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Easy Overnight French Toast Casserole with Berries

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A cozy and crowd-pleasing breakfast casserole featuring custardy brioche soaked overnight with cinnamon, vanilla, and fresh berries. Perfect for lazy weekend brunches or holiday mornings.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 loaf thick-cut brioche or challah bread, cubed (about 10 cups)
  • 8 large eggs, room temperature
  • 2 cups (480 ml) whole milk or half-and-half
  • 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar or brown sugar
  • A pinch of salt
  • 2 cups mixed fresh or frozen berries (blueberries, raspberries, sliced strawberries)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (for greasing and optional topping)
  • Optional: powdered sugar for dusting
  • Optional: maple syrup for serving

Instructions

  1. Cube brioche or challah into roughly 1-inch pieces. If bread is fresh, toast lightly at 300°F (150°C) for about 10 minutes to dry it out.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk or half-and-half, vanilla extract, cinnamon, sugar, and salt until smooth and frothy (about 2-3 minutes).
  3. Grease a 9×13-inch baking dish with melted butter. Spread half the bread cubes evenly in the dish.
  4. Sprinkle 1 cup of mixed berries over the bread layer, then add the remaining bread cubes on top.
  5. Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread and berries, pressing down lightly to help soak the bread.
  6. Cover the dish tightly with plastic wrap or aluminum foil and refrigerate overnight or at least 6 hours.
  7. Preheat oven to 350°F (175°C). Remove casserole from fridge and let sit at room temperature for 15 minutes.
  8. Bake uncovered for 45-55 minutes until top is golden brown and custard is set (knife inserted should come out clean).
  9. Let cool for 10 minutes before serving. Dust with powdered sugar and drizzle with maple syrup if desired.

Notes

Use day-old bread for better soaking to avoid mushiness. Frozen berries can be used without thawing. Tent casserole with foil if top browns too quickly. Optional toppings include chopped nuts or streusel. For dairy-free, use almond or coconut milk and flaxseed eggs for vegan adaptation. Gluten-free bread can be used for gluten-free version.

Nutrition

Keywords: French toast casserole, overnight casserole, breakfast casserole, berries, brunch, easy breakfast, custardy bread, brioche, challah

Find it online: https://katedishes.com/easy-overnight-french-toast-casserole-with-berries-recipe-for-perfect-breakfast/