Description
This berry french toast casserole brings weekend brunch dreams straight to your breakfast table with minimal morning fuss. Layers of custardy bread and sweet berries create a simple, crowd-pleasing dish that feels like a warm kitchen hug.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 large eggs
- 14 cups French bread, cubed
- 2 cups 2% milk
Supporting Ingredients:
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
Fruit Topping:
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- ½ cup blueberries
- 12 tablespoons powdered sugar
- Maple syrup
Instructions
- Generously coat your 9×13 casserole dish with vegetable oil or butter to prevent sticking.
- Cut 14 cups of French bread into uniform cubes, filling the dish about three-quarters full.
- Crack 12 large eggs into a large mixing bowl, adding 2 cups milk, 2 teaspoons vanilla extract, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and ⅔ cup brown sugar.
- Whisk the egg mixture thoroughly until completely smooth and well-combined.
- Pour the liquid mixture evenly over the bread cubes, gently pressing the bread to help it absorb the liquid.
- Slice 1 cup of strawberries into thin pieces.
- Scatter the sliced strawberries and ½ cup blueberries across the top of the casserole.
- Cover the dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight to allow maximum absorption.
- Remove the casserole from the refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.
- Preheat your oven to 350F (175C).
- Bake the casserole for 35-50 minutes, checking at the 35-minute mark for a golden, crisp top.
- Remove from the oven and dust the surface with 12 tablespoons of powdered sugar.
- Serve immediately while warm, offering maple syrup on the side.
Notes
- Choose a sturdy French bread that can hold up to soaking without falling apart, ensuring your casserole maintains a perfect texture.
- Overnight refrigeration is crucial for allowing bread to fully absorb the egg mixture, creating a rich, custardy consistency throughout the dish.
- For a gluten-free version, swap French bread with gluten-free bread cubes and ensure your vanilla extract is certified gluten-free.
- Fresh berries work best, but frozen berries can be substituted if thawed and gently patted dry to prevent excess moisture in the casserole.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35-50 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 8
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 320 mg
- Fat: 15 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 14 g
- Cholesterol: 210 mg