• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Sweet Peas and Saffron

meal prep recipes for busy people

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
  • Home
  • All Recipes
    • Meal Type
      • Appetizers
      • Breakfast
      • Desserts
      • Drinks
      • Lunch
      • Salad
      • Sides
      • Soups & Stews
    • Method
      • Air Fryer
      • Grill
      • Instant Pot
      • One Pot Meals
      • Oven
      • Slow Cooker
    • Diet
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten Free
      • Low Carb
      • Nut Free
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Main Ingredient
      • Beans
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Eggs
      • Lentils
      • Pork
      • Seafood
    • Breakfast
    • Lunch
    • Dinner
    • Meal Prep
  • Meal Prep
    • How to Meal Prep
    • Vegetarian
    • Chicken
    • Beef
    • Breakfast
  • Instant Pot
    • Instant Pot 101
    • Chicken
    • Side Dishes
    • Vegetarian
  • Dinner
    • 30 Minutes
    • One Pot Meals
    • Salad
    • Soups & Stews
    • Casseroles
    • Instant Pot
    • Slow Cooker
  • Freezer
    • Vegetarian
    • Chicken
    • Casserole
    • Crockpot Freezer Meals
    • Chicken Marinades
    • Freezer Meal Do's & Don'ts
  • Shop
  • Start Here
    • Start Here
    • Denise Bustard of Sweet Peas & Saffron
    • Contact
go to homepage
Homepage link
  • All Recipes
  • Meal Prep
  • Instant Pot
  • Dinner
  • Freezer
  • Shop
  • Start Here
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • YouTube
  • ×

    Blueberry Overnight French Toast Bake

    September 29, 2020 by Denise Bustard 4 Comments

    Home / Recipes / Casserole / Blueberry Overnight French Toast Bake

    Jump to Recipe

    Soft and custardy on the inside with a crunchy oat topping, this blueberry overnight french toast bake makes brunch for a crowd! Prep it the night before so that the bread absorbs all the flavors; the next morning, simply pop it into the oven and bake it up.

    As a non-morning person, I'm all about the brunch recipes that can be (mostly) made the night before. While we love a savory overnight breakfast casserole, sometimes a sweet option is just what the doctor ordered!

    Blueberry Overnight French Toast Bake in a casserole dish

    Just like it's name suggests, this overnight french toast bake can be assembled the night before. In fact- it's better when done this way, because the bread has time to properly absorb the liquids, infusing with cinnamon, nutmeg and vanilla flavors throughout. This results in a more flavorful french toast casserole with that perfect custardy texture.

    Reasons you’ll ♡ this overnight french toast bake

    • you do the bulk of the work the night before- in the morning, simply pop it into the oven!
    • the textures are so good- soft on the inside, but with a crunchy oat topping
    • you can customize it with different flavors

    Don't forget to pin this post to save it for later!

    bread and blueberries in a baking dish for the Blueberry Overnight French Toast casserole

    What is french toast casserole?

    It is all the same flavors as traditional french toast, prepared slightly differently. We simply cut a loaf of bread into cubes and soak it with an egg/milk mixture overnight in a casserole dish. This recipe has bit of maple syrup to sweeten it slightly, some vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg to give it a nice flavor, and frozen blueberries scattered all over it.

    After pouring the liquid mixture over it, we cover the overnight french toast with plastic wrap and refrigerate it overnight. The bread infuses with the spices and absorbs the egg mixture, and is ready to bake up in the morning.

    Turning french toast into a casserole makes this so much more hands off and means that no one has to stand over the stove flipping the toast. That way you can be free to visit with your guests, or get some other things done while the casserole bakes up.

    Pick the right bread

    Opt for a sturdy loaf of bread that is not too 'squishy'. If the bread is too soft, the casserole could end up soggy; we want the bread to be able to absorb the eggs and milk to produce a custard-like texture.

    Great choices include

    • sourdough *my personal favorite 
    • french bread
    • challah
    • brioche

    pouring milk onto the overnight blueberry french toast

    Prepping the casserole

    Bread

    Stale bread works great for this casserole as it really holds its shape while soaking in the custard; consider buying your bread a day or two early. Cut the loaf into 1 inch cubes; you can also tear into rough, craggy pieces using your hands. Leave the crust on the bread; this adds color and added texture to the casserole.

    Custard

    Beat together eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and maple syrup until completely combined. I've used 1% milk to keep this a little bit lighter, but for an even richer casserole, you could replace half the milk with half and half. If you are dairy-free, almond milk should work just fine.

    Crunchy oat topping

    To add crunchy texture to the top of the casserole, this oat topping does the trick. Stir together melted butter, maple syrup, cinnamon, rolled oats and a pinch of salt.

    I do not recommend adding the oat topping the night before, as this will cause it to be soggy.

    Assembly

    Spray a 9 x 13 inch casserole dish with oil, then scatter half the bread cubes over. Scatter half of the blueberries, then repeat. Pour the egg mixture evenly over the casserole. Cover and refrigerate overnight.

    The next morning, top with the oat topping, then you're ready to bake!

    a scoop of the overnight french toast recipe on a plate with a fork

    Flavor variations

    • add a bit of lemon zest to compliment the blueberries
    • add half a block of cream cheese cut into small cubes and scattered through the casserole
    • swap the blueberries for any berry: strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries, you name it, they'd all be great!
    • swap the blueberries for chopped apple: I recommend 2 peeled and chopped apples
    • add some pecans, almonds or walnuts
    • swap the vanilla extract for almond extract (you'll want to reduce it by half as almond extract can have a very strong taste!)

    Meal prep/storage

    This recipe can be stored in the fridge for a few days, though it's important to know that the crunchy oat streusel will lose it's texture. Here's how to store it:

    • fridge- portion out cooled casserole into meal prep containers, or cover the casserole dish well. Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
    • reheat- heat in the microwave or (best) in a covered dish in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through
    • freezer- portion out into meal prep containers or wrap individual portions with plastic wrap and place in a larger container. Freeze for up to 1 month.
    • thaw- thaw in the fridge overnight before reheating.

    pouring maple syrup onto the blueberry overnight french toast bake

    More brunch recipes:

    • Overnight Breakfast Casserole with Sweet Potatoes & Bacon
    • Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
    • Peach Baked Oatmeal Recipe
    • Crispy Buttermilk Waffles
    • Crockpot Breakfast Casserole
    • Herb & Zucchini Egg Bake
    Close up shot of syrup drizzled over blueberry french toast bake on white plate
    Print Recipe
    5 from 3 votes

    Blueberry Overnight French Toast Bake

    Course: Breakfast
    Cuisine: American
    Calories: 425kcal
    Author: Denise Bustard
    Servings: 8
    Soft and custardy on the inside with a crunchy oat topping, this blueberry overnight french toast bake makes brunch for a crowd! Prep it the night before so that the bread absorbs all the flavors; the next morning, simply pop it into the oven and bake it up.
    Prep Time20 mins
    Cook Time1 hr
    Total Time1 hr 20 mins

    Ingredients

    • 1 loaf french bread cut into 1 inch cubes (roughly 4-6 cups; see note 1)
    • 10 eggs
    • 2 cups milk see note 2
    • 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
    • ½ teaspoon cinnamon
    • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
    • ½ cup maple syrup
    • 2 cups blueberries (fresh or frozen)

    Crunchy Oat Topping

    • 2 tablespoons butter melted
    • 3 tablespoons maple syrup
    • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
    • 1 cup rolled oats
    • pinch salt

    Instructions

    • Grease a large baking dish (8 x 13 or equivalent) with butter or spray oil. Scatter half the bread cubes, then half the blueberries. Repeat with a second layer.
    • In a large bowl, beat the eggs. Add the milk, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg and maple syrup and mix until combined. Pour evenly over the bread cubes.
    • Cover the casserole with plastic and store in the fridge overnight.
    • The next morning, stir together the crumble topping ingredients. Scatter evenly over the top of the casserole.
    • Heat the oven to 350°F. Bake the casserole (uncovered) for 45 minutes - 1 hour. Start checking at 45 minutes by inserting a knife in the middle of the casserole. If liquid oozes around the knife, keep baking.
    • Allow the casserole to cool for 10 minutes before serving with maple syrup and extra blueberries.

    Notes

    1- choose a sturdy and crusty bread like sourdough, challah, french bread or brioche; you can cut the bread earlier in the day and let it dry out to improve absorption of the egg mixture.
    2- for a richer casserole, replace half the milk with half and half
    Storage
    Cool completely, then store in an air tight container in the fridge. You could portion out in meal prep containers or leave it in the casserole dish with a cover.
    Refrigerate for up to 4 days.
    Reheat
    Heat in the microwave or (best) in a covered dish in the oven at 350°F for 10-15 minutes, or until warmed through
    Oat topping
    Do not add the crunchy oat topping until just before placing the casserole into the oven; otherwise it will absorb the liquids and not be crunchy.
    Variations:
    • add lemon zest 
    • add half a block of cream cheese cut into small cubes 
    • swap the blueberries for any berry: strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, cherries
    • swap the blueberries for chopped apple: I recommend 2 peeled and chopped apples
    • add pecans, almonds or walnuts
    • swap the vanilla extract for almond extract (you’ll want to reduce it by half as almond extract can have a very strong taste!)

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1/8 of batch | Calories: 425kcal | Carbohydrates: 62g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 11g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Cholesterol: 218mg | Sodium: 389mg | Potassium: 347mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 25g | Vitamin A: 505IU | Vitamin C: 3.5mg | Calcium: 162mg | Iron: 3.3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @SweetPeaSaffron or tag #sweetpeasandsaffron

     

    About Denise Bustard

    Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more. read more

    Previous Post: « Instant Pot Vegetable Beef Soup
    Next Post: Instant Pot Egg Bites »

    Primary Sidebar

    https://sweetpeasandsaffron.com/about

    Hi, I'm Denise

    Meal prep took me from feeling constantly stressed out about meals to cool, collected and in control. I want to share this amazing and transformational habit with you, so you can feel in control, too!

    Read more about it here!

    POPULAR

    overhead shot of 7 easy stir fry sauces on gray background

    7 Easy Stir Fry Sauce Recipes

    freezer bags labeled and filled with chicken and seven different chicken marinades

    7 Chicken Marinade Recipes You Can Freeze

    overhead shot of sweet potatoes lined up with text showing number of minutes to cook each

    PERFECT Instant Pot Sweet Potatoes

    overhead shot of blue mason jar filled with crispy chickpeas

    ULTRA Crispy Air Fryer Chickpeas

    pile or air fryer chicken breasts with one sliced

    20 Minute Air Fryer Chicken Breast

    collage image that says 33 healthy lunch ideas for work

    33 Healthy Lunch Ideas For Work

    FREE EMAIL COURSE

    Meal Prep Quick Start Guide

    Tips & strategies to get you prepping...fast!

    In Season

    overhead view of spiralized pasta with egg in bowl

    Spiralized Pasta with Egg and Asparagus

    fork taking a bite out of the lemon pepper salmon

    Lemon Pepper Salmon Sheet Pan

    overhead shot of farro arugula salad with a soft boiled egg in glass meal prep container

    Farro Arugula Salad (Meal Prep)

    Close up shot of multiple healthy rhubarb muffins

    Healthy Rhubarb Muffins

    Pile of sauteed green beans with garlic butter on gray plate

    Sautéed Green Beans with Garlic Butter

    close up shot of a bowl of instant pot carrots with honey glaze

    Instant Pot Carrots with Honey Glaze

    Footer

    logos

    · Copyright © 2012 - 2020 Sweet Peas & Saffron · Nutritional Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Comment and Copyright Policy | Implemented by WPopt