Heavenly Blueberry & Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe

Dreamy Blueberry & Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe

Lazy weekend mornings call for something special, and this creamy blueberry & cream cheese french toast casserole hits all the right comfort notes.

Bursting with sweet berries and rich cream cheese, the dish promises a decadent breakfast experience.

Soft bread soaks up a luscious egg mixture, creating layers of tender, custardy goodness.

Each bite combines tangy cream cheese with juicy blueberries that pop with summer flavor.

The casserole bakes into a golden, puffy masterpiece that transforms simple ingredients into a crowd-pleasing breakfast sensation.

Served warm with a dusting of powdered sugar, this breakfast treat will have everyone lingering at the table, asking for seconds.

Tips For Creamy Blueberry & Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole

  • Blueberry Bliss Boosters: Expert Tips & Tasty Twists
  • Overnight Magic: Letting the casserole sit overnight allows bread to soak up every delicious bit of custard, creating an ultra-creamy texture that melts in your mouth.
  • Bread Battle Plan: Use day-old challah or brioche for maximum absorption and richer flavor. Slightly stale bread works best because it soaks up the custard without falling apart.
  • Berry Brilliance: Swap blueberries with other seasonal fruits like raspberries, diced strawberries, or peaches for a fresh flavor adventure. Frozen berries work perfectly when fresh aren't available.
  • Dietary Dance: For gluten-free friends, substitute regular bread with gluten-free bread cubes. Dairy-free dieters can replace heavy cream with coconut milk and use dairy-free cream cheese alternatives. Vegans can experiment with plant-based egg substitutes and non-dairy milk.
  • Make-Ahead Mastermind: Prepare the entire casserole up to 24 hours in advance, keeping it covered in the refrigerator. This makes holiday mornings or weekend brunches a breeze, letting you spend more time with family and less time in the kitchen.

Serve Blueberry & Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole With Joy

  • Brunch Bliss Platter: Arrange slices on elegant white plates, garnishing with fresh mint leaves for a pop of color and refreshing touch.
  • Decadent Morning Delight: Drizzle warm maple syrup generously over each serving, allowing it to cascade down the golden-brown casserole edges.
  • Berry Cream Dream: Top each portion with a handful of extra fresh blueberries and a small dollop of whipped cream to enhance the fruity, creamy profile of the dish.
  • Weekend Indulgence Companion: Pair with crispy bacon strips or a light fruit salad to balance the rich, sweet casserole and create a complete breakfast experience.

Store Blueberry & Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole With Ease

  • Make-Ahead Magic: Assemble the entire casserole up to 24 hours before baking, keeping it tightly wrapped in the refrigerator. This method allows flavors to meld beautifully and saves precious morning preparation time.
  • Freezer-Friendly Trick: Wrap the fully assembled (unbaked) casserole in plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Freeze for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before baking, adding 10-15 minutes to the original baking time.
  • Portion Control Strategy: Cut cooled casserole into individual servings, then store in airtight containers. Refrigerate for 3-4 days, reheating individual portions in the microwave for 45-60 seconds until warmed through.
  • Leftover Love: Store any remaining casserole in a sealed container in the refrigerator. Consume within 3-4 days for optimal taste and texture. Reheat in the oven at 350F for 10-15 minutes to maintain the crispy streusel topping and restore the casserole's delightful warmth.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 20 minutes

Cook Time: 50 minutes

Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes

Calories: 450 kcal

Servings: 7

What Goes In Blueberry & Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole

For Bread Base:
  • Day-Old Bread: Slightly stale bread absorbs custard better and prevents soggy texture.
  • Cream Cheese: Creates rich, tangy pockets of creamy goodness throughout the casserole.
  • Blueberries: Adds bursts of juicy sweetness and vibrant color to the dish.
For Custard Mixture:
  • Eggs: Provides structure and helps bind the casserole together.
  • Milk, Heavy Cream: Creates luxurious, silky custard base with deep richness.
  • Sugar: Balances flavors and adds gentle sweetness.
  • Vanilla Extract: Enhances overall flavor complexity.
  • Cinnamon: Introduces warm, comforting aromatic notes.
For Streusel Topping:
  • Flour: Creates crumbly texture for topping.
  • Brown Sugar: Adds deep caramel-like sweetness.
  • Cinnamon: Reinforces warm spice profile.
  • Cold Butter: Ensures crispy, crumbly streusel texture when baked.

Tools For Blueberry & Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole

  • 9×13-inch baking dish: Perfect for layering bread, cream cheese, and blueberries.
  • Large mixing bowl: Essential for whisking together custard ingredients.
  • Medium mixing bowl: Used for preparing the streusel topping.
  • Whisk: Helps blend custard ingredients smoothly.
  • Fork or pastry cutter: Needed to cut butter into streusel mixture.
  • Measuring cups and spoons: Crucial for accurate ingredient measurements.
  • Sharp knife: Helpful for cutting bread and cream cheese into cubes.

How To Make Blueberry & Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole

  • Baking Dish Preparation

Grab a spacious baking dish and coat it with a light layer of cooking spray. Create a cozy base by spreading half of your bread cubes across the bottom. Sprinkle chunks of cream cheese and a generous handful of blueberries over the bread. Complete the layer with remaining bread cubes and more blueberries.

  • Creamy Custard Creation

Whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl. Gently pour this dreamy mixture over the bread, softly pressing to ensure every cube gets soaked. Cover and let the casserole rest in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight for maximum flavor development.

  • Streusel Magic

Combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl. Work cold butter into the mixture until it transforms into crumbly goodness. Keep the streusel chilled until you’re ready to use it.

  • Oven Transformation

Heat the oven to 350F. After removing the casserole from the refrigerator, let it sit for 20 minutes. Shower the top with your prepared streusel. Bake uncovered until the surface turns golden and the center sets, about 45-50 minutes.

  • Serving Delight

Allow the casserole to cool briefly. Dust with a light snowfall of powdered sugar. Serve with a drizzle of maple syrup or a cloud of whipped cream for extra indulgence.

Print
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Heavenly Blueberry & Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe

Heavenly Blueberry & Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole Recipe


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4.6 from 28 reviews

  • Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: 7 1x

Description

Indulgent blueberry & cream cheese french toast casserole promises a delightful breakfast experience. Layers of rich bread, tangy cream cheese, and juicy blueberries create a comforting morning treat you’ll savor with pure pleasure.


Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 loaf (1 lb / 450 g) brioche or French bread, cubed
  • 8 oz (225 g) cream cheese, cut into small cubes
  • 2 cups (300 g) blueberries, fresh or frozen
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 cups (480 ml) milk
  • ½ cup (120 ml) heavy cream
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ cup (100 g) granulated sugar
  • ½ cup (100 g) brown sugar
  • ½ cup (65 g) all-purpose flour
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ½ tsp ground cinnamon
  • ¼ cup (60 g) unsalted butter, cold and cubed

Instructions

  1. Preparation: Lavishly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Layer half the bread cubes uniformly, creating a textural foundation.
  2. Layering: Disperse cream cheese fragments and blueberries across the initial bread layer. Top with remaining bread cubes and additional blueberries, constructing a vibrant base.
  3. Custard Creation: Whisk eggs, milk, heavy cream, sugar, vanilla, and cinnamon in a large bowl until seamlessly blended into a silky liquid.
  4. Infusion: Pour custard over the bread landscape, gently pressing to ensure complete moisture absorption. Wrap and refrigerate for a minimum of two hours to meld flavors.
  5. Streusel Assembly: Combine flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Work cold butter into the mixture using fingertips until rustic, uneven crumbs form.
  6. Final Preparation: Allow casserole to reach room temperature for 20 minutes. Generously sprinkle streusel across the surface, creating a textural canvas.
  7. Baking: Preheat oven to 350F. Position casserole centrally and bake uncovered until golden and custard sets firmly, approximately 45-50 minutes.
  8. Serving: Rest for 10 minutes post-baking. Dust with powdered sugar and serve alongside maple syrup or whipped cream for an indulgent presentation.

Notes

  • Bread Selection Matters: Choose day-old or slightly stale bread like brioche or challah for better custard absorption and richer texture. Avoid fresh, soft bread that might become too soggy.
  • Cream Cheese Distribution: Cut cream cheese into small, uniform cubes to ensure even flavor and texture throughout the casserole. Cold cream cheese works best for maintaining distinct pockets.
  • Overnight Marination Magic: Refrigerating the casserole for at least 2 hours (or overnight) allows bread to fully soak up the custard, creating a more cohesive and luxurious dish.
  • Streusel Texture Trick: Work with cold butter and use your fingertips or a pastry cutter to create uneven, rustic crumbs. Avoid overworking the mixture to maintain a light, crispy topping.
  • Prep Time: 20 minutes
  • Cook Time: 50 minutes
  • Category: Breakfast, Dessert
  • Method: Baking
  • Cuisine: American

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 7
  • Calories: 450
  • Sugar: 22 g
  • Sodium: 300 mg
  • Fat: 24 g
  • Saturated Fat: 14 g
  • Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
  • Trans Fat: 0 g
  • Carbohydrates: 49 g
  • Fiber: 2 g
  • Protein: 10 g
  • Cholesterol: 180 mg
Liam O’Sullivan

Liam O’Sullivan

Founder & Culinary Content Creator

Expertise

Recipe Development​, Traditional Irish and European Cuisines, Food Styling and Photography, Culinary Education​

Education

Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) – School of Culinary Arts and Food Technology

  • Degree: Bachelor of Arts in Culinary Arts
  • Focus: Comprehensive training in classical and modern cooking techniques, kitchen management, and menu development.​

Ballymaloe Cookery School

  • Program: 12-Week Certificate Course
  • Focus: Intensive, hands-on experience emphasizing farm-to-table cooking and sustainable practices.​

Isabella brings a global spark to the Craft Meats table. Born in Florence and trained at the Apicius International School of Hospitality, she blends classic Italian flavor with modern writing that’s easy to follow and hard to forget. 

Her additional training at the Italian Chef Academy fueled her love for well-crafted dishes, especially ones that spotlight beautiful cuts of meat.

She’s a food writer with heart, and a deep love for storytelling through single recipes. Her goal? To help you cook with more confidence and a little more joy, no matter where you start.

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