Blueberry French toast bake is an easy make-ahead breakfast that feels extra special, with a crispy, creamy texture, lots of juicy blueberries, and sweet streusel. It’s a warm, cozy way to wake up the family or celebrate a special occasion.
Holly’s Recipe Highlights
- Flavor: Sweet and cozy with blueberries, a creamy center, and a hint of maple and lemon that brightens every bite.
- Prep Note: Let the bread dry out a bit so it soaks up the custard without getting mushy.
- Time-Saving Tip: Make the streusel in advance and save it in a covered container in the refrigerator. Shake vigorously before sprinkling onto the French toast bake.
- Swaps: Try raspberries, strawberries, or flavored cream cheese.
Berry Best Ingredients
- Bread: Use up any bread such as leftover baguettes, or brioche. Choose thick bread that can be torn or cut into larger pieces for soaking up the custard. Leave bread out to dry out or slow-bake it in the oven at 350°F until it’s dried out. Cinnamon raisin bread is yummy, too!
- Custard: Creamy custard is made with eggs, cream cheese, and milk.
- Fruit: Blueberries pair perfectly with the custard, as well as the lemon zest and maple syrup flavors.
- Topping: The sweetened oatmeal topping creates the best crunch over the fluffy, moist French toast. Finely chopped pecans or walnuts can be added for extra flavor and crunch.
French Toast Twists
- For this recipe, using a fresh blackberry, strawberry, or raspberry filling changes up the entire flavor profile.
- Heavy whipping cream makes the custard decadently creamy.
- An extract like maple, banana, rum, or coconut can be mixed and matched with different fruits.
Tips for French Toast Triumph
- No need to thaw frozen blueberries before adding them to the French toast. Simply toss them in flour before using, so they don’t ‘bleed’ or sink to the bottom during baking.
- Check for doneness by inserting a wooden pick into the center of the casserole. If it comes out clean, it’s done.
- Take eggs and cream cheese out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before using so that the custard mixes up fluffy.
Leftovers
Leftovers will keep in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Reheat in the oven for 10-15 minutes to crisp it up again, and top with extra blueberries, maple syrup, or whipped cream.
Brunch For a Bunch
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Blueberry French Toast Bake
This easy overnight blueberry French toast bake makes a light and fluffy breakfast casserole for a special morning.
Equipment
Ingredients
Casserole
- 6 slices bread cut into 1-inch cubes
- 4 ounces cream cheese softened
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- ¾ cup blueberries fresh or frozen
- 6 large eggs
- 1 cup milk
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup (or 3 tablespoons, as desired)
- ½ teaspoon lemon zest
Topping
- ¼ cup oats
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1½ tablespoons brown sugar
- 1½ tablespoons granulated sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
Instructions
- Leave bread out for a few hours or place it on a tray at 350˚F for about 8 minutes to slightly dry out.
- In a mixing bowl, combine cream cheese and sugar until fluffy.
- Grease a 9×9 inch baking dish. Layer half of the bread cubes in the pan. Top with cream cheese mixture and half of the blueberries. Top with remaining bread and blueberries.
- In a mixing bowl, stir together the eggs, milk, syrup, and lemon zest until well mixed. Pour over the bread cubes, cover with foil, and refrigerate overnight.
- Remove the casserole from the fridge about 45-50 minutes before baking.
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Mix topping ingredients together in a small bowl. Sprinkle over casserole just before baking.
- Bake uncovered 45-50 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean and is hot.
Notes
- Take eggs and cream cheese out of the refrigerator 30 minutes before using so it’s easier to mix.
- Make the streusel in advance and save it in the refrigerator.
- No need to thaw frozen blueberries before adding them; simply toss them in flour before using.
- Insert a wooden pick into the center of the casserole. If it comes out clean, it’s done!
- Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Nutrition Information
Calories: 241kcal | Carbohydrates: 25g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 6g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 147mg | Sodium: 207mg | Potassium: 163mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 13g | Vitamin A: 478IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 98mg | Iron: 2mg
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.
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