Blueberry French Toast Casserole: Perfect Make-Ahead Breakfast
Prep Time: 20 minutes | Chill Time: 4 hours | Bake Time: 45 minutes | Serves 8-10
Why You’ll Love This Blueberry French Toast Casserole
This decadent Blueberry French Toast Casserole is the ultimate make-ahead breakfast that turns ordinary mornings into special occasions! Layers of buttery brioche soaked in a rich custard base, studded with juicy blueberries, and topped with a golden streusel create a restaurant-quality brunch dish. Perfect for holidays, weekend gatherings, or anytime you want to impress your family and guests with minimal morning effort.
Ingredients
For the Casserole Base:
- 1 loaf (1 lb) brioche or challah bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 8 large eggs
- 2 cups whole milk
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup granulated sugar
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 4 tablespoons butter, melted
For the Blueberry Layer:
- 2 cups fresh blueberries (or 1.5 cups frozen, thawed)
- 2 tablespoons granulated sugar
- 1 tablespoon cornstarch
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon zest
For the Streusel Topping:
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
- 1/2 cup cold butter, cubed
- 1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
- Pinch of salt
For Serving:
- Maple syrup, warmed
- Powdered sugar for dusting
- Extra fresh blueberries
- Whipped cream or vanilla ice cream
Instructions
Prepare the Casserole (Night Before):
- Prep baking dish: Butter a 9×13 inch baking dish generously. Arrange bread cubes evenly in the prepared dish.
- Prepare blueberries: In a medium bowl, gently toss blueberries with 2 tablespoons sugar, cornstarch, lemon juice, and lemon zest. Scatter blueberry mixture evenly over bread cubes.
- Make custard: In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg until well combined.
- Combine: Pour custard mixture evenly over bread and blueberries. Press bread gently with a spatula to ensure all pieces are soaked.
- Chill overnight: Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight (up to 24 hours).
Make the Streusel Topping:
- Prepare streusel: In a bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, and salt. Add cold butter cubes and use pastry cutter or fingers to work butter in until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in pecans if using. Cover and refrigerate.
Bake the Casserole:
- Preheat oven: Remove casserole from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Add topping: Remove plastic wrap and sprinkle streusel topping evenly over the casserole. Drizzle with melted butter.
- Bake covered: Cover with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Uncover and finish: Remove foil and continue baking for 15-20 minutes until center is set, top is golden brown, and a knife inserted in center comes out mostly clean.
- Rest: Let casserole rest for 10 minutes before serving to allow custard to set.
Serve:
- Cut and serve: Cut into squares and serve warm with maple syrup, powdered sugar, and additional blueberries.
Make-Ahead Tips
Full prep: Assemble completely the night before, add streusel in the morning Streusel: Make streusel up to 3 days ahead and store covered in refrigerator Freezer option: Assemble casserole, freeze for up to 3 months, thaw overnight before baking Partial bake: Bake 75% of the way, cool, and finish baking when ready to serve
Storage and Reheating
Refrigerator: Store leftovers covered for up to 4 days Individual portions: Cut into squares and store in individual containers Reheating: Warm in 350°F oven for 10-15 minutes or microwave individual portions Freezing: Freeze baked casserole for up to 2 months
Recipe Variations
Mixed Berry: Use combination of blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries Lemon Blueberry: Add extra lemon zest and lemon extract to custard Cream Cheese: Add cubes of cream cheese for extra richness Orange Twist: Replace vanilla with orange extract and add orange zest Chocolate Chip: Add white or dark chocolate chips with blueberries Almond Version: Use almond extract and sliced almonds in streusel
Nutritional Benefits
- Antioxidants: Blueberries provide powerful antioxidants and vitamin C
- Protein: Eggs offer high-quality complete protein
- Calcium: Milk and cream support bone health
- Fiber: Whole grain bread adds beneficial fiber
- Energy: Complex carbohydrates provide sustained energy
Serving Suggestions
Special occasions: Perfect for Christmas morning, Easter brunch, or Mother’s Day Weekend brunch: Serve with bacon, sausage, and fresh fruit Potluck favorite: Easy to transport and feeds a crowd Graduation parties: Impressive dish for celebration breakfasts Sleepover treats: Kids love this sweet breakfast casserole
Tips for Perfect Results
Bread quality: Use day-old brioche or challah for best absorption Even soaking: Press bread gently to ensure all pieces absorb custard Don’t overbake: Center should be just set but still slightly jiggly Fresh vs frozen: If using frozen blueberries, don’t thaw completely to prevent excess moisture Streusel texture: Keep butter cold for best crumbly texture
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Soggy bottom: Use slightly stale bread and don’t oversoak Dry casserole: Ensure adequate custard mixture and don’t overbake Uneven cooking: Cover edges with foil if browning too quickly Runny center: Bake additional 5-10 minutes until knife comes out clean
Perfect for These Occasions
- Holiday morning breakfasts
- Weekend family brunches
- Overnight guests and sleepovers
- Potluck breakfast contributions
- Special celebration mornings
- Meal prep for busy weeks
