Mixed Berry French Toast Casserole

Whether you’re feeding a crowd for a holiday or just need a delicious breakfast recipe for the weekend, you’re going to love this make ahead Mixed Berry French toast casserole! Prepared with French bread and topped with mixed berries, this sweet treat tastes more like a dessert than a breakfast dish. And since you can easily prepare it in advance and keep it stored in the freezer, it’s perfect for those days when you need a delicious breakfast or brunch idea in a snap.

Having brunch dishes ready to go in the freezer makes it so easy to host. If you’re looking for other freezer brunch ideas, I would suggest our Shakshuka, Frittata, and Hash Brown Casserole.

Make Ahead Mixed Berry French Toast Casserole Recipe

Ingredients:

• 6 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 loaf French bread, cubed
• 2 cups frozen mixed berries

Assembly Instructions:

1. Cut the French bread into one-inch cubes and arrange them in an even layer in a 9×13 foil tray or casserole dish.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. Pour the egg mixture over the top of the bread until all the pieces are fully coated.
3. Sprinkle the mixed berries over the top of the casserole, then cover with two layers of aluminum foil.
4. Place the dish in the freezer for up to three months until you’re ready to start cooking.

Cooking instructions: 

1. When you’re ready to start baking the casserole, transfer the dish to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.
2. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees and bake with the cover on for 45 to 60 minutes, until the center of the casserole is set.
3. Serve with syrup, powdered sugar, and whipped cream for topping.

What is the Best Bread for French Toast Casserole?

This breakfast casserole recipe uses French bread, but any thick and sturdy bread will work perfectly for preparing your own French toast bake at home. Other good options for preparing your make ahead casserole include:

• Brioche
• Challah
• Sourdough
• Croissants 
• Italian bread

French Toast Bake Tips and Tricks

Everyone will love this sweet breakfast casserole! And since it’s so easy to make, it’s going to become your go-to recipe for breakfast and brunch. With the help of these simple tips and tricks, you’ll be well on your way to becoming a French toast pro before you even start baking.

• Give the bread plenty of time to soak. This casserole is designed to be made in advance, which means you’ll need to allow time for the bread to soak in the custard before you start baking. If you don’t want to freeze your casserole before baking, it’s a good idea to allow the bread to soak in the egg mixture for at least 12 hours before you put the pan in the oven.
• Try different toppings. In addition to mixed berries, there are several other ingredients you can use to top your French toast! Try preparing the casserole with apple slices, cherry pie filling, chopped pecans, pineapple tidbits, crumbled sausage, banana slices, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, or chopped bacon.
• Adjust the bake time. The amount of time your casserole takes to cook will vary depending on the thickness of your bread cubes and the type of bread you use. Check the casserole after cooking for 45 minutes. If the center of the dish is still jiggly, return the pan to the oven to continue cooking until the entire casserole is set.
• Start with stale bread. While fresh bread tastes amazing on its own, it doesn’t make the best French toast. That’s because fresh bread tends to become soggy when it starts to soak up the custard. If you plan on preparing this breakfast bake, try purchasing your bread a few days before you freeze it. That will give the bread time to toughen up and become stale. You can also cut the bread into cubes and allow it to sit out on the counter for a few hours before you put the casserole together.

Can I Store French Toast Casserole in the Refrigerator?

In addition to making your casserole and storing it in the freezer until you’re ready to start baking, you can also keep the casserole refrigerated. Prepare the casserole as instructed in the recipe, then place the covered dish in the fridge. You can keep it refrigerated for up to 5 days before you bake the dish.

How Do I Store Leftover French Toast Bake?

When you’re finished enjoying your breakfast bake, it should be stored in the refrigerator until you’re ready to eat your leftovers again. Cover the dish with plastic wrap or transfer the leftovers to an airtight container and keep them refrigerated. The leftovers will stay good for up to four days.

You can also freeze the baked casserole for long-term storage. Allow the dish to cool completely, then wrap tightly with foil or plastic wrap. The baked casserole will stay good in the freezer for up to 3 months.

When you’re ready to reheat the leftovers, transfer the frozen casserole to the refrigerator to thaw overnight. After that, your leftovers can be reheated in the microwave or in a 350 degree oven until warmed through.

Print

Mixed Berry French Toast Casserole

Prep Time

15 mins

Cook Time

45 mins

Total Time

1 hr

 

Course: Breakfast

Servings: 8

Calories: 385 kcal

Ingredients

• 6 large eggs
• 1 3/4 cups heavy cream
• 1 tsp. sugar
• 1 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1 loaf French bread cubed
• 2 cups mixed berries frozen

Instructions

Assembly Instructions:

1. Cut the French bread into one-inch cubes and arrange them in an even layer in a 9×13 foil tray or casserole dish.
2. In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, cream, sugar, cinnamon, vanilla extract, and salt. Pour the egg mixture over the top of the bread until all the pieces are fully coated.
3. Sprinkle the mixed berries over the top of the casserole, then cover with two layers of aluminum foil.
4. Place the dish in the freezer for up to three months until you’re ready to start cooking.

Cooking instructions:

1. When you’re ready to start baking the casserole, transfer the dish to the refrigerator to thaw overnight.

2. Preheat the oven to 350° and bake covered for 45 to 60 minutes, until the center of the casserole is set.

3. If desired, serve with syrup, powdered sugar, and whipped cream for topping.