Serve it alongside a fruit cocktail for a tasty brunch.
Cooking Times & Texture
Just like a traditional casserole, this one comes out with the edges and bottom more cooked than the middle.
If you prefer a super soft French toast, you’ll want to cook the casserole for about 4.5 hours.
If you like your French toast a bit more firm, or you’re a person who enjoys the crunchy parts, cook it for 5.5-6 hours on low.
Even if you double the batch the timing comes out the same. Five hours is the sweet spot.
Protein French Toast Casserole FAQs
If your French toast casserole is coming out soggy, it’s probably because it didn’t cook long enough or there’s too much liquid. To fix it, let it cook for a bit longer (you could even crack the lid on your slow cooker so that moisture doesn’t build up). In the future, scale back a bit on the liquid.
The common tip to use stale bread for French toast casserole is that it absorbs the egg mixture better. Gluten-free bread is already a little drier than normal bread, so using stale bread isn’t necessary. And, when cooking in the slow cooker, the bread cooks for so long that it absorbs all of the liquid anyway. So, soaking it isn’t needed.
If you have leftovers, store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to three days. No need to put them back in the slow cooker; popping them into a pan and reheating that way will work fine. Or, place it in the oven for 15 minutes just above the warm setting.
More Meal Prep Brunch Recipes
If you tried this Dairy-Free-Free French Toast Casserole Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Protein French Toast Casserole (Dairy-Free)
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
- 7 slices Gluten-free bread
- 6 Eggs
- ½ cup Maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup Collagen powder
- ⅓ cup Frozen blueberries small ones work best
- ½ cup Dairy-free milk
- ⅓ cup Pecans optional
Instructions
- In a small bowl, use a handheld electric mixer to beat all the ingredients except for the bread, pecans, and blueberries.
- Chop the bread into bread cubes.
- Pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes and mix well until it’s all coated.
- Line the slow cooker with parchment paper.
- Pour the bread mixture into the slow cooker.
- Top the mixture with frozen blueberries.
- Place a dishtowel over the slow cooker and then the lid. Do not "seal" the lid with clasps.
- Cook on low (read about cook times below) for 5 hours.
- Thirty minutes before serving, toss the pecans into the slow cooker to heat up (optional!).
Notes
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Nutrition
Lisa says
This crock pot french toast was a great alternative to the traditional recipe. The family gave it rave reviews too.
fitasamamabear says
Love that it was a hit with the fam!
Liz says
My whole family loves french toast so this casserole was a hit! It was nice to be able to make it in a slow cooker!
fitasamamabear says
Slow cookers save sanity!
Angela says
I love how easy this breakfast is! Amazing flavors!
Ali says
This was such a perfect breakfast and I loooooove that it has this much protein! This is definitely in our weekly rotation now - thank you!!!
fitasamamabear says
Right, it's the best of both worlds!
Sharina says
This is my niece's most requested breakfast every time they have sleepover. It is incredibly delicious and filling. Such a keeper!
fitasamamabear says
This literally makes my heart happy!
Covita says
Delicious- we loved this. So nice to have an easy/ different breakfast Casserole for Sunday morning. I love making this the night before.
fitasamamabear says
I love that you love it!