Description
Weekend mornings get seriously delicious with Berry French Toast Casserole, where crusty bread soaks overnight in a creamy custard and emerges from the oven with warm, jammy berries peeking through golden, crispy edges. Serve this straight from the pan with maple syrup drizzled on top, and watch your breakfast table light up with smiles.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 loaf bread
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups milk
- 2 cups mixed fresh berries
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup granulated sugar
- ¼ cup brown sugar
Flavor Enhancers:
- 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- Powdered sugar (for serving)
- Maple syrup (for serving)
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish thoroughly with butter or cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cut the entire loaf of brioche or challah bread into 1-inch cubes, spreading them evenly across the baking dish.
- Scatter 2 cups of mixed fresh berries over the bread cubes, distributing them evenly to ensure each slice gets berries.
- In a large mixing bowl, crack 6 large eggs and whisk them with 2 cups milk, ½ cup heavy cream, ½ cup granulated sugar, ¼ cup brown sugar, 1 tablespoon vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon.
- Pour the entire custard mixture over the bread and berries, gently pressing down to help the bread absorb the liquid completely.
- Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours, or ideally overnight for maximum flavor absorption.
- Remove the casserole from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking to allow it to come to room temperature.
- Preheat your oven to exactly 350°F while the casserole sits out.
- Bake the uncovered casserole for 45-50 minutes, until the top turns golden brown and the center is set with no liquid remaining.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 5 minutes to firm up slightly.
- Dust with powdered sugar and drizzle maple syrup before serving warm.
Notes
- Prepare this casserole the night before for the most saturated, flavorful French toast with maximum convenience.
- Fresh berries work best, but frozen mixed berries can substitute if thawed and gently patted dry to prevent excess moisture.
- For a gluten-free version, replace traditional bread with gluten-free challah or brioche cubes, which hold custard equally well.
- Let the casserole rest 5-10 minutes after baking so the custard sets completely and slices cleanly, creating picture-perfect servings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45-50 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 6
- Calories: 390 kcal
- Sugar: 31 g
- Sodium: 230 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 6 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 180 mg