Oven French Toast with Sausage, Apples & Cranberries

Looking for an easy, delicious baked oven french toast recipe that’s not too sweet? This is the answer. A sausage apple french toast that straddles the line between sweet and savory. It’s a great make ahead brunch idea for Christmas or whenever you have to feed a crowd.

ingredients for the baked french toast casserole.

Sweet and savory oven french toast

Some people like sweet breakfast, others prefer savory. This easy make ahead oven french toast is the best of both worlds.

The idea came to me one year when I was making my traditional apple and sausage stuffing. I had the stale bread in one bowl and the combo of sausage and apples in another.

It reminded me of the brunch stratas that my Mom used to make at the holidays. I put the idea in my tickle file… and a few weeks later, I made it.

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Of course, the recipe morphed because I had some seasonal cranberries at the ready — and I kept thinking that apples and cheddar cheese were another classic flavor combo…

Ingredients for oven french toast with sausage apples & cranberries

  • Sausage
  • Onion
  • Apples
  • Cranberries
  • Sage
  • Day Old Bread
  • Cheddar Cheese
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Brown Sugar
  • Cinnamon

You’ll love this make ahead brunch recipe for the Christmas holidays. Everything can be assembled the day before, then covered and refrigerated until french toast casserole is ready for the oven. (that’s my kind of no fuss breakfast).

How to make sweet and savory oven baked french toast:

  1. Start by browning the breakfast sausage in a large skillet then adding the onions  and stirring until they’ve softened and become slightly translucent.
  2. Add the cranberries and apples and cook until the apples start to soften and the fresh cranberries begin to burst.
  3. Remove from the heat and stir in the grated cheddar cheese. Set aside.
  4. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, brown sugar and cinnamon. Set aside.
  5. Add the sausage and apple mixture to the cubed bread and toss well.
  6. Transfer the strata mixture to a prepared casserole dish and pour the egg custard evenly over the top. Press lightly on the casserole to help the bread soak up the egg mixture.
  7. Cover and refrigerate until ready to bake.

Say cheese!

Cheddar cheese and apples are one of my favorite pairings, however, in this oven french toast the cheddar cheese acts as a supporting cast member.

It’s not dominant and doesn’t become stringy or gooey in the oven baked french toast casserole.  Instead its like the exclamation point on the savory part of this recipe.

You can use any type of bread for the sausage apple french toast, but it’s best if it’s STALE.

I bought my loaf 2 days before assembling this breakfast strata to give it time to firm up. On the day I assembled the casserole, I trim the crusts from the bread and cut it into 1/2″ – 1″ pieces.

If your bread is fresh, not stale:

If you have a fresh loaf, you can cut it into small cubes and place it on a baking sheet. Bake it at 300°, for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally. This will dry out the bread and give it more structure.

Best types of bread for oven french toast

Look for sturdy, hearty breads from the bakery such as:

  • Italian Bread
  • Sourdough
  • Whole Wheat
  • Rye
  • French Boule
  • Raisin
  • Multigrain
  • Brioche

This oven french toast recipe is open to many swaps and substitutions. You can make it according to what you have on hand and your own taste preferences.

The key parts are the bread and egg custard ratios.

Swaps and Variations:

  • Swap apples for pears.
  • Use dried cranberries for more concentrated flavor.
  • Use a pound of cooked and crumbled bacon instead of sausage.
  • Don’t like nuts? Skip the pecans.
  • Go dairy free by skipping the cheese and using almond milk or other milk substitute.
  • Make it gluten free by using a gluten free bread.
  • Make it vegetarian by skipping the traditional sausage and using a vegetarian sausage.

FAQs

How long will leftover sausage apple french toast bake last?

Leftovers will last for 3-4 days and should be reheated in the oven to get that crusty top that makes this recipe so enticing.

Can I freeze the apple sausage strata?

You can freeze it after it has been baked, but I wouldn’t freeze it before cooking.

Is overnight french toast soggy?

The top and edges will be crusty, toasted and delicious. The interior is soft and creamy (not soggy) because you use a sturdy, stale or toasted bread. Flimsy Wonder bread doesn’t work in this recipe. Use a good bakery loaf.

oven french toast baked in a casserole dish.

How does the sausage apple cranberry baked french toast taste?

In a word, it’s heavenly. It’s sweet and savory and very holiday-ish.

The sausage, cheddar and sage take this make ahead brunch recipe into savory territory, while the cinnamon spiced, lightly sweet egg custard gives it a decidedly sweet breakfast flavor.

You’ll love the crusty, puffed bread dome and the lush, creamy interior. Drizzling the oven-baked french toast with good maple syrup is a MUST.

Serving apple french toast with syrup on the side.

The thing I like most about this make ahead apple french toast is that it’s already got sausage in it… So adding another breakfast meat would be redundant.

You don’t need any sweet rolls or coffee cakes because the sweetness is in there (especially when you add the maple syrup).

Essentially, this oven baked french toast is a meal in itself. But here’s a few ideas on what else will go with it.

What to serve with sweet savory strata:

  1. Sugar n’ Spice Broiled Grapefruit
  2. Ruby Thyme Spritzer
  3. Tropical Fruit Salad
  4. Homemade Ham with Brown Sugar Mustard Glaze
  5. Milk Punch Recipe
  6. Rum Spiked Tropical Fruit Salad
  7. Champagne Passion Fruit Cocktail
Serving the make ahead baked french toast on a plate with syrup and orange juice on the side.

More easy breakfast casseroles:

pouring maple syrup over the oven baked french toast.

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oven french toast with sausage, apples and cranberries in a pyrex dish.
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5 from 17 votes

Oven French Toast with Sausage Apples & Cranberries

This is no ordinary oven french toast. It’s sweet and savory. Like a cross between an apple french toast and Thanksgiving stuffing. It has pops of cranberry, crunchy toasted pecans and grated sharp cheddar cheese. Serve with maple syrup.
Author: Lisa Lotts
Course Breakfast
Cuisine American
Keyword apples, breakfast casserole, eggs, french toast, italian sausage, strata
Prep Time 40 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Total Time 13 hours 55 minutes
Servings 8

SPECIAL EQUIPMENT:

  • 1 large casserole dish about 2 quarts.

INGREDIENTS:

For bread pudding

  • 1 lb breakfast sausage such as Jimmy Dean
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 3 apples peeled, cored, seeded and diced
  • 1 cup cranberries
  • 2 tablespoons fresh sage finely chopped
  • 4-5 cups day old french bread crusts removed, cut in one-inch cubes
  • 1 cup white cheddar cheese grated
  • 4 large eggs
  • cups whole milk
  • ¼ cup brown sugar
  • 1 tablespoon cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

  • In a large skillet over medium high heat, brown the sausage, breaking it up into small bits with the back of a fork. Add the onion and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Drain most of the excess fat from the pan.
  • Add apples, sage, and cranberries. Cook for an additional 5-6 minutes or until the apples start to soften and the fresh cranberries start to burst.
  • Remove the sausage mixture from the heat and stir in the cheese.
  • Place bread in a large bowl. Add sausage mixture and toss to combine.
  • In a medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, brown sugar and cinnamon. Whisk together.
  • Spray a large casserole dish with vegetable spray. Add the sausage mixture. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the sausage. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight.
  • Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cover the casserole with tin foil and place in the oven for 45 minutes. Remove the foil and continue cooking for an additional 30-45 minutes or until set. Allow bread pudding to rest for 10 minutes before serving.
  • Serve with maple syrup on the side.

NUTRITION:

Calories: 240kcal | Carbohydrates: 30g | Protein: 10g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 125mg | Sodium: 224mg | Potassium: 257mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 18g | Vitamin A: 443IU | Vitamin C: 6mg | Calcium: 220mg | Iron: 2mg

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16 Comments

  1. 5 stars
    My family and I absolutely LOVE this dish!! This is the 3rd year that I’ve made it for Thanksgiving and Christmas breakfast. It tastes like the holidays. It’s one of my favorite dishes ever!! Thank you so much for giving us this beautiful and delicious recipe!!

  2. Dawn - Girl Heart Food says:

    5 stars
    I love everything about this strata, Lisa! Talk about a delicious flavour bomb! Can’t wait to try this one out our next brunch! I’m sure it will be a huge hit 🙂 Thanks a million for the shout out! XO

  3. 5 stars
    This is definitely my kind of flavors – the mix of sweet and savory, with the comforting French toast/savory strata. So delicious! And I love how the cranberries add that burst of color too.

  4. 5 stars
    What a delicious recipe!! I love all the ingredients, I never would have put some of these together but they taste great!!

  5. 5 stars
    Wow, this sounds so good. Definitely need to try it.

  6. 5 stars
    Color me impressed! I would never have come up with something this wild, but it’s super yummy. And definitely festive enough to serve for holidays. 🙂

  7. 5 stars
    My mouth is watering just thinking about this! My family would be all over this.

  8. Kelly Miller-Buhanan says:

    5 stars
    So I actually halfed this recipe to try it out…I prepped it last night, this morning, I really love it! I wanted to make this for a work party, so I was trying to test it out first. It sounded like something I would make, I commend you on your creativity, I was just sad that the commenters on this just said it looked good without trying it. This definitely feels like a Thanksgiving dish. I think I will definitely make this bad boy for my work party treat <3

    1. I’m so glad you enjoyed this! It does remind me of Thanksgiving — kind of a cross between stuffing and strata!

  9. 5 stars
    Stuffing and bread pudding love child! This looks great.

    1. I see you “get” my twisted sense of humor!

  10. 5 stars
    Oh, my!! The strata looks delicious. I can imagine how good it would taste on Christmas morning. I love the idea of making this ahead and then leisurely enjoying it. Great recipe.

  11. Luci's Morsels says:

    5 stars
    This looks amazing and I can only imagine how fabulous it smells! Yummy!

  12. 5 stars
    I love these kinds of meals. Where you can feed a lot of people with less effort.