This Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole is a favourite dish for special holiday breakfasts. I think everyone loves french toast, and this french toast casserole is almost like a bread pudding. Except, that it isn’t.
What I would call this overnight blueberry french toast breakfast casserole, is a sweet strata. A strata is a brunch dish consisting of layers of bread, egg, and cheese. This breakfast dish is skipping the cheese, and instead using blueberries, cream and maple syrup.
Make Ahead Makes For an Easy Celebration Morning
French toast baked into a casserole is almost pudding like, though. You still get the browned, slightly crisp topping, and the delicious spongy, eggy baked bread filling. Soaking sourdough bread in eggs, cream and sugar is super easy to do the night before, all in one casserole dish. Put it in the fridge, and then you just pop into the oven in the morning. Which is nice for everyone, most especially, the cook. If that happens to be you, (and I’m thinking it is, since you’re here, looking at this recipe for a make ahead breakfast), you deserve a break on that special morning, too.
A Celebration Treat Breakfast
Right off the bat, I’ll be clear. This recipe is unapologetic about being not: gluten free, dairy free; sugar free, vegan, low fat, low carb, low calorie, or low anything. This delicious french toast recipe is basically dessert for breakfast. It isn’t a healthy, nutrient packed breakfast. My normal is all about making healthy, nutrient packed food choices. That’s my everyday, and I’m sure it’s probably yours too.
With All The Good Stuff That We Hate To Love
This make ahead breakfast casserole is bread soaked in eggs, cream and sugar. But, this baked french toast is a festive and yummy treat for a special occasion morning. It’s a perfect Christmas or Easter morning treat.
I’m using local blueberries in this recipe, because thanks to this summer’s bounty, that’s what I have in my freezer. But you can change up the berries according to the season, use strawberries in the spring, raspberries or blackberries in mid summer, or tropical fruit, (try mango and/or pineapple, and sprinkle shredded coconut over top), in the winter. If, however, you have blueberries on the mind, like me, you may want to check out Banana Blueberry Spelt Muffins, Finnish Blueberry Pie, or Rhubarb Blueberry Oatmeal Bars.
And, here’s another delicious make ahead recipe to try: Baked Breakfast Egg Cups
How to Make Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole
- 1 loaf sourdough bread torn into chunks of about 2 inches
- 8 large eggs beaten
- 2 ½ cups cream half & half
- ½ cup sugar
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 cup flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar firmly packed
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Pinch of nutmeg
- ½ cup cold butter cut into pieces
- 1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries
- 1/2 cup maple syrup
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Spread the torn bread chunks evenly in a 9"x13” buttered pan
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In a large bowl, combine the eggs, cream, sugar and vanilla
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Pour the egg mixture over the bread
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Cover the pan with plastic wrap and put in the fridge overnight
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In another bowl, combine the flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and nutmeg
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Cut in the cold butter with a pastry cutter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs
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Put the topping mixture in a zip lock bag in the fridge overnight.
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In the morning, preheat oven to 350°
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Sprinkle blueberries over the soaked bread in the pan
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Sprinkle topping evenly over the pan
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Bake for one hour
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Remove from oven and drizzle maple syrup all over
This casserole is perfect with bacon or sausage and a fresh citrus salad on the side, or served on a larger brunch buffet.
Coleen, I have company this weekend and I think I am going to try this recipe. It looks delicious and I have local blueberries. I always find something good on your blog. Thanks for posting.
This is on the menu for Christmas Eve brunch! I’ll be using a mix of blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. Happy holidays, Colleen!
Elaine, that sounds like a delicious mix of berries for this. Enjoy, and Merry Christmas.
We’re hosting a Christmas brunch at our place with the kids and their partners. This would be perfect! Make it the night before, just pop it in the oven in the morning and serve it hot to our family. We have so many local berries in our freezer: sour cherries, haskaps, saskatoons, and BC blueberries. I’m thinking also a combination of berries would work well. Thanks for the idea!
Nicoletta, this is perfect for a brunch, and a great way to use up those berries in the freezer, too.
Goodness! This Blueberry French Toast Casserole looks amazing, Colleen. I love the indulgence of making a recipe like this for Christmas morning and looking forward to it all year long, don’t you? Thank you for sharing! Merry Christmas to you as well!
Thanks Denise. Yes, it’s so fun to look forward to an indulgent treat over the holidays. Mother nature has certainly given us a white Christmas this year, hasn’t she? Enjoy!
I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect Christmas morning baked french toast – thanks for posting! Can’t wait to make it.
I think you’ll love it Lily! Enjoy 🙂
I’m all about the big (but easy) breakfasts when I’m on holiday so this looks perfect for Christmas morning!
Charlotte, I’m with you on big and easy breakfasts for holiday mornings, and this one fits the bill. 🙂
Wow, this is a showstopper!! Perfect for Christmas morning!
Thanks Nicole! This is a dish that is always looked forward to here. 🙂
Thanks Nicole. It is a perfect Christmas morning treat, for sure.
I love French toast and this casserole looks so delicious. I think it is perfect for any time of the day!
I would eat it any time of day, too Meymi, if there were any leftovers. 🙂
Gosh that looks good! Almost like dessert for breakfast! 😀
Hi Elizabeth. Yes dessert for breakfast! 🙂
Yum! This is such a perfect holiday breakfast idea. Pointing my Mom in this direction later today — this is right up her alley. Happy holidays to you and your family, Colleen!
Thanks Justine! Happy holidays to you as well.
I love the sounds of this. Love that you can make it ahead, love that it’s unabashedly rich, and love that it spares the cook a bit of hassle on a busy morning! It’s a spectacular looking recipe, and one that I’m sure would disappear off of plates in no time flat. Cheers.
Thanks Sean! It certainly does disappear fast 🙂
This looks amazing! I love french toast! What a great way to prep for a brunch!
Thank you Sarah! It makes things so much easier when you can make it ahead. 🙂
Love that you have added nutmeg too in your French toast blueberry casserole! It’s such an underrated spice and doesn’t make a common appearance in sweet desserts. Getting hungry now! 😀
Hi Helene. The nutmeg adds a perfect touch to this dish. 🙂
Wow, this french toast casserole looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it!
Hi Sam, I think you’ll find it as delicious as it looks! 🙂