Description
Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole: A decadent breakfast treat with juicy blueberries, rich custard, and a crunchy topping. Perfect for feeding a crowd.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 loaf (16 oz/450g) day-old French bread or challah, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 2 cups (300g) fresh blueberries (or frozen, unthawed)
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups (480ml) whole milk
- ½ cup (120ml) heavy cream
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 2 tablespoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Step 1: Prepare the Baking Dish Generously grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray. This ensures your Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole won’t stick and makes cleanup easier. The size of this dish is perfect for the recipe proportions, allowing the casserole to bake evenly with the right thickness.
- Step 2: Arrange Bread and Blueberries Spread half of the bread cubes in the prepared baking dish. Scatter 1 cup of blueberries evenly over the bread layer. Add the remaining bread cubes on top, creating a substantial base for your casserole. Sprinkle the remaining cup of blueberries over the top, distributing them evenly for bursts of fruit throughout the finished dish.
- Step 3: Prepare the Custard Mixture In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt until well combined and slightly frothy. The vanilla and cinnamon are key flavor elements in the blueberry breakfast bake, so don’t be tempted to reduce these amounts. Pour this custard mixture evenly over the bread and blueberries, making sure to moisten all the bread pieces.
- Step 4: Soak Overnight Cover the baking dish tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, but preferably overnight (8-12 hours). This soaking time is essential for the bread to fully absorb the custard, resulting in a more cohesive, flavorful casserole. The longer soak also allows the flavors to meld beautifully, enhancing the overall taste of your Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole.
- Step 5: Prepare the Streusel Topping About 30 minutes before baking, remove the casserole from the refrigerator to take the chill off. Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). In a medium bowl, mix brown sugar, flour, and cinnamon. Cut in the cold butter using a pastry blender or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in chopped pecans if using. Sprinkle this streusel topping evenly over the casserole.
- Step 6: Bake to Perfection Bake the casserole, uncovered, for 45-55 minutes until the top is golden brown and the center is set but still slightly jiggly. If the top browns too quickly, loosely cover with aluminum foil. Let the casserole stand for 10 minutes before serving to allow it to set completely. This resting period is crucial for achieving the perfect texture in your Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole.
Notes
Fresh ingredients will always yield the best flavor results.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 slice (approx. 200g)
- Calories: 380 calories
- Sugar: 28g
- Sodium: 320mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 44g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 9g
- Cholesterol: 185mg