Description
Blueberry French Toast Casserole is a delightful breakfast treat featuring layers of brioche or challah bread soaked in a creamy custard with fresh blueberries.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 loaf (16 ounces) brioche or challah sliced into 1-inch cubes
- 2 6 oz. half pints blueberries (12 ounces total)
- 2 8 ounce blocks cream cheese, softened (16 ounces total)
- 1 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 6 eggs at room temperature
- 2 cups half and half at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- Blueberry sauce for serving (optional)
- Berry syrup like boysenberry (optional)
- Maple syrup (optional)
- Strawberry syrup (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Add the cubed bread in a single layer to a large baking sheet (15×21-inches) or two half sheets. Bake for about 10 minutes, until toasted but the center is still soft. Set aside.
- Add cream cheese and sugar to a large mixing bowl and beat with a hand mixer until smooth. Beat in the eggs followed by the half and half, lemon juice, lemon zest, vanilla extract, and salt.
- Transfer half of the cubed bread to a lightly greased 9×13 baking dish; evenly layer with half of the berries. Pour half of the custard evenly over the dish. Add remaining bread in a single layer followed by remaining berries and remaining custard. Press down to submerge the bread in the custard, cover with foil and refrigerate overnight.
- When ready to bake, remove the casserole from the refrigerator and let it sit while you preheat the oven to 350 F degrees. Bake, covered with foil, for 30 minutes. Remove the foil and bake uncovered for an additional 15-25 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean, around 165 degrees F.
- Serve warm with blueberry sauce, berry syrup, maple syrup, or strawberry syrup.
Notes
- For best flavor, refrigerate overnight before baking.
- If baking sooner, allow the casserole to sit for at least 30 minutes at room temperature before baking.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice
- Calories: 350
- Sugar: 18g
- Sodium: 300mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 200mg