Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole (Printable)
Creamy, fruit-filled breakfast casserole with a cinnamon streusel topping
# What You’ll Need:
→ Bread & Dairy
01 - 1 pound French bread or brioche, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 8 oz cream cheese, cut into small cubes
03 - 4 large eggs
04 - 1 cup whole milk
05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
06 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1 tsp vanilla extract
→ Fruit
08 - 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries
→ Streusel Topping
09 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar
11 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
12 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
13 - Pinch of salt
# How To Make:
01 - Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish thoroughly. Spread half of the bread cubes in an even layer across the bottom.
02 - Scatter cream cheese cubes and half the blueberries evenly over the bread. Top with remaining bread cubes and remaining blueberries.
03 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, sugar, and vanilla extract until fully combined.
04 - Pour the custard mixture evenly over the bread and berries. Press gently with a spatula to ensure all bread pieces absorb the liquid. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for optimal results.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
06 - In a small bowl, combine softened butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Mix with a fork until mixture becomes crumbly.
07 - Sprinkle streusel mixture evenly over the entire casserole surface.
08 - Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes until golden brown and set in the center. A knife inserted near the center should come out clean.
09 - Cool for 10 minutes before serving. Dust with powdered sugar if desired. Serve warm with maple syrup, lemon curd, or whipped cream.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- Assemble it the night before and wake up to something spectacular baking in the oven
- The contrast between crunchy streusel topping and creamy custard center is absolutely addictive
02 -
- Do not skip the refrigeration step even 30 minutes makes a significant difference in texture
- The center may still look slightly jiggly when you remove it from the oven but it will continue to set as it cools
03 -
- Use a serrated knife to cut the bread into cubes and avoid crushing the soft interior
- Rotate the baking dish halfway through cooking if your oven has hot spots