Baked Blueberry French Toast Recipe

Introduction

This Baked Blueberry French Toast is a comforting breakfast casserole that combines soft challah bread with juicy fresh blueberries and a sweet, crunchy crumble topping. Perfect for making ahead, it soaks overnight and bakes to golden perfection the next morning.

Ingredients

• 1 Challah bread, cut into one inch cubes
• 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
• 8 eggs
• 2 cups almond milk (or whole milk)
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 1/2 tablespoons vanilla extract

For crumble topping:

• 1 stick unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1/4 teaspoon salt

Instructions

1. Step 1: Preheat a 9 x 13-inch baking dish by greasing it with cooking spray or butter.
2. Step 2: Cut the challah bread into one-inch cubes and place half of the bread cubes into the baking dish, then sprinkle half of the blueberries over them.
3. Step 3: Add the remaining bread cubes and blueberries on top.
4. Step 4: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, almond milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until fully combined. Pour this mixture evenly over the bread and blueberries in the dish.
5. Step 5: Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to allow the bread to soak up the custard.
6. Step 6: To make the crumble topping, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt in a medium bowl.
7. Step 7: Add the cold pieces of butter to the dry mixture and use a pastry cutter or your fingers to mix until the mixture forms crumbs or small pebbles.
8. Step 8: Store the crumble topping in a Ziplock bag in the refrigerator until ready to use.
9. Step 9: When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C).
10. Step 10: Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and evenly sprinkle the crumble mixture over the top.
11. Step 11: Bake for 45 minutes for a softer, bread-pudding-like texture, or 55 to 60 minutes for a firmer texture with less liquid.
12. Step 12: Allow the dish to cool for 5 to 10 minutes, then cut into individual portions.
13. Step 13: Serve warm, topped with butter and a drizzle of maple syrup if desired.

Tips & Variations

• Use stale challah or brioche bread for the best texture, as it absorbs the custard without becoming too mushy.
• Swap fresh blueberries for frozen if fresh aren’t available; no need to thaw before assembling.
• Add a splash of orange juice or zest to the custard for a citrusy twist.
• For a nutty crunch, sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over the crumble topping before baking.

Storage

Store any leftover baked French toast in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat individual portions in the microwave or oven until warmed through. This dish can also be frozen; wrap tightly and freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

How to Serve

Serve this delicious recipe with your favorite sides.

FAQs

Can I make this recipe dairy-free?

Yes, substitute the heavy whipping cream and almond or whole milk with your preferred plant-based milk such as coconut milk or soy milk. Use a dairy-free butter or margarine for the crumble topping to keep it fully dairy-free.

Can I prepare it the same day without soaking overnight?

While soaking overnight helps the bread absorb the custard fully for a tender texture, you can let it rest for at least 30 minutes at room temperature if short on time. The texture will be slightly less rich but still delicious.

Baked Blueberry French Toast Recipe

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★★★★★

4.5 from 401 reviews

• Author: Isabella
• Total Time: Overnight soak plus 1 hour 20 minutes
• Yield: 8 servings 1x

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Description

This Baked Blueberry French Toast is a delightful breakfast casserole featuring cubed challah bread soaked overnight in a rich mixture of eggs, almond milk, and cream, layered with fresh blueberries, and topped with a buttery cinnamon crumble. Perfect for a special brunch or holiday morning, it combines sweet, fruity flavors with a soft, custardy texture and a crispy crumb topping.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

French Toast Mixture

• 1 Challah bread, cut into one inch cubes
• 1 1/2 cups fresh blueberries
• 8 eggs
• 2 cups almond milk (or whole milk)
• 1/2 cup heavy whipping cream
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar
• 2 1/2 tbsp vanilla extract

Crumble Topping

• 1 stick unsalted butter, cold and cut into pieces
• 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp nutmeg
• 1/4 tsp salt

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Instructions

1. Prepare the baking dish: Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray or butter to prevent sticking.
2. Layer bread and blueberries: Cut the challah bread into one-inch cubes. Layer half of the bread cubes along with half of the fresh blueberries in the baking dish.
3. Add remaining bread and blueberries: Spread the remaining bread cubes and blueberries evenly over the first layer.
4. Mix custard: In a medium bowl, whisk together the eggs, almond milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until fully combined.
5. Soak bread overnight: Pour the custard mixture evenly over the layered bread and blueberries. Cover the baking dish with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight to allow the bread to absorb the custard.
6. Prepare crumble topping: In another medium bowl, combine the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt. Add the cold butter pieces and cut them into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles crumbs or small pebbles.
7. Store crumble: Place the crumble topping mixture in a Ziplock bag and store it in the refrigerator until ready to bake.
8. Preheat oven: When ready to bake, preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C).
9. Add crumble topping: Remove the baking dish from the refrigerator and evenly sprinkle the crumble mixture over the top of the French toast.
10. Bake: Bake the dish in the preheated oven for 45 minutes for a softer, bread pudding-style texture or 55 minutes to one hour for a firmer texture with less liquid.
11. Cool and serve: Let the baked French toast cool for 5-10 minutes before cutting into individual portions.
12. Garnish and enjoy: Top each serving with butter and a drizzle of maple syrup if desired for extra richness and sweetness.

Notes

• Using challah bread results in a richer and softer texture, but brioche or thick-cut white bread can be used as substitutes.
• For a dairy-free option, substitute almond milk and coconut cream for heavy cream.
• Be sure to cover and refrigerate overnight to allow the bread to fully soak in the custard mixture for the best texture.
• The crumble topping can be prepared up to 2 days in advance and stored in the refrigerator.
• Adjust baking time depending on your preferred texture; less time yields softer, more custardy French toast, while longer baking produces a firmer dish.
• Serve with fresh fruit, powdered sugar, or nuts for added texture and flavor.

• Prep Time: 20 minutes
• Cook Time: 45-60 minutes
• Category: Breakfast
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: American

Keywords: Baked Blueberry French Toast, breakfast casserole, challah French toast, berry French toast bake, overnight French toast, blueberry breakfast casserole