Creamy French Toast Casserole Recipe with Fresh Berries
A luscious and comforting French toast casserole soaked in a rich custard and topped with fresh berries, perfect for cozy breakfasts or brunches.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 50 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 65 minutes (including soak time; overnight preferred)
- Yield: 8 servings 1x
- Category: Breakfast
- Cuisine: American
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 cups day-old brioche or challah bread cubes (about 10 ounces or 280 grams)
- 6 large eggs, room temperature
- 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk
- 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (100 g) granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- A pinch of salt
- 1 1/2 cups fresh mixed berries (blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, or blackberries)
- Optional: powdered sugar for dusting
- Optional: maple syrup or honey for serving
Instructions
- Cube day-old brioche into roughly 1-inch pieces and spread evenly in a 9×13-inch baking dish.
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, whole milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until smooth.
- Pour custard mixture evenly over bread cubes and press gently to help bread absorb the liquid.
- Scatter fresh mixed berries evenly over the soaked bread without stirring.
- Cover the dish with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove cover and bake casserole for 45-50 minutes until top is golden and a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.
- Let casserole cool for 5-10 minutes before slicing. Dust with powdered sugar and serve with warm maple syrup or honey if desired.
Notes
Use day-old bread for best texture. Add berries just before baking to keep them fresh and prevent sogginess. Tent with foil if top browns too quickly. Frozen berries can be used but add last minute. For dairy-free, substitute milk and cream with almond/oat milk and coconut cream. Gluten-free bread can be used for dietary needs.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/8th of the cassero
- Calories: 320
- Sugar: 15
- Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 40
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 10
Keywords: French toast casserole, creamy breakfast, fresh berries, brunch recipe, easy breakfast, custard soaked bread