Name: Sweet and Easy Slow Cooker French Toast
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 150 min
Total time: 165 min
Ingredients: 12-14 oz loaf French bread; 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (use the caramel flavor if you can find it); 4 eggs; 1 cup milk; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1 cup Kraft Caramel Bits (or see notes); 2 tablespoons heavy cream; 8 oz crème fraîche (optional)

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Have a houseful of holiday guests? Sweet and easy slow cooker French toast is the ultimate hands-free brunch! It’s family-friendly, customizable with plenty of toppings, and deliciously decadent with pockets of gooey caramel in the fluffy bread and custard-like texture.

white dinner plate edged in blue with serving of French toast with caramel drizzle, with another plate, cup of coffee and black slow cooker in background

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What’s To Love About This Recipe

Slow cooker French toast is the perfect breakfast dish for holiday or Christmas brunches since it requires minimal morning prep.
The sweet caramel flavor is a fun twist that makes this a crowd-pleasing treat.
It even cooks while you sleep! Prep this ahead in the slow cooker and wake up to a tasty homestyle breakfast, hot and ready.
French toast is cozy, comforting, and made with simple pantry staples. You can whip this up in no time using leftover bread and a few basics.
There’s no better breakfast for the whole crew. It’s kid-friendly and easily customizable with your favorite mix-ins and toppings.
Best of all, there’s no need to stand over a griddle or flip slices of toast for a large batch. The slow cooker keeps your hands free for entertaining or fully enjoying the moment!

Ingredients Needed

French bread loaf – Use a sturdy, slightly stale loaf like brioche, sourdough, or French bread for the best texture. Avoid soft sandwich bread since it can get soggy in the slow cooker.
Sweetened condensed milk – This adds a more indulgent, thicker texture to the French toast than just milk. It’s just the right amount of creamy sweetness. For an extra treat, use caramel-flavored condensed milk as a swap (what I used here)!
Eggs – Eggs bind the casserole together and create a classic custard texture.
Milk – Milk thins out the consistency of the condensed milk and allows the mixture to fully saturate the dry bread.
Salt – Add just a pinch of salt to enhance the sweetness and balance the flavors.
Kraft caramel bits – This is one of the must-have elements to get gooey pockets of caramel bits throughout the casserole. You can typically find them near the chocolate chips in the baking aisle of the store. Another option is to use my easy homemade salted caramel drizzle recipe.
Heavy cream – A bit of heavy cream helps melt the caramel bits to create a smooth drizzle to top off the French toast.
Crème fraîche (optional) – This thick, creamy topping is optional, but highly recommended for restaurant-worthy decadence. You don’t have to know how to pronounce it to see that it instantly elevates the level of luxurious brunch food!

ingredients including French bread loaf, bowls of caramel bits, 4 eggs, salt shaker, milk, heavy cream and condensed milk

How To Make Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole

Cut bread into 2 to 3-inch cubes.
Spray the slow cooker with non-stick spray.
Press the bread down into the bottom of the slow cooker and compress it as much as you can.

overhead view of black slow cooker containing bread cubes

Pour condensed milk evenly over the bread.

black slow cooker with bread cubes and condensed milk over it

Whisk together eggs, milk, and salt, and pour the mixture evenly over the bread.

clear bowl of egg mixture with gold whisk

bread cubes with condensed milk with egg mixture being poured over it

Cover and cook on high for 2 to 2 ½ hours.
Melt the caramel bits and cream in the microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring in between until smooth.

clear bowl of melted caramel bits and cream with white spoon

Slice and serve French toast casserole topped with crème fraîche and melted caramel or as desired.

baked french toast with caramel mixture on top, surrounded by cup of coffee, salt and melted caramel mixture

Pro Tips

Optional: Let the bread cubes sit out overnight or toast them lightly in the oven first to avoid a soggy casserole.
To prep the casserole overnight, combine the liquid mixture the night before and refrigerate. In the morning, just add the bread to the slow cooker, pour the mix over it, and start cooking.
Line the slow cooker with parchment paper or spray it well with nonstick spray to make cleanup easier.
Don’t overcook the French toast. Cooking on high for 2 to 2 ½ hours makes this a pretty quick but hands-off recipe.
You can use a casserole slow cooker or a regular slow cooker (circle or oval) and press the bread into a flatter layer. If you use a casserole slow cooker, the cooking time will decrease slightly since the contents are less dense.

Recipe Substitutions and Variations

Use a variety of bread options such as brioche, sourdough, challah, or even croissants.
Make a dairy-free version with plant-based milk and coconut cream.
You can even make a gluten-free version! Use your favorite gluten-free bread, but it must be slightly dry or stale prior to cooking.
Try new flavor variations with add-ins and spices:
- Add in chopped apples, berries, raisins, chocolate chips, or finely chopped nuts.
- Enhance the flavor with nutmeg, cardamom, or pumpkin pie spice.
For a healthier twist on this sweet breakfast treat, use maple syrup instead of caramel topping.

Baked French Toast

Prepare ingredients as directed.
Assemble and bake in a greased, 9×13 dish at 350 ℉ for 45-55 minutes until the casserole is set and golden.

How To Serve Slow Cooker French Toast Casserole

Easy slow cooker French toast is instantly upgraded with an array of toppings! Get as fancy as you like with these options, or lay out a topping buffet for everyone to customize their own servings.

Topping Options:

Powdered sugar
Whipped cream
Fresh fruit
Honey
Berry compote
Warm maple syrup or extra caramel sauce
Chopped nuts or granola for crunch

Serve sweet caramel-y French toast with savory options for a complete brunch spread!

French Toast Sides:

Scrambled eggs
Breakfast sausage or bacon
Fruit salad
Holiday coffee or hot chocolate
Slow Cooker Denver Omelette Casserole
Slow Cooker Breakfast Stuffed Peppers

closeup of spoon with caramel mixture dropping onto french toast serving in a white plate with blue edging, another plate and salt container in background

Storing and Reheating

How To Best Store Leftovers

Fridge

Store leftover French toast in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.

How To Best Reheat Leftovers

Microwave individual portions in 30-second bursts until heated through or reheat in the oven at 300 ℉ for 10-15 minutes for crispier edges. Add a splash of milk or cream if the leftover toast seems too dry when reheating.