Berry French Toast Casserole with Fresh Berries Recipe
This Berry French Toast Casserole is a delightful breakfast or brunch dish featuring moist French bread soaked in a cinnamon-vanilla egg mixture, baked to perfection with a slightly crusty top. Topped with fresh strawberries and blueberries, it’s sweetened with brown sugar and finished with a dusting of powdered sugar and a drizzle of maple syrup. Easy to prepare ahead and bake whenever desired, this casserole serves 12 and offers a flavorful and crowd-pleasing start to your day.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minutes plus 4 hours resting
- Yield: 12 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
French Toast Base
- 12–14 cups French bread, cut into cubes
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups 2% milk
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 2/3 cup brown sugar
Toppings
- 1 cup strawberries, sliced
- 1/2 cup blueberries
- 1–2 tbsp powdered sugar, for garnish
- Maple syrup, as desired
Instructions
- Prepare the baking dish: Grease a 9″x13″ casserole dish with vegetable oil or butter to prevent sticking.
- Add the bread: Cut French bread into cubes and fill the casserole dish about three-quarters full with the cubes.
- Mix custard: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, 2% milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and brown sugar until fully combined.
- Soak the bread: Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread cubes in the casserole dish, ensuring all bread is soaked.
- Add berries: Slice the strawberries and top the casserole with the sliced strawberries and blueberries for a fresh berry layer.
- Chill: Wrap the casserole tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight to allow bread to soak completely.
- Bake: Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove the plastic wrap and bake the casserole uncovered for 35-50 minutes. Check doneness at 35 minutes and bake longer if needed until the top is crusty and the custard is set.
- Serve: Once baked, sprinkle the casserole with powdered sugar, serve with maple syrup, and enjoy warm.
Notes
- For best results, use day-old French bread to better absorb the custard.
- The casserole can be prepared a day ahead, making it perfect for busy mornings or entertaining guests.
- Adjust the baking time depending on your oven; the casserole is done when the custard is set and top is lightly golden.
- Feel free to swap or add other berries like raspberries or blackberries according to season and preference.
- To keep the top from burning, loosely cover with foil if browning too quickly during baking.
Keywords: French toast casserole, berry breakfast casserole, baked french toast, brunch casserole, easy breakfast recipes, make-ahead casserole
