Easy French Toast Blueberry Breakfast Bake Recipe
Servings: 8 -12
This French Toast Blueberry Breakfast Bake Recipe is an easy make-ahead breakfast the whole family will love! Delicious for brunch too!
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Ingredients
- 1 loaf day-old bread, cut or torn into 1 inch cubes (about 10-11 packed cups of bread) french bread, brioche, challah or a baguette - see my notes below on how to crisp up fresh bread
- 1 1/4 cups fresh blueberries, divided
- 8 eggs
- 2 cups milk (whole or 2%)
- 1/4 cup maple syrup
- 1/2 cup loosely-packed light brown sugar
- 1 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1 tbsp vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1 large lemon, zested
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
- fresh blueberries and maple syrup for serving
Optional: Maple Cream Cheese Topping
- 1 cup softened cream cheese
- 2 tbsp maple syrup
Instructions
- Turn your oven to low broil, place 1/2 cup sliced almonds on a baking sheet and toast for 3-4 minutes or until golden. Set aside.
- Generously grease a 9x13 baking dish with butter.
- In a bowl whisk the eggs, milk, maple syrup, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, salt and lemon zest. Set aside.
- Spread half the bread cubes into the prepared baking pan and top with 3/4 cup blueberries. Spread the rest of the bread cubes in the pan and top with 1/2 cup blueberries.
- Pour the milk and egg mixture evenly over the bread cubes to cover everything evenly. Use a spatula to gently press down on the bread to make sure the milk mixture gets in all the crevices. Let sit for 1 hour before baking OR cover the baking dish with aluminum foil and store overnight in the fridge.
- If the pan has been in the fridge overnight, remove from the fridge one hour before baking.Preheat oven to 350F. Bake uncovered until golden on top or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 45-55 minutes. Let cool for 5-10 minutes before topping with the toasted almonds and then cutting and serving.
- While the french toast bakes, make the maple cream cheese topping if using. Mix together 1 cup softened cream cheese with 2 tbsp maple syrup (you can use a hand blender or food processor to blend this if desired). Set aside.
- Serve french toast with maple syrup, cream cheese topping or vanilla Greek yogurt and/or fresh blueberries.
Notes
- Make ahead: After the breakfast bake is assembled, it can be covered with foil and refrigerated overnight. Refrigeration will produce a more bread-pudding like texture.
- If you don't have time to let the bread sit out overnight, here's a quick method to get 'stale' / crusty bread for this recipe quickly. Preheat the oven to 300F and spread the cubed bread on a baking sheet. Toast in the oven for 10 minutes and then set aside to cool while you prep the rest of the recipe.
- Storage: Leftovers can be covered and stored in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Tried this recipe?Mention @cookinginmygenes or tag #cookinginmygenes!