It’s a quiet Sunday morning. The coffee smells rich, sunlight peeks through the blinds, and the oven hums softly as this Blueberry French Toast Casserole turns golden and bubbly. The scent of baked bread, vanilla, and lemon fills the kitchen. You know breakfast is going to be special.
Table of Contents
Why You’ll Love This Blueberry French Toast Casserole
This baked Blueberry French Toast Casserole gives you everything you want in a morning dish: a creamy custard inside, a golden top outside, and juicy bursts of blueberries in every bite. It’s make-ahead friendly, so you can rest easy and let the oven do the work.
Perfect for lazy weekends, brunch gatherings, or holidays when you’d rather sip coffee than flip pancakes, this casserole brings cozy flavor with very little effort.
What You’ll Need (Ingredients Overview)
You only need a few pantry staples and some fresh or frozen blueberries. The recipe is flexible, too. You can use different types of milk or bread depending on what’s on hand.
Key Ingredients
- Bread: 1 pound rustic loaf, cubed (about 10 cups). Use slightly stale bread for best texture.
- Blueberries: 1½ to 2 cups, fresh or frozen. If frozen, no need to thaw.
- Eggs: 5 large.
- Milk: 2 cups (whole or 2%).
- Heavy cream: 1 cup.
- Vanilla extract: ½ teaspoon.
- Sugar: 8 tablespoons (6 for custard, 2 for topping).
- Lemon zest: 1 tablespoon. It brightens the flavor and cuts the richness.
- Kosher salt: A pinch balances the sweetness.
- Unsalted butter: 2 tablespoons, diced for the top.
Optional toppings include powdered sugar or warm maple syrup.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Assemble the Base
Butter a 9×13-inch baking dish. Layer half the bread cubes, scatter two-thirds of the blueberries, then repeat with the rest of the bread and berries.
Make the Custard
In a large bowl, whisk eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, and salt. Pour this over the bread mixture and gently press down to help the bread soak up the custard.
Let It Soak
Let the casserole sit for at least 30 minutes at room temperature, or cover and refrigerate overnight. This step lets the bread absorb the liquid, making every bite tender and creamy.
Bake Until Golden
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F. If it’s been in the fridge, bring it to room temperature while the oven heats. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar on top and dot with butter. Bake for about 45 minutes until puffed and golden.
If you chilled it overnight, add 5 to 10 extra minutes.
Serve and Enjoy
Let it rest for 10 minutes. The aroma will tempt you, but this helps it set nicely. Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle with maple syrup if you like a sweeter finish.
Bread and Fruit Variations
Try using brioche for a buttery texture or Hawaiian rolls for a touch of sweetness. Cinnamon swirl or raisin bread adds a lovely warm spice.
If you want to switch up the fruit, raspberries, strawberries, or even dried cranberries and currants all work beautifully. Frozen berries are fine—just don’t thaw them first to avoid extra liquid.
Make Ahead, Freezing & Reheating Tips
This Blueberry French Toast Casserole works wonderfully for prep-ahead mornings. Assemble the night before, cover, and refrigerate. Then just bake in the morning.
To freeze, bake the casserole first, cool it completely, and wrap individual portions in plastic and foil. Defrost in the fridge overnight or microwave gently until warm. It keeps its soft inside and crisp top perfectly.
Blueberry French Toast Casserole Recipe Card
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Blueberry French Toast Casserole – Comforting & Delicious
- Total Time: 1 hour
- Yield: 6 to 8 servings 1x
- Diet: Vegetarian
Description
Blueberry French Toast Casserole that bakes up golden on top and creamy inside. Juicy berries, soft custard, and a hint of lemon make every bite bright. Prep it ahead, then bake and breathe in that cozy weekend smell.
Ingredients
1 pound rustic loaf, cut into 1 inch cubes (about 10 cups)
1½ to 2 cups blueberries, fresh or frozen
5 large eggs
2 cups milk, whole or 2%
1 cup heavy cream
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
6 tablespoons sugar, for custard
1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest
⅛ teaspoon kosher salt
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, diced, for topping
2 tablespoons sugar, for topping
Butter, for the baking dish
Optional powdered sugar, for serving
Optional warm maple syrup, for serving
Instructions
1. Butter a 9×13 inch baking dish.
2. Layer half the bread cubes in the dish, add two thirds of the blueberries, then top with remaining bread and blueberries.
3. Whisk eggs, milk, cream, 6 tablespoons sugar, vanilla, lemon zest, and salt in a large bowl.
4. Pour custard evenly over the bread and gently press to help the bread soak.
5. Let it sit for at least 30 minutes, or cover and refrigerate overnight.
6. Preheat oven to 350°F. If chilled, let the dish sit at room temperature while the oven heats.
7. Sprinkle 2 tablespoons sugar over the top and dot with diced butter.
8. Bake for about 45 minutes until puffed and golden. Add a few minutes if it was chilled.
9. Cool for 10 minutes so it sets.
10. Dust with powdered sugar or drizzle maple syrup. Slice and serve warm.
Notes
Bread choices work well. Try brioche, Hawaiian rolls, cinnamon swirl, or cinnamon raisin.
Fruit swaps are easy. Use raspberries, strawberries, dried cranberries, currants, or raisins.
If using frozen berries, do not thaw. This prevents extra liquid.
Make ahead overnight. Bake in the morning for easy brunch.
Freeze baked slices. Wrap in plastic and foil. Thaw in the fridge or microwave, then warm gently.
Leftovers keep in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes
- Category: Breakfast
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8 casserole
- Calories: 430
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 376 mg
- Fat: 21 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 164 mg
More Such Recipes
If you love cozy breakfast dishes, try my Baked Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole.
For quick mornings, these Fluffy Quick No-Fail Pancakes never miss.
You can also add variety with my Sweet Potato Breakfast Hash or Favorite Yogurt Muffins for Brunch.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What are common mistakes when making French toast casserole?
Adding too much milk or skipping the soak can make it soggy. Also, avoid using very soft bread—it won’t hold up well.
What are the ingredients in French toast casserole?
Typically bread, eggs, milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla. This version adds lemon zest and blueberries for brightness and flavor.
Why is my French toast casserole soggy?
Usually, it means there was too much liquid or it didn’t bake long enough. Letting it rest before serving also helps it firm up.
What to serve with blueberry French toast casserole?
Pair it with crisp bacon, breakfast sausage, or fresh fruit. A dollop of whipped cream or a drizzle of syrup also tastes amazing.
Final Thoughts
This Blueberry French Toast Casserole feels like sunshine in a dish. It’s comforting, make-ahead friendly, and perfect for sharing. Every spoonful tastes like home—soft, sweet, and full of weekend joy.
If you try it, share your version or tag me on Pinterest or Facebook. I’d love to see your beautiful breakfast.