Berry French Toast Bake – Easy Make-Ahead Breakfast Casserole
A golden, custardy French toast casserole loaded with fresh berries and warm spice. Ideal for brunch, holidays, or effortless meal prep.
Ingredients
- 1 loaf brioche or challah bread cubed
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups milk or half-and-half for richer custard
- ½ cup heavy cream optional but recommended
- ½ cup maple syrup or sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- ¼ tsp nutmeg
- 1 ½ cups fresh strawberries sliced
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- ½ cup chopped walnuts or pecans optional
- Powdered sugar for dusting
Instructions
- Grease a 9×13 baking dish and add the cubed bread.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, cream, sweetener, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg.
- Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread.
- Top with strawberries, blueberries, and nuts.
- Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C).
- Bake uncovered for 40–45 minutes, until golden and set.
- Dust with powdered sugar and serve warm with extra maple syrup.
Notes
Tips & Variations
- Chocolate Chip Berry: Add dark chocolate chips before baking.
- Cinnamon Swirl: Add ribbons of cinnamon sugar or small cinnamon roll pieces.
- Peach or Apple Version: Swap berries for sliced peaches or apples.
- Nut-Free: Simply omit nuts or replace with seeds such as pumpkin seeds.
- Day-old bread works best for a sturdy, custardy texture.
- Press the bread down slightly after adding custard so it absorbs evenly.
- For crispier edges, broil during the final 3–5 minutes (watch closely).
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store up to 4 days in an airtight container.
- Freezer: Freeze baked casserole for up to 2 months; thaw overnight before reheating.
- Reheat: Microwave 30–45 seconds or bake at 300°F (150°C) for 10 minutes.