Make mornings better with this Berry French Toast Casserole. Sweet berries, creamy custard, and a crisp crumble make it the ultimate breakfast for family gatherings or weekends.
This Berry French Toast Casserole is a vibrant, make-ahead breakfast that tastes like a celebration in every bite. Thick bread cubes are soaked in a rich, creamy custard, then layered with a generous mix of cream cheese and juicy berries that burst with sweet-tart flavor as they bake. The top becomes beautifully golden and slightly crisp while the inside stays soft and custardy, creating a delightful balance of textures.
If you like this recipe, you have to also check out my Overnight Pumpkin French Toast Bake or Eggnog French Toast Bake.
Table of Contents
Why We Love French Toast Casserole
- Easy to prepare ahead of time for stress-free mornings.
- Perfect for breakfast or brunch on Christmas morning, Easter, Mother’s Day, or any special occasion!
- Simple ingredients that are easy to find in most pantries.
Recipe Ingredients
Mixed Berries – Fresh berries or frozen berries both work. If using frozen, there’s no need to thaw them. However, frozen berries release extra liquid, so reduce the milk slightly or bake longer to evaporate the excess liquid.
Milk – The richer the milk, the creamier the custard. Whole milk is recommended for a smooth, indulgent base.
Ground Cinnamon – A sprinkle of cinnamon adds warm, spiced notes to the casserole.
For a full list of ingredients and amounts, see the recipe card below.
Variations
Streusel Topping – Swap the crumble topping for a cinnamon streusel made with butter, brown sugar, flour, and a touch of cinnamon. It adds an extra layer of sweetness and a slightly crunchy texture.
Add-Ins – Add chopped pecans, chocolate chips, and shredded coconut for a delightful mix of crunch, sweetness, and tropical notes.
How to Make Berry French Toast Casserole
Step 1: Lightly butter the bottom of a tall 9×13-inch baking dish. Add half of the cubed bread into the pan. Top with half of the mixed berries and cubed cream cheese. Add remaining bread over top along with remaining berries and cream cheese.
Step 2: In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, cream, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, almond extract, cinnamon, and salt. Pour over the bread, coating it evenly. Cover the dish with a sheet of foil and place in the refrigerator overnight.
Step 3: Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
Step 4: Meanwhile, make the topping in a medium mixing bowl. Combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter in until pea-size clumps form. Stir in the almonds. Remove the foil from the baking dish and sprinkle the topping on.
Step 5: Place in the oven and bake for 60–75 minutes or until set. The top should be golden brown, and the middle should spring back when touched. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Dust with powdered sugar and drizzle with maple syrup, if desired.
Expert Tips
Drying Out Bread Quickly – If your bread isn’t stale enough, spread it out on paper towels for an hour or two to air dry. In a rush, lightly toast it to remove moisture without adding much color.
FAQs
No, after removing it from the fridge and adding the topping, bake it uncovered. This helps the bread brown and the topping crisp up perfectly.
Challah, brioche, or French bread are the top choices for their sweetness and buttery flavor. Sourdough bread adds a tangy twist, while croissants or cinnamon raisin bread works well for a richer or spiced variation. Always use day-old or slightly stale bread for the best texture.
Storage Information
To STORE leftover Berry French Toast Casserole, cover it tightly with plastic wrap or foil and refrigerate for 3–5 days.
If FREEZING, you can make it ahead of time or portion leftovers into individual servings. Wrap each piece in plastic wrap and place it in a freezer-safe container. To bake from frozen, cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for 1 hour.
To REHEAT, microwave individual slices for 1 minute. For multiple servings, cover the dish with foil and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius) for 20 minutes or until warmed through.
More Delicious French Toast Favorites
Berry French Toast Casserole Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 loaf brioche - Challah or French bread, cut into 1-inch cubes
- 3 cup mixed berries*
- 1 (8 oz) block cream cheese - cut into 1/2-inch cubes
For the Base
- 1 1/2 cup whole milk
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2/3 cup brown sugar - lightly packed
- 8 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp almond extract
- 3/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 3/4 tsp coarse kosher sea salt
For the Topping
- 1/2 cup all-purpose flour
- 1/2 cup brown sugar - lightly packed
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 7 tbsp unsalted butter - cold and cut into tablespoons
- 1/4 cup sliced almonds
Instructions
- Lightly butter the bottom of a tall 9×13-inch baking dish. Add half of the cubed bread into the pan. Top with half of the mixed berries and cubed cream cheese. Add remaining bread over top along with remaining berries and cream cheese.
- In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the milk, cream, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, almond extract, cinnamon, and salt. Pour over the bread, coating it evenly. Cover the dish with a sheet of foil and place in the refrigerator overnight.
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (175 degrees Celsius).
- Meanwhile, make the topping in a medium mixing bowl. Combine the flour, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Using a pastry blender, cut the butter in until pea-size clumps form. Stir in the almonds. Remove the foil from the baking dish and sprinkle the topping on.
- Place in the oven and bake for 60–75 minutes or until set. The top should be golden brown, and the middle should spring back when touched. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Dust with powdered sugar and drizzle with maple syrup, if desired.
Now that is my kind of breakfast! So beautiful and delicious too!
This looks so good! I can’t wait to try it. All the flavors are amazing.
This is how you should start breakfast everyday. My entire family went nuts for this and begged for the recipe, so good and so easy to make!
I’ve made this using cinnamon raisin bread and frozen berries and it is delicious! I’m going to be making it soon for company and this is the first time I’ll be putting it in the fridge overnight before baking it in the morning. Should I put the frozen berries on before I refrigerate it or wait until before I bake it?
From the post: “Can you make this with frozen berries? There are a lot of recipes that use frozen berries. The danger with that is the amount of extra liquid that you would be adding to the recipe. If you decide to use frozen berries make sure that you don’t add as much milk, or maybe even bake it longer to further evaporate some of that extra liquid.”
OR you could defrost the berries before putting the casserole together and drain off the excess liquid before adding them in. Good Luck!
This is amazing! A total keeper!!
This sounds delicious! Beautiful pictures too!