Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole With Challah Bread
In this super easy Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole, slices of challah bread French toast are filled with pockets of blueberry jam. Fresh blueberries are added right at the end so that the blueberries burst right in your mouth.
Servings: 6
Calories: 436kcal
Ingredients
- ½ tablespoon butter
- 6 large eggs
- 1½ cups whole milk
- ½ teaspoon vanilla
- 2 tbsps maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- 1 loaf challah bread, about 8 slices
- 8 tbsps blueberry jam (½ cup)
- 1 cup fresh blueberries
- ½ tablespoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon
- powdered sugar optional
- whipped cream optional
Instructions
- Butter a 9x9 square casserole dish.
- Combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, maple syrup, and salt in a separate large shallow baking dish.
- Slice the challah bread into pieces about 1 inch thick. Then cut a small slit in the top of each slice of challah bread so that it looks like a hot dog bun. Add 1 tablespoon of blueberry jam inside each slice of challah bread.
- Place each slice flat in the baking dish with the egg mixture. Flip over after 1 minute, and remove after 1 more minute. Then place in the prepared square baking dish standing upright and tilted slightly at an angle.
- Once all the bread has soaked in the mixture and been placed in the baking dish, pour the remaining egg yolk mixture over the top. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
- Preheat the oven to 350℉.
- Bake the French toast casserole for 35 minutes. In a small bowl combine the fresh blueberries, granulated sugar, and cinnamon. Remove the casserole and add the blueberries on top.
- Bake for an additional 15 minutes until the top is golden brown. Cool slightly and top with powdered sugar and whipped cream (optional).
Notes
- Blueberry Jam: Filling the slices with blueberry jam takes this dish over the top. However, it does make it extra sweet. So if you prefer a less sweet French toast casserole, skip this step. You will still be topping the casserole with fresh blueberries towards the end of the recipe for plenty of blueberry flavor.
- Challah Bread vs. Brioche: If you're using brioche or any bread softer than challah bread (which is fairly soft to begin with), do not let it sit in the egg mixture. Only dip it in the egg mixture for 1 second, then place it in the casserole dish. If brioche sits in the egg mixture for 1 minute it will start to fall apart.
- Same Day vs. Overnight: While there are benefits to letting this sit overnight, you can bake it the same day if you're in a pinch. Keep on eye on the timing and pull it out before the bread gets too toasty on the top.
- Letting it sit overnight does help the flavors to meld and the bread to soak longer, which will create a softer texture but it is not strictly necessary. Setting everything up the night before to place in the oven the morning of can also really help to streamline a morning.
- Fresh Blueberries:
- Washing the blueberries helps the cinnamon sugar to stick to the blueberries.
- Adding the blueberries 15 minutes before the casserole is done allows the blueberries to warm through, but not overbake and shrivel. They will become almost like jam and burst in your mouth.
Nutrition
Calories: 436kcal | Carbohydrates: 65g | Protein: 16g | Fat: 12g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.1g | Cholesterol: 234mg | Sodium: 495mg | Potassium: 297mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 23g | Vitamin A: 572IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 187mg | Iron: 3mg
