Layers of baked French toast, creamy non-dairy yogurt, and fresh berries come together in this gorgeous breakfast "cake." It looks like dessert, but it's secretly wholesome, super easy, and perfect for special occasions!

This is the kind of recipe that makes people think you spent hours in the kitchen, but really it's just bread + a quick batter + some fun layering. Totally hands-off baking, no stovetop flipping, and there are so many ways to make it your own!

A slice of 3-layer baked french toast with berries, yogurt, and coconut whipped cream.

Why You'll Love This Breakfast "Cake"

Maybe there's a holiday or special birthday coming up and you want a breakfast recipe that will impress. French Toast Breakfast Cake is it! It's delicious, gorgeous, and ridiculously easy to make.

Showstopper breakfasst! Looks like a fancy layer cake, tastes like French toast.
Make-ahead friendly - Bake the layers of French toast in advance, then assemble before serving.
Customizable - Use your favorite yogurt, fruits, and whipped topping, and switch up the spices in the batter.
No eggs or dairy - It's vegan, oil-free, and sweetened with maple syrup.

Overhead view of bread and the eggless batter ingredients mise en place.

What You'll Need

Aren't the layers of French toast fun? They're made from store-bought bread and an easy 5-ingredient batter. You'll also need three 8-inch round cake pans (or use 9-inch pans) and some parchment paper. Find the full printable recipe below.

bread - sturdy and slightly tangy sourdough works well. I used sliced sandwich bread, but feel free to start with a loaf.
unsweetened non-dairy milk - soy milk, almond, oat, and coconut are all good.
maple syrup - a little bit sweetens the batter, plus more for serving.
cornstarch or arrowroot - this helps the layers of baked French toast hold together.
cinnamon & vanilla - for cozy French toast flavor. A little pumpkin spice or cardamom would also taste great.
toppings - plain or vanilla yogurt, mixed berries, and your favorite whipped topping are my go-tos. Add flaked coconut and/or chopped walnuts or pecans if you're feeling fancy.

How to Make It

Bread soaked in batter and pieced together in a round cake pan.

Bake the French toast layers: Dip slices of bread in the batter and arrange in 8-inch round pans. Bake in a preheated 400 degree oven for about 18 minutes or until hot and lightly crisp on the edges.

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The layers of baked French toast cooling on wire racks.

Cool completely: This step helps the layers hold their shape.

One layer on a cake stand topped with yogurt and mixed berries.

Assemble the cake: On a cake stand or serving platter, stack the French toast with yogurt and berries between each layer.

Three layer decorated french toast cake with yogurt, berries, walnuts, and whipped cream.

Decorate: Top it off with whipped coconut cream or other whipped topping, more berries, nuts, coconut, and a drizzle of maple syrup!

More Topping Ideas

Instead of or in addition to mixed berries, get creative with a theme for the occasion or season!

Other fruits: try sliced bananas, chopped citrus, apples, or pineapple (be sure to drain well).
Fruit spreads: spread a thin layer of jam or apple cranberry compote directly on each layer of French toast.
Nuts: try toasted pecans, walnuts, pistachios, or hazelnuts. Or go with seeds like pepitas and hemp seeds. During the holidays, make it extra special with glazed walnuts or candied pecans!
A drizzle of nut butter or pistachio cream is also great.
Or a dusting of powdered sugar

Decorated breakfast cake with slices removed to show the inside texture and layers of yogurt and berries.

Tips for Success

Serve fresh: like classic French toast, it's best right after baking and assembling. If needed, you can make the French toast cakes a day in advance and wrap very well so they don't dry out.
Crust on or off? Trim tough crusts if your bread has them. Softer crusts are fine.
Sweetness balance: If you're using plain yogurt for the first two layers, try sweetened yogurt or whipped cream on top. Along with a bit of maple syrup this brings just enough sweetness to make it irresistible while still being appropriate for breakfast.
Scale it down: Don't need three layers? Make a two-layer version using 9-inch pans, or scale it down to just one or two 8-inch layers for smaller gatherings. It's totally versatile!

I hope you LOVE this French Toast Breakfast Cake! If you try it, let us know in the comments below about the flavor combinations and garnishes you try.

If you share a photo of your insta-worthy French toast cake, tag me with @myquietkitchen so I'll see it!

Recipe

French toast cake with yogurt and berries on a white cake stand.

Easy French Toast Breakfast Cake

Author: Lori Rasmussen, My Quiet Kitchen

Layers of baked French toast, creamy non-dairy yogurt, and fresh berries come together in this gorgeous breakfast "cake." It looks like dessert, but it's secretly wholesome, easy to make, and perfect for special occasions!

Easily customize it with different size/shape pans, fruits, spices, and toppings.

5 from 1 vote

Servings: servings

Prep:25

Cook:20

Total Time:45

Save on Pinterest Print Recipe

Equipment

3 8-inch cake pan - or two 9-inch

Ingredients

For the French toast cakes:

24 ounces sourdough or other sturdy bread (either whole loaf or pre-sliced sandwich bread is fine) - I used an entire loaf, about 20 slices.
3¼ cups unsweetened non-dairy milk
½ cup maple syrup - plus more for serving
3 tablespoons cornstarch - or arrowroot starch
3¼ teaspoons cinnamon, divided
1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Fillings and toppings:

1½ cups plain non-dairy yogurt - Stir in a little maple syrup if desired or sub sweetened vanilla yogurt.
16 ounces mixed fresh berries - blueberries, raspberries, blackberries, and sliced strawberries
⅓ cup roughly chopped walnuts or pecans - raw or toasted
2 tablespoons dried coconut flakes, optional
1 cup whipped coconut cream - or vegan whipped topping

Instructions

Preheat oven to 400°F. Line three 8-inch round cake pans with parchment. Let the parchment come up the sides of the pan for easy removal and to prevent sticking.
If starting with a whole loaf of bread, cut it into slices about 2 inches thick. Trim off thick or tough crust.
In a large, shallow dish, whisk together the milk, maple syrup, cornstarch, 3 teaspoons cinnamon, and the vanilla. Working in batches, place 4 or 5 slices of bread in the batter, leaving them just long enough to saturate but not get soggy. Lay one piece of bread in the pan, then tear the other pieces as needed to fill in the gaps. This doesn't need to be perfect, but do make sure to fill the whole pan so the bread will hold together. *If using pre-sliced sandwich bread, versus thicker pieces, do two layers of bread in each pan.
Repeat this puzzle work for the other two cake pans. Lightly sprinkle the tops with cinnamon. Bake the French toast for 18 to 20 minutes or until hot in the center and slightly crisp at the edges.
Let cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then transfer to racks to cool completely.
Place one layer of French toast on a serving plate or cake stand, and spread with ½ cup yogurt; don't go quite all the way to the edges (except in a few spots where you want drips). Arrange an even but somewhat sparse layer of berries on top of the yogurt (refer to photo in post). The berries serve as a pedestal to hold up the next layer of French toast, creating space between the layers for visual effect. Repeat for the 2nd layer.
Place the 3rd French toast layer on top. Spread with additional yogurt OR use whipped coconut cream or store-bought whipped topping for a more decadent option. Decorate with berries, nuts, and coconut. Slice with a serrated knife, and serve with maple syrup.

Notes

If serving a smaller crowd, reduce the amounts by ⅓ for a 2-layer "cake."

To scale for 9-inch pans: For a two-layer 9-inch cake, decrease the French toast ingredients by about 20%.

Storing: As with classic French toast, this is best served fresh. Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for a day or two, but will get a little soggy from the yogurt.