French Toast Casserole with Cream Cheese and Blackberries
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French Toast Casserole with Cream Cheese is an easy way to prepare a classic breakfast dish that serves a large family. It’s made with simple ingredients and gives you all the flavors you love from traditional French toast in casserole form!
Why You’ll Love This Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole
Ingredient Notes
- Loaf of French bread | For best results, use a loaf of stale bread.
- Cream cheese | Use room-temperature cream cheese for easier blending.
- Sugar | Powdered sugar sweetens the plain cream cheese.
- Blackberries | Use fresh blackberries for the sweetest and juiciest results.
- Eggs | Add 6 large eggs to help bind the ingredients and bring the French toast to life.
- Half and Half | Half-and-half brings a rich creaminess to the casserole.
- Cinnamon | Use quality ground cinnamon for the best results!
- Vanilla | Vanilla extract adds depth to the creamy and sweet flavors of the overnight casserole.
- Brown Sugar | Add complexity to the sweet notes of the dish with firmly packed brown sugar, bringing notes of molasses.
How to make Cream Cheese French Toast Casserole
This Blackberry French Toast bake is perfect for weekend company or breakfast in bed for that special someone. It soaks overnight for easy baking the following day!
STEP 1 | Prep the bread
First, cut the bread into cubes with a bread knife. If the bread is still soft, place it on a baking sheet in a 350-degree oven for 8-10 minutes to dry it out before assembling the casserole.
When you are ready to assemble the casserole, lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with non-stick spray. Add half of the bread cubes to the dish, saving the rest for a later step.
STEP 2 | Mix the cream cheese mixture
Using an electric mixer, beat the softened cream cheese and confectioner’s sugar until smooth. Drop dollops of cream cheese and sugar by spoonfuls on top of the bread cubes in the baking dish.
STEP 3 | Add berries and the rest of the bread
Then, sprinkle the blackberries into the dish and top all with the reserved bread cubes.
STEP 4 | Pour egg mixture and chill overnight
In a separate bowl, whisk together the eggs, half-and-half, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Pour the egg mixture over the casserole, then evenly sprinkle the brown sugar over the top.
Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
STEP 5 | Bake the next morning
Preheat the oven to 350° F and remove the casserole from the fridge, removing the plastic wrap. Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes or until the top is golden brown and the mixture is set. Finally, let it rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
STEP 6 | Add toppings and enjoy!
I like to serve the French toast casserole warm from the oven with fresh blackberries, powdered sugar, and real maple syrup. Enjoy!
Tips from the Home Chef’s Kitchen
Breakfast casseroles are the ultimate life hack for busy mornings and big families. Not to mention, they are always delicious!
For more easy morning casserole recipes, try my Sausage Egg Breakfast Casserole and Mexican Egg Casserole.
Variations and Substitutions
- Kind of Bread. You can use another type of bread, if preferred, as long as it is sturdy with a soft crust, like brioche and challah bread.
- Blueberry French Toast Casserole. Swap the blackberries with blueberries if you want a sweeter French toast casserole.
- More Fresh Fruit. You can replace the berries with any fruit. Try this recipe with peaches, apples, strawberries, or bananas.
- If desired, make the milk mixture with whole milk instead of half and half. However, half and half produces creamier and richer results.
Storage and Reheating Tips
- Leftover French toast casserole lasts about two days in the fridge in an airtight container. Then, reheat the recipe in the oven or microwave to enjoy it again.
- You can also freeze this recipe to store it for longer. Wrap the leftovers in aluminum foil and keep them in freezer-safe bags for up to two months in the freezer. Before reheating, let the dish thaw completely by placing it in the fridge overnight.
Frequently Asked Questions
A common mistake with French toast casserole is using regular white sandwich bread. This will definitely result in a soggy texture. On the other hand, if you used the right bread for this recipe, your casserole may have turned out soggy from letting it sit for too long or not baking it long enough.
Texas toast is a type of bread, while French toast is a dish that uses bread along with other ingredients. In fact, Texas toast is a thick and sturdy bread that is great for making French toast!
The secret to good French toast is sturdy bread with a soft crust. Some excellent toppings are brioche, challah, shokupan, and French bread. You also want to avoid loaves with thick crusts and large holes inside.
Sure! First, let the frozen berries thaw to release the excess liquid and avoid a soggy casserole.
Looking for more French Toast Recipes?
You’ve come to the right place! My Banana French Toast is great for using leftover banana bread, and these Crunchy French Toast Sticks have a cornflake crust. Or, try my irresistible Stuffed French Toast or this classic French Toast with Blueberry Syrup.
What to Serve with Cream Cheese French Toast Bake
Blackberry French Toast can be served with either fresh blackberries, a dusting of powdered sugar, or maple syrup—or choose all three! A dollop of fresh whipped cream would also be a delicious touch.
Complete your breakfast with a refreshing Tropical Fruit Salad or a bowl of Greek yogurt topped with my Homemade Buttery Honey Nut Granola Recipe.
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French Toast Casserole with Cream Cheese and Blackberries
Ingredients
- 1 14-oz. French bread loaf cut into 1-inch cubes
- 8 oz. cream cheese room temperature
- 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
- 1 cup fresh blackberries
- 6 large eggs
- 2 cups half-and-half
- 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ½ cup firmly packed brown sugar
Instructions
- Lightly coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Add half of the bread cubes to the dish and save the rest for a later step.
- Using an electric mixer, beat the cream cheese and powdered sugar until smooth. Drop the mixture by spoonfuls on top of the bread cubes in the baking dish.
- Sprinkle the blackberries into the dish and top all with the reserved bread cubes.
- In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, half and half, cinnamon, and vanilla extract. Pour the egg mixture over the casserole, then evenly sprinkle the brown sugar over the top. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
- To bake, preheat the oven to 350° F. Bake uncovered for 40-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the mixture is set. Let rest for 5 minutes before slicing.
- Serve warm with fresh blackberries, powdered sugar, and maple syrup, if desired.
Notes
- For best results, use stale bread. If the bread is still soft, cut it into cubes and place on a baking sheet in a 350-degree oven for 8-10 minutes to dry it out before assembling the casserole.
Nutrition
Life Love and Good Food does not claim to be a registered dietician or nutritionist. Nutritional information shared on this site is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
