 Blueberry and Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole! – With the easiest homemade blueberry sauce ever!
We love this brunch casserole and so do our guests! Â You make it the night before and just pop it in the oven in the morning.
If I was a blueberry…this is how I’d like to be remembered :).
I’ve been thinking about this recipe for some time and I was saving it for special.  Special is here!   It’s the first dry day in like forever in Seattle and I’m feeling all carby and stuff.  I’m not sure what that means, but if carby is a feeling…I’m having it.  These particular carbs come with fruit…it’s all about balance ya know.
How to make delicious Blueberry and Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole!
First, the bread. Â I used a loaf of the stuff they bake up at your local grocery store. Â Cheap and cheerful! Â But you can sub with brioche or texas toast type if ya wanna get fancy. Â Anything that you can cut into big chunks. Â If you can find day old bread, even better. Â Or just leave it out overnight if you have the time.
What would I serve with this Blueberry French Toast casserole?
- Mimosas….kinda goes without saying…
- crisp bacon
- sausage
- fruit platter
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TIP: Â Freeze your cream cheese for 15 minutes before cutting into cubes. Â You will be glad you did, cuts so much easier!
How to make our Easy blueberry sauce:
Water, sugar, cornstarch and blueberries. Â Thats it! Â Whisk it up in a sauce pan until it’s simmers and done. Â It makes a big batch because who wants to run out of syrup?
Can I make the blueberry sauce in advance?
Yes! Â Simply cool it to room temp and store in the refrigerator. Â You can make this up to 3 days in advance.
Here’s a video to show you how we made this delicious Blueberry French Toast Casserole with Fresh Blueberry Sauce!
Tips to make this Blueberry French Toast Casserole with Fresh Blueberry Sauce:
- Â The egg and bread has to sit at least 2 hours or overnight. Â Can be made up to 2 days in advance.
- Freeze the cream cheese for 15 minutes to make cutting into cubes much easier.
- Feeds 8-10 people.
- Comes with a blueberry sauce recipe that takes only 10 minutes, is super simple and makes enough to out last the last bite of this casserole …thats always a problem with sauce isn’t it? Â Never enough. Â But I got ya covered on this one!
- We used fresh blueberries, but frozen is okay.  (If using frozen, just toss them in 2 tablespoons of flour,  so they don’t bleed all over  your pretty little casserole.  After tossing them in the flour, shake off the excess).  But fresh is best for this recipe.
- We sprinkled it with raw sugar so the top was all crunchy and stuff…yum.
To Brunch and Blueberries!
Clink!
Kathi
If your feeling like a savory brunch casserole…try our Easy Breakfast Casserole. Â Made with sausage, egg, cheese and frozen hash brown cubes. Â Who knew there was such good stuff in the frozen food aisle!
Check out all of our Breakfast and Brunch Recipes HERE!
What do you think about this recipe? Have questions? Comment below! Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, and connect with us on Instagram and tag your @Laughingspatula recipes with #laughingspatula, while you’re at it…We love to see your pics!Â
Blueberry and Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole
Ingredients
For Casserole
- 1 large loaf french bread - about 8 cups day old is best
- 8 eggs
- 2 1/2 cups half and half
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup fresh blueberries or frozen blueberries that have been tossed in 1 tablespoon of flour to keep them from bleeding
- 1 8 oz package cream cheese, light or regular cubed. (for easier cutting put in freezer for 15 minutes)
- 1/4 cup raw sugar for sprinkling on top optional
Blueberry Sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 cups blueberries
Instructions
- Butter a 9 x 13 casserole dish.
- Cut french bread into 2 inch cubes and set aside.
- In large bowl, combine eggs, half and half, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla and salt. Whisk until completely mixed.
- Put one half of bread cubes in prepared dish.
- Top with half cream cheese cubes and half cup of blueberries.
- Add remaining bread cubes and top with remaining cream cheese and additional half cup of blueberries.
- Pour egg mixture over bread cubes. Pressing mixture down so completely soaked by egg mixture.
- Cover with plastic wrap and store in refrigerator for at least 2 hours or up to 48 hours.
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
- Remove plastic wrap and sprinkle casserole with raw sugar.
- Cover casserole with foil and bake for 30 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake an additional 20-30 minutes or until center is firm and bread is slightly brown on top.
- Cool slightly and serve with blueberry sauce.
- Blueberry Sauce
- In small saucepan, combine sugar, water and cornstarch until simmering.
- Add blueberries and simmer for 10 minutes. Using a fork or whisk, slightly break up the blueberries to desired consistency.
- Cool slightly before serving or store in refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Notes
- Â Make in advance. Â The egg and bread has to sit 2 hours or overnight. Â Can be made 2 days in advance.
- Freeze the cream cheese for 20 minutes to make cutting into cubes easier.
- Feeds 8-10 people.
- Comes with a blueberry sauce recipe that takes only 10 minutes, is super simple and makes enough to out last the last bite of this casserole ...thats always a problem with sauce isn't it? Â Never enough. Â But I got ya covered on this one!
- We used fresh bluebs, but frozen is okay.  (If using frozen, just toss them in 2 tablespoons of flour,  so they don't bleed all over  your pretty little casserole.  After tossing them in the flour, shake off the excess).  But fresh is best for this recipe.
- We sprinkled it with raw sugar so the top was all crunchy and stuff...yum.
Nutrition
Could this soak Friday-Sunday morning? Trying to make ahead for Easter.
Hi Keisha – I have not tried it but I think it would be fine. Maybe you could assemble on Friday and pour the egg mixture over it on Saturday? Again, sure it would be okay but I haven’t tried it so makes me unable to recommend.
Can whole milk be substituted for half and half or heavy cream?
Hi Merrilyn – I can’t recommend it because I havn’t tried it. My concern is it wouldn’t thicken up properly and might make the bread mushy.
Is it possible to make a double batch in the same pan if the container is deep enough or would you suggest using 2 pans?
Hi Chris – two pans. I would be concerned that the middle might not get all the way cooked through and be doughy.
I bought the ingredients to make over the Christmas holiday but keep forgetting to prep the night before. Can it soak for less time than the minimum 3 hours you recommended? What do you think would be different?
The egg wouldn’t have time to soak into the bread but you could probably give it a try without too much harm. Could be dry or the egg could bake on the bottom. Can’t recommend since I haven’t tried it.
I gave it an hour and a half and we couldn’t wait any more! I don’t know how it would have been after 3 hours since this was our first time with the recipe, but it was absolutely delicious! Everyone loved it and it looked beautiful. I did stir it before putting it in the oven to try to compensate for the shorter time. It was moist and evenly cooked. Will definitely make this again! Thanks!
And thank you, Kathi, for your quick response! I appreciate it. Merry Christmas!
Thank you for the update! So glad you loved it and it worked!
Making this tomorrow for Easter breakfast – using regular bread though- hope it’s still just as good!
It should be fine…might be a little bit softer is all and not the definition of the big chunks. No worries…should be great!
This would make for a perfect easter morning breakfast. I never have made a baked french toast casserole before – but it is something I must try!
Oh, yes…..this would be perfect for a large brunch party. I love those blueberries! I am inspired…..pinned it! 🙂
Enjoy your moment Sarah :)….Thanks for the note!
That picture of your casserole makes me want to eat it off my screen! I think we will have this on the weekend, to celebrate the official end of winter 🙂
Thank you Jolina! Really appreciate your comment! Lovin’ those pour shots today 🙂
yum! french toast are one of my favourite breakfast during the week end and this casserole looks delicious!
Thank you! Hoping you get a chance to try it!
WOW I love how you incorporated cream cheese to this already sinfully YUMMY recipe! Genius!
Thanks Mahy! Couple more little calories won’t hurt 🙂
I would love to take this to a brunch, but I’d love it more if I could eat it without sharing!
Thank you for the nice comment Renee!
This looks delicious and would be perfect at my next brunch!!
Thanks Sam! Hope you get a chance to try it!
Delicious! I made this for Christmas breakfast and everyone loved it. The casserole itself wasn’t too sweet so the blueberry sauce combination was perfection. I followed the directions as they are and didn’t change anything besides adding a little bit of sugar to my frozen blueberries before tossing them in the flour. Thanks for an easy and great recipe!
Thats wonderful! So glad you liked it…thank you so much for the nice note and 5 stars! Woot! Kathi