Description
French Toast Casserole from French countryside brings sweet morning magic straight to your breakfast table. Layers of bread, berries, and creamy custard create a simple weekend brunch treat everyone will adore.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 loaf (14-16 oz / 400-450g) French bread or brioche, cut into cubes
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups (480ml / 16 fluid ounces) whole milk
- 1 cup (150g) mixed berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries)
Supporting Ingredients:
- ½ cup (120ml / 4 fluid ounces) heavy cream
- ½ cup (100g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
Topping Ingredients:
- ½ cup (65g) all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup (50g) brown sugar
- ½ teaspoon cinnamon
- ¼ cup (60g) unsalted butter, melted
- Powdered sugar
- Maple syrup
- Whipped cream
Instructions
- Transform the French bread or brioche into 1-inch cubes, ensuring each piece is roughly the same size for even soaking and baking.
- Thoroughly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with butter or cooking spray, creating a non-stick surface for your casserole.
- Arrange half of the bread cubes in a single, uniform layer across the bottom of the prepared dish, creating a solid foundation.
- Scatter a generous handful of mixed berries (about ½ cup) over the first bread layer, distributing them evenly to guarantee berry goodness in each bite.
- Layer the remaining bread cubes on top of the first layer, creating a second, complete bread base.
- Sprinkle the final ½ cup of mixed berries across the top layer, ensuring a colorful and flavorful distribution.
- Whisk 6 large eggs, 2 cups whole milk, ½ cup heavy cream, ½ cup granulated sugar, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, and 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon in a large bowl until the mixture is smooth and fully combined.
- Pour the egg mixture slowly and evenly over the bread and berry layers, allowing each cube to absorb the liquid completely.
- Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of 2 hours or overnight, enabling the bread to soak up all the delicious custard.
- Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C) approximately 30 minutes before you plan to bake.
- Prepare the crumb topping by mixing ½ cup flour, ¼ cup brown sugar, ½ teaspoon cinnamon, and ¼ cup melted butter in a small bowl until it forms a crumbly texture.
- Sprinkle the crumb topping evenly across the soaked casserole, ensuring complete coverage.
- Bake the casserole for 45-50 minutes, or until the top turns golden brown and the center is set but slightly jiggly.
- Remove from the oven and let the casserole rest for 10 minutes to allow it to set and cool slightly.
- Dust with powdered sugar, drizzle with maple syrup, and add a dollop of whipped cream before serving warm.
Notes
- Select a sturdy bread like brioche or day-old French bread to prevent the casserole from becoming too soggy.
- Prepare the casserole the night before for deeper flavor and easier morning preparation.
- For a gluten-free version, swap regular bread with gluten-free bread cubes and ensure all other ingredients are certified gluten-free.
- Experiment with different berry combinations like strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries to customize your flavor profile.
- Prep Time: 2 hours 30 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 384 kcal
- Sugar: 27 g
- Sodium: 290 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 43 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 11 g
- Cholesterol: 185 mg