Blueberry Cream Cheese French Toast (Printable)

Golden baked casserole with layers of creamy cheese, sweet blueberries, and custard-soaked bread. Ideal for weekend brunch.

# What You'll Need:

→ Bread & Dairy

01 - 1 loaf (about 1 lb) French bread or brioche, cut into 1-inch cubes
02 - 8 oz cream cheese, cut into small cubes
03 - 4 large eggs
04 - 1 cup whole milk
05 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
06 - 1/4 cup granulated sugar
07 - 1 tsp vanilla extract

→ Fruit

08 - 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen blueberries

→ Streusel Topping

09 - 1/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
10 - 1/3 cup light brown sugar
11 - 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
12 - 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
13 - Pinch of salt

# Steps:

01 - Grease a 9 x 13 inch baking dish thoroughly. Spread half of the bread cubes in an even layer across the bottom of the dish.
02 - Scatter cream cheese cubes and half the blueberries evenly over the bread layer. Top with remaining bread cubes, then distribute the remaining blueberries over the surface.
03 - In a mixing bowl, whisk together eggs, milk, heavy cream, granulated sugar, and vanilla extract until fully combined and smooth.
04 - Pour the egg mixture evenly over the bread and berries. Press down gently with your hands or a spatula to ensure all bread pieces absorb the liquid. Cover the dish and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes, or overnight for optimal results.
05 - Preheat oven to 350°F.
06 - In a small bowl, combine softened butter, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, and salt. Mix with a fork until the mixture reaches a crumbly texture.
07 - Sprinkle the streusel mixture evenly over the casserole. Bake uncovered for 40 to 45 minutes until the top is golden brown and the center is set.
08 - Allow the casserole to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving. Dust with powdered sugar if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The make-ahead nature means you wake up to breakfast already done, just pop it in the oven
  • That streusel topping creates the most incredible texture contrast against the soft, creamy center
  • It adapts beautifully to whatever berries you have on hand or what looks best at the market
02 -
  • The overnight rest is not optional if you want that perfect, uniform texture throughout
  • Letting it sit for 10 minutes after baking helps the custard set so serving is cleaner and easier
03 -
  • Use really good vanilla since it shines in simple recipes like this
  • If your bread is very fresh, toast the cubes lightly for 10 minutes before assembling

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