Home » Course » Breakfast

Berry French Toast Casserole

Make this Berry French Toast Casserole for your weekend brunch!

Prepare the night before, pop into the oven when you wake up in the morning, and you’ll get yourself a moist on the inside, slightly crispy on the top French toast bake with loads of fresh strawberries and blueberries.

Berry French Toast Casserole

Then you drizzle that maple syrup all over it, because truly, YOU MUST.

If you love Berry French Toast Casserole, don’t forget to also check out my Apple French Toast Casserole recipe! For a savory breakfast casserole, these are my favorites: Crescent Roll Breakfast Casserole and Ham and Cheese Croissant Casserole.

Why Berry French Toast Casserole?

Friends, are you a brunch person? Well, I am.

I love waking up slowly on Saturday morning and indulge in some hearty brunch food while I sip coffee, all in my pajamas… Ah, gotta love a nice and slow weekend.

Every now and then, on the menu for weekend brunch is french toast. I would wake up in the morning and cut up bread and dip them into the egg mixture and pan fry these bread.

That is, until I was introduced to the concept of french toast casserole.

Then it all happened – my weekend brunch changed for the better…

See, with French Toast Casserole you make everything ahead the night before, let the bread soak in that egg mixture combined with cinnamon, brown sugar and vanilla extract, then the next morning you pop in the oven and viola. BREAKFAST IS SERVED.

With all the fresh berry action going on during the summer, it will be a shame to not top this custard-y bread with loads of fresh, sweet-as-candy berries. The fruity goodness pairs so well with it.

So there you go – Berry French Toast Casserole. The berry best kind of french toast casserole. Pun absolutely intended.

Berry French Toast Casserole

Ingredients

One of the many reasons why I love Berry French Toast Casserole is because it is made with easy, pantry-friendly ingredients!

  • French bread – dryer bread works the best because they soak up the egg mixture better. You can also use sourdough, challah, croissants, regular white bread, or even healthier breads such as whole wheat.
  • Eggs
  • Milk – I like to use 2% milk, but you can use any kind of milk, even almond milk and oat milk for non-dairy options.
  • Vanilla extract – use good quality vanilla extract for the best flavors. It really takes the flavor of the egg mixture to the next level.
  • Cinnamon powder
  • Brown sugar
  • Berries – I use strawberries and blueberries but use whatever you have at hand or your favorite! Fresh or frozen would be just fine
  • Powdered sugar – optional, for dusting the top
  • Maple syrup – A must in my books! 😉 Use high quality maple syrup for the best taste!

How to make Berry French Toast Casserole

As mentioned, when making Berry French Toast Casserole, a lot of the real work happen the night before.

First, you will want to cut french bread into cubes and fill ~3/4 of a greased 9″ x 13″ casserole with the bread.

You can use other breads such as regular white bread, brioche, croissant etc as well.

French bread for Berry French Toast Casserole
French bread cut into cubes

Next, in a large mixing bowl, mix together 8 large eggs (yes, lots of eggs!), 2% milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and brown sugar. Then pour the mixture onto the casserole.

Top with sliced strawberries, blueberries, or other berries you like!

Cover casserole with a saran wrap, then refrigerate for at least 4 hours or up to overnight. We are letting the bread soak up the egg mixture during this time.

Then (typically this is the next morning for me in my pajamas) bake at 350 for 35-50 minutes.

I check at the 35 minute mark, and bake for longer if needed.

Sprinkle berry French toast casserole bake with powdered sugar, because, come on, it’s powdered sugar. Life’s necessary pleasure.

I MEAN. Talk about kicking off your day RIGHT.

A top down pic of a casserole of Berry French Toast Casserole

The bread is flavorful and moist after being soaked in the egg mixture. The edges and the top is slightly crispy. The juicy, sweet berries is a great compliment to the custardy dish. SO DELISH.

This berry French toast bake feeds a crowd or you’ll have plenty of leftovers.

NOT A BAD DEAL AT ALL.

In my most humble opinion, the best way to serve this yummy goodness that is this berry French toast bake is to drizzle maple syrup (especially the good kind!) on it. And maybe pair it with a few slices of bacon.

BREAKFAST DREAMS DO COME TRUE.

Tips and Tricks

A few things to note when making Berry French Toast Casserole:

  • Use a few days old or dryer bread so that it soaks up the egg mixture better.
  • Grease casserole dish with oil or butter prior to adding bread for easy removal after it bakes.
  • Make this at least a few hours before so that the bread can soak up the egg/milk mixture before baking. I like to make this the night before and pop it into the oven in the morning. It really makes an easy, no fuss, YUMMY breakfast. Perfect for when you are feeding a lot of people – I do this a lot for the holidays as well.
  • Due to multiple variability (actual oven temperature, how dry the bread is and how much egg/milk mixture it soaks up overnight, temperature of the casserole itself prior to baking, etc), bake time can differ slightly, so check at the 35 minute mark to see if French Toast Casserole is cooked, and bake for longer if needed. There were many times where I have to bake this longer than 35 minutes.
A casserole of Berry French Toast Casserole

Variations and Substitutions

Berry French toast bake is seriously versatile and there are so many ways to make it your own!

  • Instead of strawberries and blueberries, use blackberries, raspberries.
  • Instead of French bread, use other breads such as challah, white bread, wheat bread, or even croissants for a luxurious (slight higher calorie) brunch! 🙂
  • Want a dairy free option? Use almond milk or oatmilk instead of regular milk.
  • Want to make this even fancier? Check out my Apple French Toast Casserole recipe. It is my attempt to make a fancier French toast casserole with crumbles on top and apple pieces sandwiched all over. So good!

Have more variation and substitution ideas? Share by commenting below and let us know!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use frozen berries for this?

Yes! Substitute fresh berries with frozen berries if fresh berries are not available.

Can I use almond milk instead of 2% milk?

Yes! That works great. Oat milk works great as well.

Can I use a different kind of bread?

Absolutely! Any bread works great with this. Try to use dryer bread that are a few days old so that it soaks up the egg mixture better.

How to store and reheat Berry French Toast Casserole?

Keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for a few days. Store maple syrup separately. When ready to serve, heat in microwave and serve with maple syrup. This recipe actually heats up in the microwave really well!

Berry French Toast Casserole topped with maple syrup

Other breakfast dreams…

A.k.a. some of my other favorite breakfast and brunch recipes!

DID YOU ENJOY THIS RECIPE? Please comment below and give us a 5-star rating! This will help others find this recipe on Google and Pinterest. We very much appreciate your help! 🤍

Berry French Toast Casserole

Berry French Toast Casserole

Moist on the inside, slightly crusty on the top, this french toast casserole is topped with loads of fresh berries. Serve with powdered sugar and maple syrup. Make ahead and pop into the oven whenever you are ready to eat it! Super easy!
4.72 from 390 votes
Print Pin
Course: Breakfast
Cuisine: American
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Resting time: 4 hours
Total Time: 1 hour
Servings: 12 servings
Calories: 308kcal
Author: MinShien

Ingredients

  • 12-14 cups French bread
  • 8 large eggs
  • 2 cups 2% milk
  • 2 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 tsp cinnamon
  • 2/3 cup brown sugar
  • 1 cup strawberries sliced
  • 1/2 cup blueberries
  • 1-2 tbsp powdered sugar
  • maple syrup as much as you want!

Instructions

  • Grease a 9″x13″ casserole with vegetable oil or butter. Cut up French bread into cubes and add to casserole (fill up to ~3/4).
  • In a large bowl, combine eggs, milk, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and brown sugar. Whisk mixture and mix well. Pour mixture into casserole.
  • Slice strawberries. Top casserole with strawberries and blueberries.
  • Wrap the casserole with saran wrap and refrigerate for four hours, or up to overnight.
  • Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F. Bake for 35-50 minutes. Check at the 35-minute mark, and if it is not done bake for longer.
  • Sprinkle with powdered sugar.
  • Serve with maple syrup and enjoy!

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 308kcal | Carbohydrates: 56g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 1g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 112mg | Sodium: 322mg | Potassium: 237mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 27g | Vitamin A: 204IU | Vitamin C: 8mg | Calcium: 117mg | Iron: 3mg
Did you make this recipe?Take a pic and tag me at @joyous.apron, or hashtag #joyousapron on Instagram!

Similar Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




230 Comments

  1. How many loaves of french bread does this require? 1? not sure how many cups 1 loaf of bread makes.. Thanks!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I would say 1-2 loaves!

  2. What to serve with this lovely dish.
    ?

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I love it with some bacon or breakfast sausage on the side! 🙂

  3. 5 stars
    This recipe is amazing! I made it for a church potluck and everyone loved it!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      That’s wonderful, Marcia! So glad to hear that!

  4. 5 stars
    Made this for Easter brunch today, whole family of adults loved it! Served it with syrup, more berries, sausages and a skillet mix.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Yum! Sounds like a delicious spread! Thanks for sharing, Sue!

  5. 5 stars
    I used 2 baquettes for this delish recipe and frozen mixed berries – Definitely a crowd pleaser and because I got it ready the night before, it was no fuss to bake it in the morning. My company raved over it – I will definitely make it again.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      That’s wonderful, Debbie! Love hearing that everyone loved it! Thanks for letting me know how it went 🙂

    2. 5 stars
      I also made it for Easter brunch and it was a huge hit!! Actually making it again now! I

    3. Joyous Apron says:

      Glad it was a hit! 🙂 Enjoy!

  6. 4 stars
    Great recipe, I did homemade French bread (a little less than 1 medium loaf filled my casserole dish) and tore the pieces. I used frozen mixed berries instead of fresh. I also added little tsp-sized dollops of cream cheese throughout.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Love the cream cheese idea! Yum!

  7. 5 stars
    I found this recipe a few years ago, I make every Christmas morning! I use sweet cream coffee creamer instead of milk.Super yummy!!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I love that this has become a regular on your holiday menu, Brooke! Thanks for sharing! 🙂

  8. Looking to make this this weekend! Just confirming- you bake it with the fruit on it? Thanks!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Yes! Bake it with the fruit on it! If you prefer to add the fruit later, that’s ok too. Let me know how you like it!

  9. Looking to make this as a freezer meal. How would that work? Would I still fully bake it 35-50 minutes before freezing, then thaw and warm? Or freeze it before baking, and then once it’s thawed, bake it then? Very excited to try it!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I have baked it, let it cool completely, then freeze, and thaw and warm. It was very good! I would recommend that!

  10. Could use some more direction on how to tell when it is done. I cut the recipe in half and baked in a 9” round cake pan. After 35 minutes the top was golden and crispy and the inside seemed excessively soggy. I would help to know how moist the inside should be and what is considered “done” for the inside.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Stick a toothpick into the middle of the casserole and if it comes out clean it should be done then. I find that oven temperature can vary significantly, so I would return it to the oven and bake for longer if it is still soggy. Hope that helps!

  11. Stephanie says:

    Do you bake this covered? I’m curious if it dries out uncovered

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      It shouldn’t and the top will be slightly crusty (which is expected), but if you prefer to bake it covered you can, although you might have to cook it for longer if it’s still soggy in the middle at the end. Another option is to cover it halfway through if you find that the top is browning more than you would prefer.

  12. 5 stars
    So made this for Christmas Eve brunch. My granddaughter’s fiancé asked me to make it for him tomorrow morning before he does Some work on my yard tomorrow . Big hit for my whole family!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      That’s wonderful! Love hearing that your whole family enjoyed it!

  13. When using frozen berries, how can I make sure they don’t add more liquid? Do they need to be thawed first and does that make them soggy? Also, has anyone cooked it in a convection oven?

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      You can bring the berries to a defrost and then dap it dry with a paper towel if you’d like, but I don’t think it’s necessary. And the recipe should work the same in the convection oven!

  14. 5 stars
    This is a new family favorite for us. My family has requested it two weekends in a row now and it came out perfect both times.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Yay! Happy to hear you all liked it so much!

  15. Maryeileen says:

    5 stars
    Yummy! I halved the recipe for an 8×8 pan. I used less than one loaf of French bread that had gotten stale and dry. I used blackberries that I cut in half, and blueberries. I warmed maple syrup in the microwave before serving and it was delicious. Hubby and I didn’t think the powdered sugar was necessary so I didn’t use it.I will definitely be making this again!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Thank you so much for sharing your modifications! That’s always super helpful! I’m so glad you and your husband enjoyed this french toast casserole.

    2. I am looking forward to making this for my family for the first time! Am I able to use Brioche bread instead of French by chance? Thank you!

    3. Joyous Apron says:

      Yes that should be fine!

  16. Tatum Pond says:

    Could you make this using gluten free bread?

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I have not tried that but I imagine that should be fine! Please share how it goes!

  17. Have you even prepped this 24 hours in advanced? Trying to find time to make it for Christmas.

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      That should be fine!

  18. Wendi Anderson says:

    can i put this in the crockpot the night before? I’m wanting to make it for Christmas morning!

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      I have not tried it in the crockpot but I highly recommend the oven so that you get a bit of texture on top!

  19. Do you bring to room temp before baking?

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      You do not have to!

  20. Can you use regular sliced bread?

    1. Joyous Apron says:

      Yes! That would be fine!