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Creamy Berry French Toast Casserole

Creamy Berry French Toast Casserole - featured image
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A luscious and creamy French toast casserole studded with fresh berries and swirled with cream cheese, perfect for an easy, impressive homemade breakfast.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 8 cups cubed brioche or challah bread (day-old preferred)
  • 2 cups mixed fresh berries (blueberries, raspberries, sliced strawberries; frozen thawed and drained works too)
  • 8 ounces softened cream cheese
  • 6 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups whole milk or half-and-half
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1/2 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • Pinch of salt
  • 2 tablespoons melted butter (for greasing the baking dish)
  • Optional toppings: powdered sugar, maple syrup, extra fresh berries

Instructions

  1. Cube about 8 cups of brioche or challah bread into roughly 1-inch pieces. If bread is fresh, toast lightly in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 5-7 minutes to dry it out slightly.
  2. In a medium bowl, beat 8 ounces softened cream cheese with 2 tablespoons sugar and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract until smooth and creamy. Add a splash of milk if too stiff.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together 6 large eggs, 2 cups whole milk (or half-and-half), 1/2 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon cinnamon, and a pinch of salt until well combined.
  4. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with melted butter. Spread half of the bread cubes evenly on the bottom. Dollop half of the cream cheese mixture over the bread in small spoonfuls and gently swirl it in. Sprinkle 1 cup of mixed berries over the cream cheese layer. Repeat with remaining bread, cream cheese, and berries.
  5. Slowly pour the egg custard evenly over the layered bread, cream cheese, and berries. Press down gently with a spatula to help the bread soak up the custard. Let sit for at least 20 minutes or cover and refrigerate overnight. If refrigerated overnight, bring to room temperature for 30 minutes before baking.
  6. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Cover the dish loosely with aluminum foil and bake for 35 minutes. Remove foil and bake an additional 15-20 minutes until top is golden brown and custard is set (knife inserted should come out clean).
  7. Allow casserole to cool for 10 minutes before slicing. Serve warm with powdered sugar, maple syrup, or extra fresh berries.

Notes

For best texture, use day-old brioche or challah bread. Let the casserole soak overnight for a tender custard. If top browns too quickly, tent with foil halfway through baking. Use gluten-free bread and dairy-free cream cheese and milk for dietary adaptations. Frozen berries should be thawed and drained to avoid sogginess.

Nutrition

Keywords: French toast casserole, creamy breakfast, berry breakfast, cream cheese casserole, easy brunch recipe, make-ahead breakfast

Find it online: https://twirltaste.com/creamy-berry-french-toast-casserole-recipe-easy-homemade-breakfast-idea/