Mothers Day Blueberry French Toast (Print View)

Baked French toast featuring blueberries and vanilla, ideal for a festive brunch occasion.

# Components:

→ Bread Base

01 - 1 loaf brioche or challah bread, cut into 1 inch cubes (about 1 lb)
02 - 2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

→ Custard Mixture

03 - 6 large eggs
04 - 2 cups whole milk
05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
06 - 1/2 cup granulated sugar
07 - 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
08 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
09 - 1/4 teaspoon salt

→ Topping

10 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
11 - 1/4 cup brown sugar
12 - 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
13 - 1/4 cup chopped pecans or almonds, optional
14 - Powdered sugar for dusting, optional

# Directions:

01 - Grease a 9x13 inch baking dish with butter or nonstick spray.
02 - Arrange half the bread cubes evenly in the prepared dish. Scatter half the blueberries over the bread layer. Repeat with remaining bread cubes and blueberries.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until smooth and well combined.
04 - Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread and blueberries, pressing gently to ensure all bread pieces are fully saturated with the custard.
05 - Cover the baking dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for optimal flavor development and texture.
06 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
07 - In a small bowl, combine melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts if using. Mix until evenly distributed and sprinkle over the casserole surface.
08 - Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes until puffed and golden brown. If the topping browns too quickly, tent loosely with foil to prevent excessive browning.
09 - Allow the casserole to stand for 10 minutes before serving. Dust with powdered sugar if desired and serve warm.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • You can assemble it the night before and just pop it in the oven, which means you'll actually enjoy your guests instead of stress-cooking.
  • Those juicy blueberries burst with every bite, giving you that unexpected sweetness without tasting overdone or artificial.
  • It feeds a crowd without needing a second oven or any last-minute scrambling.
02 -
  • Don't skip the overnight refrigeration if you have the time—it transforms the texture from decent to genuinely spectacular, and that's worth planning ahead for.
  • If you use frozen blueberries, don't thaw them first; they'll release their juice and turn your casserole into a purple puddle instead of keeping their distinct pockets of flavor.
03 -
  • Use a mix of half-and-half instead of separate milk and cream if you want extra richness and don't want to buy multiple dairy products.
  • Assemble the casserole in the evening, cover it with plastic wrap, and refrigerate overnight—the bread absorbs more custard and bakes into something almost impossibly tender.
Return