A convenient twist on a classic breakfast. This crock pot French toast casserole is perfect for those special mornings when you want to enjoy the festivities and stay out of the kitchen.
No time to slave over the stove in the morning? This crockpot French toast casserole is the perfect solution.
Made with a comforting cinnamon and maple syrup blend this gluten-free French toast casserole also gives a refreshing burst of blueberries.
And, unlike most French toast recipes, this one is… good for you!
Not only is it easy to make but this French toast casserole has a hidden ingredient: protein!
Learn more about the benefits of a high protein diet and why you want to amp it up!Instead of expecting a sugar crash after something so indulgent, stay energized throughout the day knowing that each serving has a whopping 21 grams of protein in it.
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As a Certified Nutrition Coach, this crockpot French toast casserole is a great way to indulge on special mornings. Instead of cooking, curl up a little longer on the couch with your coffee.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Dairy-free and gluten-free
- Comfort food with a healthy twist
- Great for Holiday mornings
Ingredients You’ll Need
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.
Eggs: the staple for all French toast, use whatever you have on hand but know that egg replacers just don’t work the same.
Pure maple syrup: This is what replaces brown sugar in classic recipes. for something as crucial as French toast, make sure to use real Canadian maple syrup for maximum flavor.
Cinnamon: not necessary but gives that comforting feel.
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 homemade 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.
Pecans: totally optional but an awesome way to add some texture to the recipe.
How To Make It
- 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 bite-sized pieces.
- Pour the mixture over the bread cubes and mix well until it’s all coated.
- Pour the bread mixture into the slow cooker and turn to low.
- 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.
Step By Step Photos
Important Teaching 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!
This recipe was made in a 7-quart slow cooker. Cooking times may vary for bigger or smaller.
Try to use small frozen blueberries so they disperse best.
When it’s ready to eat, you can top the slow cooker French toast casserole with drizzled maple syrup, powdered sugar, or fresh fruit!
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.
Choosing Collagen Powder
It’s no surprise that this slow cooker French Toast Casserole is made with collagen powder!
All the protein without the bloat.
I use collagen powder for amping up protein and boosting gut health.
Learn about the difference between collagen and bone broth as how to increase protein intake.
Honestly, as a busy mom collagen powder just makes it easy to eat more protein and not feel like I’m living off chicken and eggs.
And more protein means more energy, more natural beauty, and feeling your BEST.
Plus, in recipes like this, you can sneak protein into your kids as it’s one of the purest sources.
I grab my collagen from Perfect Supplements because they source their collagen from pasture-raised (grass-fed) cows. So, I trust it.
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Frequently Asked Questions About Crockpot French Toast Casserole
If you’re 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 because it absorbs the egg mixture better. Gluten-free bread is already a little more dry 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 anyways. 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.
Other Protein French Toast Recipes
More Overnight Holiday Recipes
- Candy cane protein baked oatmeal
- Slow cooker banana bread
Gluten-Free French Toast Casserole
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
- 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"
Covita
Delicious- we loved this. So nice to have an easy/ different breakfast Casserole for Sunday morning. I love making this the night before.
fitasamamabear
I love that you love it!
Sharina
This is my niece's most requested breakfast every time they have sleepover. It is incredibly delicious and filling. Such a keeper!
fitasamamabear
This literally makes my heart happy!
Ali
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
Right, it's the best of both worlds!
Angela
I love how easy this breakfast is! Amazing flavors!
Liz
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
Slow cookers save sanity!
Lisa
This crock pot french toast was a great alternative to the traditional recipe. The family gave it rave reviews too.
fitasamamabear
Love that it was a hit with the fam!