Eggless French Toast Casserole

How To Substitute Eggs In A French Toast Casserole Recipe 

To mimic the “eggy” flavor and texture, you will need three ingredients: cornstarch, black salt or Kala namak, and nutritional yeast. Black salt or kala namak is a type of rock salt, a salty and pungent-smelling condiment used in South Asia. This salt is used in many vegan/eggless recipes to mimic the flavor of the eggs.

Nutritional yeast is a deactivated yeast that comes in the form of flakes or as a yellow powder. Its flavor is described as nutty, cheesy, and creamy. This ingredient will help to replicate the creaminess and richness of the egg yolks.

Eggless French Toast Casserole Ingredients Notes & Substitutions

Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).

You’ll need:

• Milk: Avoid using fat-free milk, which won’t lend enough richness. For extra richness, use half-and-half in the custard instead of milk.
• Cornstarch: You can substitute for potato starch 1:1.
• Spices: You’ll need ground cinnamon and nutmeg.
• Pure maple syrup: Use honey in a 1:1 ratio. You can also use agave syrup, golden syrup, or brown rice syrup.
• Salt: When making custards, I like to use black salt, which tastes and smells like hard-boiled egg yolks. This salt is used in many vegan/eggless recipes to mimic the flavor of the eggs. It can be found in gourmet grocery stores or online on Amazon. Don’t you have black salt? No problem! Just use regular salt. The french toast casserole won’t have an eggy flavor but will still be delicious regardless. When using regular salt, I prefer kosher or sea salt. If you only have table salt handy, I recommend reducing the amount to half.
• Nutritional yeast: I do not have a good substitute for nutritional yeast in this recipe that yields a similar richness and nutty flavor. You can find nutritional yeast in gourmet grocery stores or online on Amazon.
• Vanilla extract: For optimal flavor, reach for pure vanilla instead of imitation. Even better, try homemade vanilla extract! If you are looking for non-alcoholic vanilla flavoring, I recommend Simply Organic Vanilla Flavoring.
• Butter: I prefer to use unsalted butter, but if you only have salted butter handy, you can use it. In this case, skip the salt called in the recipe.
• Bread: For this recipe, I use store-bought vegan brioche bread. Read below for more bread options and tips.

Best Bread for French Toast Casserole

You can use a rich, soft bread, such as brioche or challah. Or you can use a hearty Italian or French loaf. If you don’t like soggy bread, I highly recommend using a hearty bread instead. If using a soft bread, you can dry it out in the oven, so it does fall apart when soaking.

Pro-Tip. To dry out bread to make french toast, arrange the bread in a single layer on the rack of a 285° F preheated oven and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.

How To Make French Toast Casserole Without Eggs Step-by-Step

Please check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact quantities and detailed instructions (scroll down).

Make-Ahead Egg-Free French Toast Casserole

Assemble the casserole through Step 3, cover well, and refrigerate overnight. The next day, uncover, add the toppings, and bake.

Variations

• Bread. This time I use sliced bread to make my casserole, but you can cube it if you prefer. If using sliced bread, make sure the slices are tick, about 1-inch.
• Vegan. Use plant-based milk, such as oat, almond, coconut, etc., and vegan butter.
• Gluten-Free. You can substitute regular bread for gluten-free bread.
• Dairy- Free. Use plant-based milk, such as oat, almond, coconut, etc., and vegan butter.
• Lactose-Free. Use plant-based milk, such as almond, coconut, etc…or lactose-free milk. 

Flavor Up Your French Toast Casserole!

• Chocolate. Add 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder to the milk mixture.
• Gingerbread. Substitute cinnamon for gingerbread spice mix.
• Coconut. Use coconut milk instead of regular milk.
• Pumpkin. Substitute cinnamon for pumpkin pie spice.
• Citrus. Substitute ½ cup of milk for orange juice. You can also use pineapple juice.

Storing & Freezing Instructions

Store: The casserole is best when served immediately after baking. Refrigerate leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. When ready to eat, heat until just warmed in the oven or microwave.

Freeze: The fully cooked casserole can be frozen, although it’s better when fresh. You can freeze the whole casserole, well wrapped in plastic wrap and foil, or you can freeze individual portions. When ready to eat, defrost the in the refrigerator overnight. Heat till just warmed through in the oven or microwave.