Mothers Day Brunch Blueberry Toast (Printable Version)

A baked French toast casserole bursting with blueberries and vanilla, ideal for a festive brunch.

# Ingredient List:

→ Bread Base

01 - 1 loaf brioche or challah bread (about 1 pound), cut into 1-inch cubes
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 dish. Scatter half the blueberries over the bread. Repeat with the remaining bread and blueberries.
03 - In a large bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, cream, granulated sugar, vanilla extract, cinnamon, and salt until smooth.
04 - Pour the custard evenly over the bread and blueberries, pressing gently to ensure all bread is saturated.
05 - Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or overnight for optimal results.
06 - Preheat the oven to 350°F.
07 - In a small bowl, mix melted butter, brown sugar, cinnamon, and nuts if using. Sprinkle evenly over the casserole.
08 - Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes, until puffed and golden brown. If browning too quickly, tent loosely with foil.
09 - Let stand for 10 minutes. Dust with powdered sugar before serving if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • You can prep it the night before, which means sleeping in while your dish gets cozy in the fridge.
  • It feeds a crowd without requiring you to stand at the stove flipping individual pieces of toast.
  • Those pockets of warm blueberries burst with natural sweetness, so you need less syrup.
02 -
  • Do not skip the refrigeration step—even thirty minutes makes the difference between bread soup and proper French toast casserole, as the bread needs time to truly absorb the custard.
  • Frozen blueberries work just as well as fresh and actually distribute their juice more evenly throughout the dish as it bakes.
03 -
  • Cut your bread into even one-inch cubes so every piece cooks at the same rate and no parts stay crunchy while others fall apart.
  • If you notice the top browning too quickly while the center still jiggles significantly, tent it loosely with foil for the final ten minutes of baking.
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