Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole

Juicy berries, crunchy walnuts plus yummy cream cheese, and warmed-up maple syrup make this Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole a fantastic breakfast or brunch dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any day of the year. Can easily be doubled to accommodate a crowd!

It is an established fact that my family loves French Toast (or eggy bread as my British hubby would say) for breakfast and especially for brunch. I have a few versions of it including 3 in this blog!

We surely cannot get enough of it. I have tried many variations of this delicious American-style stuffed French toast but the blueberry version is one of our favorites.

Blueberry French Toast

It is just so wonderful to bite into this warm overnight-soaked baked bread and then into your mouth suddenly burst delicious juices from the berries!

The crunch from pecans or walnuts is an added delight to your tastebuds, too!

But that’s not all – the almost melted cream cheese provides a delightful contrast of texture and flavor which makes your palate truly dance with joy! 

As if that’s not enough, it’s made even better by drizzling your freshly baked french toast with warmed-up pure Maple syrup and then helping yourself with a generous dusting of powdered sugar on top to add extra sweetness and love! Aren’t you hungry yet?

Did I mention you drizzle it with some melted butter on top, too? Don’t forget that!!!

Blueberry French Toast

This version is good for about 4-6 servings. I only have a small family of 4 and to leave any guesswork every time I make it, I have finally decided to jot down my exact measurements and how I make it.

Of course, this can easily be doubled when you are serving more. Just use a 9 x 13 baking dish instead. Please enjoy!

This is perfect to make during berry season especially when blueberries are in their best and sweetest form! Pick the best quality blueberries you can find – I am an avid fan of Michigan blueberries and think they are the best.

Blueberry French Toast

I’ve done a lot of blueberry picking when I lived there for 10 years so you can imagine how many times I have made this dish before – a lot!!!

Ok, so you are probably getting so hungry at this point so let’s go on to the method of how to make this most delicious Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole!

WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS FOR OVERNIGHT BLUEBERRY FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE?To print and see full instructions check out the recipe card below!

  • Brioche or Hawaiian Sweet Rolls – I love using this instead of french bread because the end product is a soft and fluffy french toast.
  • cream cheese – buy a good quality cream cheese
  • chopped pecans or walnuts – optional if you can’t have it or don’t fancy it. It does add a lot to the casserole so if you can have it – do!
  • Blueberries – pick the best!
  • Eggs
  • Milk
  • Brown Sugar
  • Vanilla extract
  • Spices (Cinnamon, Nutmeg, ground Cloves) – add at least one of the spices or all three for some yummy hints of warm spice
  • melted Butter (to be used after baking) – anything is better with Butter, right?

To serve

Powdered sugar, for dusting
Pure maple syrup, for drizzling

HOW TO MAKE BLUEBERRY FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE? – To print and see full instructions check out the recipe card below!

Butter or grease an  8 x 8  square baking dish. Place half the bread cubes in a single layer, filling in all the gaps.

Evenly scatter the cream cheese cubes, nuts, and blueberries on top. Cover completely with the remaining bread cubes.

In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Evenly pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes.

Gently press down on the cubes with your palms to allow the top layer of bread to absorb the liquid. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.

The next day, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Meanwhile, remove the dish from the refrigerator and let sit for 20-30 minutes at room temperature. Bake the French toast covered for 20 minutes.

Take the dish out of the oven, uncover and then take the remaining blueberries and gently press them into the bread evenly spreading them all over.

Return to the oven and bake for another 18-20 minutes or until the cubes are nicely toasted and there’s no more liquid at the bottom.

Transfer the dish to a rack and drizzle the melted butter on top. Let sit for 5 minutes. Run a knife around the rim of the pan to release the French toast.

Cut into squares. Serve sprinkled with powdered sugar and warmed maple syrup drizzled on top. Enjoy this lavish breakfast or brunch dish!

Here are delicious blueberry recipes for you to try!

Blueberry Zucchini MuffinsBLUEBERRY ZUCCHINI MUFFINS

Blueberry ClafoutisBLUEBERRY CLAFOUTIS

Blueberry Ricotta Pound CakeBLUEBERRY RICOTTA POUND CAKE

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Blueberry French Toast

Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole

Manila Spoon
Juicy berries, crunchy walnuts plus yummy cream cheese and warmed up maple syrup make this Overnight Blueberry French Toast Casserole a fantastic breakfast or brunch dish for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and any day of the year. Can easily be doubled to accomodate a crowd!
4.60 from 55 votes
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 40 minutes
Overnight Chilling Time 8 hours
Course Breakfast, Brunch
Cuisine American
Servings 6 people
Calories 420 kcal

Ingredients
 

  • butter, as needed to grease baking dish
  • 1 loaf brioche or Hawaiian Sweet Rolls (about 12 oz),   sliced into 1-inch cubes
  • 1/2 block 8-ounce package cream cheese, halved then sliced into cubes
  • 1/3 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped
  • 1 cup fresh blueberries, plus an extra handful (separate for topping)
  • 4 large eggs, (5, if your egg yolks are quite small)
  • 1 cup milk
  • ¼ cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • ½ tsp ground Cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp ground  Nutmeg
  • 1 pinch ground cloves (optional)
  • 3 tbsp butter, melted (for drizzling after baking)
  • maple syrup, as needed
  • powdered sugar, as needed

Instructions
 

  • Butter or grease an  8 x 8  square baking dish. Place half the bread cubes in a single layer, filling in all the gaps.
  • Evenly scatter the cream cheese cubes, nuts, and blueberries on top. Cover completely with the remaining bread cubes.
  • In a large bowl, whisk together the eggs, milk, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. Evenly pour the egg mixture over the bread cubes. Gently press down on the cubes with your palms to allow the top layer of bread to absorb the liquid. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
  • The next day, preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C). Meanwhile, remove the dish from the refrigerator and let sit for 20-30 minutes at room temperature. Bake the French toast covered for 20 minutes.
  • Take the dish out of the oven, uncover and then take the remaining blueberries and gently press them into the bread evenly spreading them all over.
  • Return to the oven and bake for another 18-20 minutes or until the cubes are nicely toasted and there’s no more liquid at the bottom.
    Transfer the dish to a rack and drizzle the melted butter on top. Let sit for 5 minutes. Run a knife around the rim of the pan to release the French toast.
  • Cut into squares. Serve sprinkled with powdered sugar and warmed maple syrup drizzled on top. Enjoy this lavish breakfast or brunch dish!
    Blueberry French Toast

Notes

TIPS & TRICKS
This can easily be doubled when you’re serving it to a crowd. My family is small so this is right for us but I’ve doubled the recipe when company’s coming. 
If you wish to serve this with some extra blueberry sauce, find the recipe here.

Nutrition

Serving: 6gCalories: 420kcalCarbohydrates: 52gProtein: 11gFat: 19gSaturated Fat: 7gPolyunsaturated Fat: 3gMonounsaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0.2gCholesterol: 188mgSodium: 356mgPotassium: 219mgFiber: 3gSugar: 15gVitamin A: 591IUVitamin C: 2mgCalcium: 152mgIron: 3mg
Keyword blueberry bread pudding, blueberry cream cheese french toast, blueberry french toast, brioche blueberry french toast, easy blueberry french toast casserole, overnight blueberry french toast casserole, overnight french toast casserole
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
French Toast

Last updated on October 27th, 2023 at 08:21 am

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96 Comments

  1. January 12, 2014 / 4:43 am

    Hi Manila Spoon, your post made me realize I haven't had my breakfast yet. Yummy post. When are you swinging by Manila again?

    • January 17, 2014 / 6:23 pm

      Am not sure yet, hopefully soon. Thanks, January Roads. I do miss the Philippines.

  2. January 12, 2014 / 7:19 pm

    Those are fresh blueberries, yummy!
    I haven't tried baking but when I decided to, gonna use this recipe for my first piece.

    • January 17, 2014 / 6:25 pm

      Oh, you're going to love this iAn! Please enjoy!

  3. January 13, 2014 / 8:59 pm

    Abby, this french toast bake looks SO good! I love those sweet blueberries studded through it.

  4. January 17, 2014 / 6:28 pm

    Thanks, Cindy! Adding those blueberries on top was a last minute whim but am so glad I did it, it made this already yummy dish even better, for me at least. Glad you stopped by.

  5. February 17, 2014 / 8:52 pm

    Did you cover the casserole with foil the 2nd time you baked it for another 18-20 mins.?

    • February 20, 2014 / 10:51 pm

      Not anymore, Tinay 'cause you want it to brown and become a little crispy on top. Please enjoy!

  6. March 5, 2014 / 4:14 pm

    Wow!!! Wonderful….can't wait to make this one and soon.

  7. Anonymous
    June 1, 2014 / 1:31 pm

    I made this wonderful dish today. I made a few slight alterations which included: Gluten Free Brioche Bread (8 oz), Blueberry Philadelphia Cream Cheese, and reduced the eggs to 3. My family absolutely loved it. When they say, "This is going on the menu", you know you have a winning dish. Thank you for sharing new family favorite.

    • June 2, 2014 / 2:37 am

      I am so delighted to know that your family enjoyed it. Thanks for the kind feedback. Love the use of Blueberry Cream Cheese, oh yum! Have to use that next time. 🙂

    • Janr
      December 21, 2020 / 8:35 pm

      Where did you find gluten free brioche bread? I can’t seem to find it anywhere.

      • abigail
        Author
        December 21, 2020 / 10:30 pm

        I didn’t use gluten-free brioche. It is either regular brioche or Hawaiian sweet rolls. But perhaps if you google, you may find a recipe for gluten-free brioche.

    • Carol die
      January 22, 2023 / 2:32 pm

      Where did you find GF Brioche? Sounds so good

      • abigail
        Author
        January 23, 2023 / 9:18 pm

        I didn’t use a gluten-free brioche but perhaps you can find that in bakeries near you.

  8. November 9, 2014 / 11:26 pm

    This sounds amazing!! I will definitely have to try this next weekend 🙂

    • November 12, 2014 / 1:07 am

      Thanks, Nicole! I hope you enjoy it.

  9. becky
    November 13, 2014 / 2:09 pm

    I made this as well! New favorite i used chocolate cream cheese and was delicious!

    • December 7, 2014 / 7:23 pm

      I am so delighted to know that Becky. Thank you very much.

  10. December 7, 2014 / 8:19 am

    Just finished putting two casseroles for my daughter's bridal shower. Even unbaked they look and smell wonderful. I can hardly wait to pop them in the oven. Thank you!

    • December 7, 2014 / 7:24 pm

      Wonderful, Denise! I do hope you all enjoy it! Thanks for trying it out.

  11. November 24, 2015 / 2:51 am

    A perfect brunch recipe for the upcoming holidays, Abby. This New England girl loves anything with blueberries and maple syrup. And now I'm hungry!!! 🙂

  12. November 24, 2015 / 12:06 pm

    Yum!! This sounds like the perfect brunch dish, especially while we have guest staying with us over the holidays!

  13. December 7, 2015 / 5:46 pm

    I can't wait to try this out! I LOVE blueberry flavored sweets! 🙂 Thanks for this great idea!

    • December 7, 2015 / 7:35 pm

      Hope you enjoy it! Thanks for stopping by!

  14. Anonymous
    March 10, 2016 / 10:18 pm

    could you use frozen blueberry's? or would that not turn out the same

    • March 13, 2016 / 2:51 am

      I haven't tried it with frozen blueberries but I think it should be fine provided you thaw it first as it will sit on the fridge overnight so better to remove excess liquid from it before using.

  15. Joanie
    March 24, 2016 / 7:47 pm

    WOW !!!!! Awesome recipes, going to try it this Sunday ! EASTER BRUNCH !!!!!!!

  16. June 30, 2016 / 12:53 pm

    Any suggestions if we have nut allergies? Would it work with leaving them out or should there be some sort of substitution?

    • June 30, 2016 / 1:09 pm

      You may leave it out, Marti. It should be fine. Hope you like it.

  17. August 5, 2016 / 5:53 am

    Seriously it really looks delicous. Gonna let my mom make this for us.

  18. December 21, 2016 / 1:22 am

    Brioche bread seems so expensive. How is it with the Hawaiian sweet rolls ? Is it much different ??

    • December 22, 2016 / 11:30 pm

      I have used Hawaiian sweet rolls and they're perfect for this! Enjoy!!!

  19. December 27, 2016 / 5:42 pm

    What a fabulous breakfast!!! My family will love it! Happy New Year!

  20. December 30, 2016 / 8:46 pm

    Blueberry cream cheese anything is delicious! Can't wait to try this!

  21. Mae
    May 2, 2018 / 8:18 am

    Can I use strawberries instead of blueberries?

    • abigail
      Author
      June 30, 2018 / 11:05 am

      Yes, that’s fine. Choose the berries you like.

  22. January 19, 2019 / 2:57 am

    wow! it looks very yummy! thank you for this!

  23. Kristi
    February 12, 2019 / 8:34 pm

    Do you have to make it the night before?

    • abigail
      Author
      February 12, 2019 / 9:57 pm

      You can make it the same day but doing it ahead is more convenient plus the bread absorbs the custard sauce better that way.

  24. Dannii
    August 7, 2020 / 11:28 am

    5 stars
    Any breakfast with blueberries is good with me. This looks amazing.

  25. Emmeline
    August 7, 2020 / 11:33 am

    5 stars
    Such a great recipe for a weekend brunch!

  26. Beth
    August 7, 2020 / 11:58 am

    5 stars
    Yum! My family is going to love this! I can’t wait to make this for them!

  27. Traci
    August 7, 2020 / 11:59 am

    5 stars
    I could eat this overnight blueberry french toast casserole again and again! Great recipe and perfect for brunch. Thanks!

  28. Annemarie
    August 7, 2020 / 12:02 pm

    5 stars
    There is nothing like an overnight casserole for a crowd at breakfast! And I love the fresh blueberries here. We’re right in blueberry season and this is perfect. Oh, and the cream cheese? Yum.

  29. Taleen
    August 7, 2020 / 12:51 pm

    5 stars
    Everything about this looks incredible. I especially love that it’s prepared the night before!

  30. Noelle
    August 7, 2020 / 1:19 pm

    5 stars
    Yum is all I have to say to this, total hit with my family! Making again soon!

  31. Sydnie
    August 7, 2020 / 1:51 pm

    5 stars
    This looks like an amazing casserole for breakfast this weekend! Thank you!

  32. Stine Mari
    August 8, 2020 / 12:31 am

    5 stars
    Blueberry French Toast Casserole is one of my very favorite brunch dishes! I love that you can make it the day before and just bake it before breakfast. This looks really delicious!

  33. Catherine Santiago Jose
    August 8, 2020 / 12:47 am

    5 stars
    Oh my goodness, your overnight Blueberry French Toast makes my mouthwatering. It looks easy to prepare and now I am excited to try it for my kids. Yummy!

  34. Emily
    August 8, 2020 / 1:18 am

    5 stars
    Nothing beats french toast in the morning, and this casserole version makes that so easy! Love the blueberries in this too!

  35. Fred N
    August 8, 2020 / 2:56 am

    5 stars
    This blueberry French toast is so creative, and that’s one reason I love food blogging I get to learn great ideas in the kitchen. Thanks for sharing!

  36. Jayashree T.Rao
    August 8, 2020 / 5:22 am

    5 stars
    It looks awesome. The good thing is it can be made overnight. Yummy!

    • Rachel
      July 4, 2023 / 5:32 pm

      Can you make this 2 days ahead of time?

      • abigail
        Author
        July 5, 2023 / 1:35 pm

        There’s raw eggs mixed in so I personally won’t go over one night and it would totally mush the rest of the ingredients.

  37. Sarah James
    August 8, 2020 / 6:41 am

    5 stars
    Yummy, I love eggy bread. The blueberries with brioche make it a real treat, pinning for later.

  38. Maria
    August 8, 2020 / 7:38 am

    5 stars
    Wow, this looks fantastic! I love French toast but it can be messy making it individually. I love how easy it is to prep the night before and it’s perfect for entertaining for breakfast!

  39. Marta
    August 8, 2020 / 9:40 am

    5 stars
    I love making bread casseroles for breakfast. It makes the morning meal so much easier for me.

  40. Leslie
    August 8, 2020 / 11:02 am

    5 stars
    I have a great affinity for french toast with blueberries and cream cheese! YUM!

  41. Jen | Jen's Food Lab
    August 9, 2020 / 12:48 am

    Yumm! This sounds like the perfect brunch recipe to try out. I love the freshness of the blueberries too.

  42. Alexis
    August 9, 2020 / 9:05 am

    5 stars
    I made this for a special breakfast this weekend. My kids all loved it. Thank you for sharing your recipe.

  43. Ramona
    August 10, 2020 / 4:49 am

    5 stars
    This overnight blueberry french toast looks interesting and amazing! I love how you made it blueberry french toast, it gives more flavour and I love it! The pictures you took are really nice. Thank you for sharing this recipe.

  44. sapana
    August 10, 2020 / 5:09 am

    5 stars
    French toast casserole looks so decadent and absolutely delicious.

  45. Alena
    August 10, 2020 / 8:53 am

    5 stars
    This is such a decadent and delicious way to enjoy french toast! The casserole is perfect for sharing with family!

  46. Beth
    August 10, 2020 / 10:22 am

    5 stars
    I love overnight casseroles, and this one looks perfectly gooey and delicious, plus easy to put together.

  47. Lesli Schwartz
    August 11, 2020 / 12:50 pm

    5 stars
    So yum! My sister-in-law makes one that similar. I will definitely have to make this for my next brunch!

    • abigail
      Author
      August 11, 2020 / 5:21 pm

      Thanks, Lesli and hope you enjoy this as much as we do. Thanks for kindly stopping by.

  48. Sue
    August 17, 2020 / 7:32 am

    It’s in the oven now! Smells amaze and very easy to put together…stay tuned!

    • abigail
      Author
      August 17, 2020 / 10:16 am

      Thanks and hope you enjoy it! Do let us know.

  49. Alyssa
    November 9, 2020 / 7:35 am

    Can you make this more than one day ahead of time? If so how many days ahead of time can you make it with it not getting too “soggy?” Can you freeze it as well?

    • abigail
      Author
      November 9, 2020 / 6:41 pm

      I’ve never done this more than one night ahead. I think it’s best just to do it overnight or it may become too soggy. Also, remember there are milk and eggs there. Why risk making it moldy? Overnight is perfect.

  50. Monica
    April 4, 2021 / 9:16 am

    I’m baking this once again for Easter morning! It’s in the oven right now and smelling great! Everybody loves this so much! Thank you for this easy, always tasty recipe!

    • abigail
      Author
      April 4, 2021 / 12:03 pm

      Yay! So glad to know you enjoy this! We love this, too. Thanks for letting me know.

  51. Kim wright
    August 1, 2021 / 3:13 pm

    5 stars
    We love this. We make a double batch and share it with family and friends.

    • abigail
      Author
      August 1, 2021 / 8:38 pm

      Yay, so glad to know that! Thanks for letting us know!

  52. Denise B
    November 5, 2021 / 6:31 pm

    Tell me what you think about this? I have a jar of Amerena cherries that I have been really wanting to use.. what if I use them (drained) instead of blueberries, and keep everything else in the recipe the same.. would almond extract be better, or keep the vanilla?
    I love blueberries and I definitely want to try it the way you have it but I have the cherries on hand and they need to get used up.. thanks for your recipe!

    • abigail
      Author
      November 6, 2021 / 10:08 am

      Denise, I’ve actually made this with cherries although the dried kind so I cannot see why it won’t work (I’ve made this with cranberries, too!). I haven’t used almond extract so I cannot tell you how it would taste. If you want to try that just don’t put too much because almond extract tend to have a strong taste – just add enough to enhance but not overwhelm. I hope that combo works. Let us know. Thanks!

  53. Jacqueline Carter
    November 28, 2021 / 11:49 am

    Absolutely delicious and a breeze to prepare. I don’t recall seeing the calories listed within the article though.?

    • abigail
      Author
      December 3, 2021 / 8:38 am

      Glad you enjoyed this. It’s such a huge favorite on the blog. The nutrition would be added once I’ve updated the recipe card. I’m at the hospital as I write so you need to wait for a bit.

  54. Jan Laidlaw
    October 1, 2022 / 3:41 pm

    Hi,
    I’d love to try this recipe but my daughter is highly allergic to all nuts. Can I leave them out or substitute them with something else?

    • abigail
      Author
      October 1, 2022 / 7:27 pm

      You can leave out the nuts if you like. It should still be yummy. Enjoy.

  55. Marie
    January 21, 2023 / 11:11 am

    5 stars
    Looks really pretty and simple to make. It sounds like bread pudding.

    • abigail
      Author
      January 23, 2023 / 9:20 pm

      Similar. Yes, it’s very easy to make indeed. Thank you!

  56. Barb
    April 3, 2023 / 9:08 pm

    Did I miss it, what is the recipe for 9×12 size. This looks so delicious.

    • abigail
      Author
      April 4, 2023 / 7:22 pm

      As I mentioned in the post, you just need to double the recipe to make it fit a 9×13 pan – that’s all. Enjoy.

  57. Kathy
    April 9, 2023 / 5:16 pm

    Fantastic recipe! Definitely a keeper! Made it for Easter brunch, and everyone loved it. I doubled the recipe. Used the king’s Hawaiian bread and took your suggestion and added pecans.

  58. Tracy
    April 23, 2023 / 8:35 am

    5 stars
    Used some hot dog buns and white sandwich bread that I needed to use up. Otherwise made exactly as written. Came out awesome!! Will definitely make again!!

    • abigail
      Author
      April 25, 2023 / 9:44 pm

      YAY! So glad this worked for you. Thanks for letting us know.

  59. Maureen
    May 9, 2023 / 9:53 pm

    5 stars
    Great French Toast!! I used frozen blueberries. Next time I’ll be using fresh blueberries. The frozen just didn’t do it for me, which is my own fault because the recipe page says to use fresh for best results. Otherwise, I’ll be keeping this in my rotation for a while!

  60. Karen Richardson
    July 20, 2023 / 3:52 pm

    5 stars
    Such an easy delicious brunch! I made it for the first time for company at the lake. It was a hit with everyone!

    • abigail
      Author
      July 27, 2023 / 11:47 am

      I am so delighted that you loved this! It’s so delicious indeed. Thank you so much for letting us know.

  61. Lisa Wilcox
    December 25, 2023 / 8:25 pm

    5 stars
    I just made this and wow!!
    Let’s just say I had trouble getting the edges even- you know what I’m sayin’? So good!!
    So happy for the suggested substitute of Hawaiian rolls bc I can’t ever find brioche bread/rolls. Thank you!

    • abigail
      Author
      December 30, 2023 / 5:03 am

      Yay! So happy you enjoyed this! Thanks for letting us know. It’s absolutely delicious!

  62. Lisa Wilcox
    January 19, 2024 / 7:09 am

    5 stars
    Made this for Christmas morning and wow, it’s so good! Love the convenience of using Hawaiian rolls since brioche bread is a little harder for me to find. Super simple to make and so delicious! Thanks for sharing!

    • abigail
      Author
      January 19, 2024 / 11:27 am

      So glad you enjoyed this! Thank you for letting us know.

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